60/40 to Buckets
#1
02-12-2001, 01:53 PM
#2
02-13-2001, 01:30 PM
60/40 to Buckets
Seatlist V4.0
Posted by AllanD on June 08, 1998 >REVISED 06FEB01
In Reply to: bucket seats: list of what will work?
TEMPO/TOPAZ, (All years) Tempo GT's or "Sport model" are the
nicest and have the nicer "tilting pillow" headrest
(same as turbo Thunderbird Turbocoupe) and frequently have
power lumbar as well.
These seats have a relatively plain seat base that is more appropriate
to a 4x4, The apparrently "nicer" seats in the Mustang GT and Turbocoupes
can be difficult to get out of unless you can get your feet on something
to lift your backside out of the relatively "deep" seatbase with it's high
side-bolsters.
ESCORT/LYNX 81-91? (Second Generation Escort seats do not fit)
GT's again the nicest and have the "Halo style" headrest (like Mustang),
sometimes have power lumbar and have the same seatbases as Escort,
but "tapped" differently (different holes in bottom of frame are used
to mount them to their tracks)
MUSTANG, Don't bother looking they will be gone when you get there
But if you're a lucky person and are sucessful in looking for Mustang GT
seats, they also have the "halo style" headrests (like in Escort GT's).
but the "nice" seat bases (Like the T'bird) were still optional on the GT's.
Note: the really early Mustang-3 ("fox") body cars sometimes (rarely)
came with genuine Recarro seats with the Mesh/halo headrests
these will require a mounting kit from Recarro to install them
and I don't know if there is in face a factory adapter available from Recarro
to fit Rangers, but these seats could be worth the effort.
the Recarro model used was their "A" model and if all the hardware is
present are well worth the effort as they were in the early 80's $500 seats
(EACH!!!) they have NOt gotten less expensive over time.
THUNDERBIRD 82-88, Turbocoupe has nicest seats as standard equipment
same as the Mustang GTs, but with the "tilting pillow" head rests,
almost always have power-lumbar (and if not have a "squeeze bulb"
inflatable lumbar cushion), adjustable thigh support and adjustable
side-bolsters on the seat base.
The best factory ford seat(IMHO) and they were STANDARD equipment
on the Turbocoupes and OPTIONAL on the 5.0 "sport" models.
Also available was LEATHER, but relatively rare.
These seats are the most comfortable and adjustable and offer by far
the best support, but are also the most difficult to pry your backside out of
Note: if you already have power lumbar seats in the ranger
you will have to swap the wiring harness in the seat frame onto
the TC seats as the TC and the Ranger/Bronco2 use a different
connector. I suppose you could simply cut and splice on the connector,
but it takes only a few minutes to swap the harness.
EXPLORER seats are similar but not identical to Ranger seats.
As Explorers usually have 4drs the tilt-forward provision has
been deleted from some seats. so you MAY have to exchange some
of these parts from your original seats.
Some of the nicer Explorers will have POWER adjustable side bolsters
and thigh supports similar to those used in Later Mustangs
"perforated" Leather (Similar to that used in Mustangs) seats
in some fully equipped models.
Well equipped Explorers also have Power lumbar, thigh supports
and adjustable lateral support cushions on the back rest, these are
exceptionally nice...
AEROSTAR front buckets are similar, but the seat base is thicker
(taller) in an Aerostar. These may be a solution for short statured
individuals, additionally the Aerostars have a narrow armrest that is adaptable
to most (if not all) of the seats on this list, but finding them in any color other
than Grey or Blue can be a challenge (red is the rarest Aerostar interior color)
NOTE: some seats already have the holes drilled for the nut plate that this armrest
hinge bolts to in the seat, but be careful when unbolting it from the "donor" seat,
there is a "nut plate" inside the seat that can easily be lost inside the seat back frame.
Additionally many of the seats that are not drilled for the armrest mounting will have
"dimples" in the location where the holes (21/64") need to be drilled.
POWER LUMBAR can be added to most seats as all of the mounting tabs are present
in every seat I've ever had apart. but specific instructions for adding it are too much for
this simple list (I.E. You can do it, it isn't all that hard, but you are basically on your own
All of these seats will bolt directly to your factory tracks if you have
either Buckets or split-bench.
