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Apr 23, 2024 | 11:44 AM

#16

52 Merc

Hotshot

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 16,188

Likes: 4,792

From: Burbank, WA

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbytnm

I'm glad this topic has come back around. I'm thinking of ditching the mid 90's Suburban seats in my 49 for a bench. A 60/40 would be awesome.

When I was looking at the Ranger seats it seems like all the ones I saw had molded in headrests. Nice seats but I don't want my seat backs sticking up over the back glass. If I can find a decent seat either without headrests or with removable headrests that would work. I saw a few seats from mid 90's GM cars that looked like they'd be a good option.
I'll read back through the info on seats and hopefully something will work out.

I'm curious how you got the Suburban seats to fit? A friend gave me a pair and I didn't think I could get them through the door, let alone behind the steering wheel with me in them.

I would think the headrest area of the Ranger seats could be modified or removed by some strategic massaging of the back structure, then finished with custom trimmed and fitted upholstery. You could make it look however you wanted with a little creative engineering. Certainly not plug and play, but doable.

Apr 23, 2024 | 04:22 PM

#17

M2HB

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Dec 2021

Posts: 1,264

Likes: 520

My 55 didn't have a seat when I bought it, so I looked far and wide for a Ford seat that would fit. I finally decided on second row Explorer seats. I looked for Ranger seats to check them out but couldn't find any.

The problem, as I discovered, is that these old Ford trucks didn't have seat belts, so the driver could sit anywhere on the bench seat where they felt comfortable. Thus, lining up with the steering wheel was easy.
There are seats that fit, but when the seat belts are used, the driver seat does not line up with the steering column. This issue is what made it difficult for me to find seats that would work. Besides, I wanted fairly new seats that were not tore up.

They aren't for everyone, but they will work. These old cabs are just too narrow for new regular truck seats to line up properly.

Apr 23, 2024 | 05:05 PM

#18

56exp

Tuned

Joined: Apr 2015

Posts: 265

Likes: 79

From: UuupstateNY

I had my original 56 seat springs rebuilt and a cover from Raybuck. It looks and sits good.I have a standard cab but decided to put armrests on the doors I installed them per mid fifty instructions. I now have to open both doors to lean the seat back forward to get behind it or it hits the armrests enough to leave marks in the seat back sides ! Dean

Apr 23, 2024 | 05:27 PM

#19

abe

Fleet Owner

Joined: Dec 2000

Posts: 25,400

Likes: 5,407

From: Central PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by 56exp

Interesting. Maybe that's why Ford only had arm rests on the driver's door in 1956.

Apr 23, 2024 | 06:20 PM

#20

56panelford

FTE Legend

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 283,831

Likes: 8,329

From: northwestern Ontario

Quote:

Originally Posted by abe

Interesting. Maybe that's why Ford only had arm rests on the driver's door in 1956.

I'll have to give this some consideration when choosing my door panels..

Apr 24, 2024 | 06:54 PM

#21

bobbytnm

Roast em' if you got 'em

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 22,013

Likes: 9,952

From: Rio Rancho, NM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 52 Merc

I'm curious how you got the Suburban seats to fit? A friend gave me a pair and I didn't think I could get them through the door, let alone behind the steering wheel with me in them.

I didn't have any issues. The 2 buckets are individual as was the center console. I think these were early 90's. My brother-in-law gave them to me, he had pulled them from a stolen vehicle that was abandoned out in the desert (that's why they are sliced up I guess). At the time I was broke and these fit the bill. Now I want to go back with a bench, or split bench. I'm also going to get rid of the B&M shifter on go with a swan neck shifter from Gennie Shifter that mimics the original stick