customize seating
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New User
Joined: Dec 2018
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From: Colorado
customize seating
Hi All
My large family has recently lost our family driver - 2002 E-350 15 passenger, so pre 2008 style.
This was our 3rd van of this style.
We are now shopping for similar via the inter webs.
My wife and I would really like to have the added versatility of the integrated seat belts as seen in current Transits and Sprinters and such.
I'm kind of old school and really like the E-Series (and trust the build).
I know with out modification the newer seats just don't fit the brackets of the E-Series bench config.
On the other hand I know that people mod vans all the time.
Can anyone offer some suggestions on fit, style, process that may enable me to get another E-Series and then put in some more modern seats?
I've been looking at something like this [1]. Would the install still be safe? Would these hold up in the event of catastrophe?
Looking for any all recommendations.
[1] https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-PASSENGER...item1a57e21edc
- Kevin
My large family has recently lost our family driver - 2002 E-350 15 passenger, so pre 2008 style.
This was our 3rd van of this style.
We are now shopping for similar via the inter webs.
My wife and I would really like to have the added versatility of the integrated seat belts as seen in current Transits and Sprinters and such.
I'm kind of old school and really like the E-Series (and trust the build).
I know with out modification the newer seats just don't fit the brackets of the E-Series bench config.
On the other hand I know that people mod vans all the time.
Can anyone offer some suggestions on fit, style, process that may enable me to get another E-Series and then put in some more modern seats?
I've been looking at something like this [1]. Would the install still be safe? Would these hold up in the event of catastrophe?
Looking for any all recommendations.
[1] https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-PASSENGER...item1a57e21edc
- Kevin
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 64
Likes: 1
Hi Kevin, depending on how many people you want to fit in your van, Ford also sells captain seats for the E series van.
Those Ebay seats doesn’t look bad bad but they are not cheap with the shipping and I don’t know how many of those you could need.
If they provide the brackets and all the hardware I don’t see why it wouldn’t be feasible.
if you don’t mind me asking what is it that you don’t like about the original seats that comes in the van?
Those Ebay seats doesn’t look bad bad but they are not cheap with the shipping and I don’t know how many of those you could need.
If they provide the brackets and all the hardware I don’t see why it wouldn’t be feasible.
if you don’t mind me asking what is it that you don’t like about the original seats that comes in the van?
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 10
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From: Colorado
Thanks @Philly driver for the feedback.
Agreed the shipping is a huge drawback on those and would be pretty lame.
Ideally I would keep with the 3 rows of 3 seats and do something like a pair of double seats in the back - exit transit or something.
I think the biggest draw is both the integrated shoulder belt and the headrest for the newer style seats. With those being hopefully "safer in the long run".
That being said the 5 oldest and I just survived a wreck that took the 2002 and we were basically untouched - also why I trust the make of the E-Series.
Anyway just trying to build up some knowledge to see if this is even worth pursuing.
I know people change these vans all the time but I'm also not building a camper but rather a people hauler :-)
Thanks for any further info or ideas.
- Kevin
Agreed the shipping is a huge drawback on those and would be pretty lame.
Ideally I would keep with the 3 rows of 3 seats and do something like a pair of double seats in the back - exit transit or something.
I think the biggest draw is both the integrated shoulder belt and the headrest for the newer style seats. With those being hopefully "safer in the long run".
That being said the 5 oldest and I just survived a wreck that took the 2002 and we were basically untouched - also why I trust the make of the E-Series.
Anyway just trying to build up some knowledge to see if this is even worth pursuing.
I know people change these vans all the time but I'm also not building a camper but rather a people hauler :-)
Thanks for any further info or ideas.
- Kevin
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,998
Likes: 131
From: Maryville
Well my 99 has a cable attached piston to the buckle, I had to replace it back in 2002 when the steel cable broke, off went the buckle, quick call to Ford mistakenly thinking safety equipment should be a concern, they offered to sell me one, expensive item, I believe it has some connection to the air bag arrangement, there seems to be more than the traditional idiot light wired into it, so how are aftermarket seats put in the driver and passenger side?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
Likes: 1,656
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
There is a high-end converter who builds some amazing E-Series (and now Transit's) who sells Sienna seats and has designed/builds mounting brackets for the E-Series. He is sells Sheel-Mann seats, brackets also available through him. These are NOT CHEAP so if price is the major concern don't even bother looking at his site. 
This link takes you to his seating options: ExpoVan's Seating Options
His creations comply with every FMVSS which is just about the only way he could sell such things without fear or concern for personal injury liability. I've known of his work through another site that deals with vans converted into 4x4 drive and varying levels of RV-like interior builds.
