I just got a 53 F100 that needs help. The bench seat may be original; however, a previous owner decided to weld the legs/base of the seat to the cab floor. I want to return it to it's originals configuration; however, I don't know what that looks like. Does anyone have pictures of an original configuration that you could post? Thanks in advance!

 

Does this help?

 

Jolly Roger Joe
Thanks, that was exactly what I needed and it is obvious that I do no have an original seat. Thanks again, excellent.

 

Ok, it is obvious, thanks to Jolly Roger Joe, that I do not have an original bench seat. In addition, all associated hardware and parts including the base are also missing.
Does anyone have a suggestion where I might get the original parts even if I had to reupholster the bench seat OR, ideas on later model "bench seats" that would work for the 53 F100? Thanks in advance.

 

I'm in Ohio and I left you a visitor message I can help with a seat and tracks

 

Hey Rascal,
Welcome aboard! We have several members from Kentucky on here.
Here is a link on seats that highlights what some other members have used..
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-pictures.html

Here is a rather long piece on seat alternatives for our different cabs.
Any seat from one of the modern smaller pickups should work - We have a '50 F1 & we used a seat out of an S-10. Need to stay under 52 inches wide.

Just for your easy bedtime reading - from the starter link up at the top of the forum... Everything you ever wanted to know about seats...

Ben in Austin

Here are some measurements that you might want to consider when looking for a new seat.
· Inside cab width from door panel to door panel (where the seat bottom is the widest)
o 1948-1952 F-1 = 53.5 inches
o 1953-1956 F-100 = 58 inches
· Distance between the door handle tips
o 1949 F-1 = 51.5 inches
· Distance between the fat part of the door handles
o 1949 F-1 = 45-5/8 inches
· Distance across the cab at the rear door post
o 1949 F-1 = 57 inches
· Distance from door panel to door panel
o 1957-1960 F-100 = 62 inches
· Distance from door handle to door handle
o 1957-1960 F-100 = 56 inches
· Stock bench seat width
o 1960 F-100 = 59 inches
There seems to be an issue (particularly found by older members of the forum) with the space between the steering wheel and the seat shrinking over time, resulting in limited intestinal accommodation. Fortunately the newer seats use a different type of spring so they tend to be thinner in the back. This provides more room in that area. This is something to think about before you buy a big, fat seat out of a Cadillac or Lincoln or some other land yacht. With a newer seat, you will usually pick up storage space under the seat bottom as well.
The following suggestions are based upon input from this forum. There is also an article in the August 2004 issue of Classic Truck that deals with this subject and contains many pictures of the suggested alternative seats. Note that we are not spending time discussing bucket seats. Once you ditch the console, you can pretty much fit any bucket into any truck, although generally you’ll end up with a built in headrest sticking up in your back window.
1948-1952 Trucks – Seat Width No More Than 52 Inches
· 2000 Ford Escort buckets
· Mid/late 1980s to 1996 Ford Ranger or Broncos
o 60/40 bench or buckets
o Perfect fit
o Used by many
o Bench is 51” wide at it’s widest point
o Back folds forward
o No headrests to poke up in the back window
o 2-door donors fold, 4-door donors don’t
o Very popular with members of the forum
· 1989 through mid 1990s Ford Explorer
o Buckets or 60/40 bench
· Middle or rear seats out of a 1996 Dodge Caravan
· 1996 and newer Chevy Astro Van
· 1996 and newer full sized GM van middle or rear seats
· 1995 and newer Toyota Tacoma
· 1994 and newer Chevy S-10/Sonoma
1953-1960 Trucks – Seat Width No More Than 58 Inches
· 2001 F-150
NOTE: There are several different styles of bench seats used in the late 1980s through late 1990s GM trucks – quasi-buckets, 60/40s and full benches. They all tend to have thin backs which helps to increase leg space where needed. Some have built in arms rests and a level of seat bottom sculpturing to them, some don’t. These seats are also well liked by a number of the members of this forum.
· 1988-1998 GM truck seats
o Excellent looking brackets
o Easy to adapt
o Headrests tend to be removable
· 1988-1994 Chevy Silverado bench
o No headrest
o Fold down arm rest
o Very stylish
· 1997 and newer F-150 bench
o Has a built in headrest
o Brackets are a bit of a challenge
· Late 1990s Chevy Suburban
· 1987 Chevy pickup bench
· The 2000 and newer Suburban
o 60/40 bench
o Removable headrests
o Not the most stylish thing
o Brackets are clunky looking
The 1999 and newer GM Silverado 40/20/40 “bench” is an interesting possibility. It’s 60 inches wide, but it’s really more like two buckets with a “jump seat” between. You could easily omit the middle section and put in a narrower console or nothing. They do have built shoulder belts, saving you the issue of mounting the shoulder restraint to the wall between the rear window and the doors. You might fit this whole set up into a 1953-1960 F-100. The 1994 through 2001 Dodge truck also has a similar set up, though less stylish than the GM version. It will have the same pluses and minuses.
Another issue to consider is that you need to build some sort of bracket to mount your new seat(s) to your truck. If you’re using the 1988-1998 GM seats, it’s pretty straightforward. Just look at the stock GM mounting brackets and it’s a no brainer. However, if you’re using Ford seats or buckets, this can get a little tricky. For a few good pictures of the brackets one member made to install a later model seat check out this thread. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=114729 The work was done by KAI - our German buddy. He was putting a 1980 F-350 seat in a 1954 F-100. His brackets deal quite nicely with the weird bend/angle in the front of the stock Ford brackets. They are wonderful in their simplicity and could easily be modified to compensate for a shorter driver.
For an excellent example of brackets fabricated to hold the 1996-2000 Ranger 60/40 bench/bucket, check out those made by Scott123 (Scott Jones). He has provided pictures and plans, so you could make a copy of the “Scott123 Super-Duper seat frame 2000” if you wish.
Check out their galleries for the pictures/plans referred. <!-- / message -->
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Thanks Kevin, I expect that I will be giving you a call in the next couple of days to discuss the seats.

 

Thanks everyone for taking the time to answer. Excellent information and the pictures were great.

 

It would help us if you put your location in your User Profile ("Edit Your Details" under UserCP). Especially when you need parts.

 

Hey you all. This is my first post, so bare with me. I have a 1949 Ford F3 pickup I am restoring. I put a 239 Flat head engine in it, and I'm working on the interior now. Question I have is if the 1949 Ford F3 would have the same bench seat size as the 1949 Ford F1 pickup? Also, any help on locating a new 1949 Ford F3 pickup bench seat, would be appreciated. Thanks. Court.

 

Hey Court,
Welcome Aboard! You'll want to post a few pics to
get everyone's interest.... I believe the F1 & F3 cabs are the same size.
I have a '50 F1 - pretty tight across the cab from arm rest to arm rest
you will want to stay under 52 inches.

Our truck came with some fairly horrible mustang bucket seats.
We went with an S-10 bench that was 48 inches across - leaving us room for the seat belt roll.
Any bench from the smaller pickups will work - Dakota, S-10, Tacoma, Ranger, etc.

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

Thanks Ben, I'll try to get pictures taken. The only thing I've done is taken the original flat head straight 6 cylinder out and put put a flat head V8 in. It was my grand dads ranch pickup. Court.

 

Hey Court,
Here is another thread on seats ...might give you some ideas.
My buddy Dmack's seat is posted in this thread - he got it from a Honda Passport - one of the nicer looking seats I've seen in our trucks.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...2-truck-2.html


Ben in Austin
1950 F1