Have a look if safety comfort and higher quality is your goal.
HTH
This link takes you to his seating options: ExpoVan's Seating OptionsHis creations comply with every FMVSS which is just about the only way he could sell such things without fear or concern for personal injury liability. I've known of his work through another site that deals with vans converted into 4x4 drive and varying levels of RV-like interior builds.
Have a look if safety comfort and higher quality is your goal.
HTH
Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 103
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City/Overland Park
In the past, I have just used some solid flat iron bars from my local steel supply store to fabricate custom brackets for bolting a non-factory seat to the existing floor mounts. Maybe they weren't DOT approved, but using 1/4 inch thick steel seemed much "heavier-duty" than anything the factory uses. Just a thought …..
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,998
Likes: 131
From: Maryville
Username
In the past, I have just used some solid flat iron bars from my local steel supply store to fabricate custom brackets for bolting a non-factory seat to the existing floor mounts. Maybe they weren't DOT approved, but using 1/4 inch thick steel seemed much "heavier-duty" than anything the factory uses. Just a thought …..
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Albany, Good Ol' USA
That is precisely how I put a pair of Spartan, but oh so comfortable for long haul seats out of a Freightliner into my old '81 E 150 van 'Easy Bake' got a deal on those seats as they were new 'tear outs' that a driver sold for zhugged up seats.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,998
Likes: 131
From: Maryville
Username
There is a high-end converter who builds some amazing E-Series (and now Transit's) who sells Sienna seats and has designed/builds mounting brackets for the E-Series. He is sells Sheel-Mann seats, brackets also available through him. These are NOT CHEAP so if price is the major concern don't even bother looking at his site. This link takes you to his seating options: ExpoVan's Seating Options
His creations comply with every FMVSS which is just about the only way he could sell such things without fear or concern for personal injury liability. I've known of his work through another site that deals with vans converted into 4x4 drive and varying levels of RV-like interior builds.
Have a look if safety comfort and higher quality is your goal.
HTH
This link takes you to his seating options: ExpoVan's Seating OptionsHis creations comply with every FMVSS which is just about the only way he could sell such things without fear or concern for personal injury liability. I've known of his work through another site that deals with vans converted into 4x4 drive and varying levels of RV-like interior builds.
Have a look if safety comfort and higher quality is your goal.
HTH
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
Likes: 1,656
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
The guy behind that site is pretty much a mechanical genius---he shares some of his builds on another site, his depth of creativity astounds me.
Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 103
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City/Overland Park
Had a nice drivers seat out of an old Peterbilt, but it required air pressure, so ended up selling it to an owner-operator who had crappy seats in his older International … he was very happy!!
5th Wheeling
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 30
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, CA
Thanks for the information here, I am interested in swapping out the front seats in my '12 E-350, partly because the driver's seat needs replacement or reupholstering, and partly because it doesn't go back quite far enough to suit my height. I reached out to ExpoVans and learned the seating part of the company has been spun off and is called www.base-fab.com. I reached out to them, and Jer, the guy who presumably runs the place, got back to me right away with descriptions, pictures, and price quotes. At $1400 ea. for the Scheel-Mann seats, I'll probably go another route, but Sienna seats might well be an option.
Oh, and @JWA , the person who responded to my inquiry at ExpoVans asked how I heard about them, so if you're wondering who ratted you out to them, guilty as charged.
Oh, and @JWA , the person who responded to my inquiry at ExpoVans asked how I heard about them, so if you're wondering who ratted you out to them, guilty as charged.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
Likes: 1,656
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Oh, and @JWA , the person who responded to my inquiry at ExpoVans asked how I heard about them, so if you're wondering who ratted you out to them, guilty as charged.
Not a problem there at all---I'm more than happy to share info about those guys, glad it might be helpful to you as well. In fact the guy I believe is the principle at ExpoVans has been a long-time contributor to another van-related site I visit, have seen some of his design and fabrication work---its simply amazing in my estimation. Anything he does is just over-the-top quality and so well thought-out major companies have approached him to do concept vehicles for SEMA shows and such.Yes the Scheel-Mann seats are expensive and I understand that being an issue. I'm okay with the typical E-Series drivers seat but I don't drive much more than 2 hours at a stretch---if I were dong longer hauls I'd have no less than the Sienna seat.
5th Wheeling
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 30
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, CA
As luck would have it, he had a pair of brand new gray leather Sienna front seats that were take-outs from another job, and gray is my interior color, so they're in the process of getting trucked to my house. Stay tuned for the play-by-play of this installation. It's gonna take a while (the Sienna seats need some modifications to be installed), but, as if by coincidence, I'm retiring from my day job at the end of next week, so I should have time to git 'er done.