If you have a conventional bench then you will need to replace your
tracks with split-bench/bucket-seat tracks.
(Toss your solid bench tracks they are compleatly different).
You will have to run a Tap (8mm x 1.25) through some pre-drilled holes in
the bottom of the seat frames. The holes are already there but
unthreaded.
If you have a conventional cab Ranger you will probably have to
use the "halo"style headrest used in Mustangs and Escort GT
models, as the pillow style will hit the rear window.
This forces the seat back into a very upright position.
(and is EXTREEMLY uncomfortable)
If you have a Supercab Ranger or a Bronco2 headrest clearance
against the back of the cab is not an issue.
One other word of warning Ranger Standard-cab, Ranger Supercab,
Bronco2's and Explorers all have different floor pan profiles and so
use different seat tracks,
So if you want to put buckets or a split-bench into a Std-Cab Ranger
you must get your seat tracks out of a Std-Cab Ranger.
In general power seat tracks are a waste of time.
Be honest, do you really let anyone else drive your "pet"?
All the effects of adjustable seat tracks can be duplicated by
trial and error shimming of the seat to the track.
I personally use 1" spacers (and obviously longer bolts) to
raise the front of the seat base by approx. 7/8".
And a last note:
On Bronco2s and Ranger Supercabs there is a pull rod
that releases the "double" seat track on the passenger side seat.
ONLY the Supercab/Bronco2(late) Recliner/tilt latch has the little "ear" that this
pull rod attaches to, so you will need to retain the latch from the original
passenger side seat to install into your "new" seat so that ease of entry/exit
to the back seat is retained.
Also this latch was slightly revised for the '88 model year, so different
side trim is used on the seat with an additional release lever.
************************************************** ********************************************
This publication may be reprinted provided proper credit is given to the author (ME)
AND no changes are made without specific permission of same (Again, me.)
************************************************** ********************************************
Hope this helps someone in their junkyard seat searching.
Good luck and good Junkyard crawling
AllanD
Seatlist 4.0
Posted by AllanD on June 08, 1998 >REVISED 06FEB01
In Reply to: bucket seats: list of what will work?
TEMPO/TOPAZ, (All years) Tempo GT's or "Sport model" are the
nicest and have the nicer "tilting pillow" headrest
(same as turbo Thunderbird Turbocoupe) and frequently have
power lumbar as well.
These seats have a relatively plain seat base that is more appropriate
to a 4x4, The apparrently "nicer" seats in the Mustang GT and Turbocoupes
can be difficult to get out of unless you can get your feet on something
to lift your backside out of the relatively "deep" seatbase with it's high
side-bolsters.
ESCORT/LYNX 81-91? (Second Generation Escort seats do not fit)
GT's again the nicest and have the "Halo style" headrest (like Mustang),
sometimes have power lumbar and have the same seatbases as Escort,
but "tapped" differently (different holes in bottom of frame are used
to mount them to their tracks)
MUSTANG, Don't bother looking they will be gone when you get there
But if you're a lucky person and are sucessful in looking for Mustang GT
seats, they also have the "halo style" headrests (like in Escort GT's).
but the "nice" seat bases (Like the T'bird) were still optional on the GT's.
Note: the really early Mustang-3 ("fox") body cars sometimes (rarely)
came with genuine Recarro seats with the Mesh/halo headrests
these will require a mounting kit from Recarro to install them
and I don't know if there is in face a factory adapter available from Recarro
to fit Rangers, but these seats could be worth the effort.
the Recarro model used was their "A" model and if all the hardware is
present are well worth the effort as they were in the early 80's $500 seats
(EACH!!!) they have NOt gotten less expensive over time.
THUNDERBIRD 82-88, Turbocoupe has nicest seats as standard equipment
same as the Mustang GTs, but with the "tilting pillow" head rests,
almost always have power-lumbar (and if not have a "squeeze bulb"
inflatable lumbar cushion), adjustable thigh support and adjustable
side-bolsters on the seat base.
The best factory ford seat(IMHO) and they were STANDARD equipment
on the Turbocoupes and OPTIONAL on the 5.0 "sport" models.
Also available was LEATHER, but relatively rare.
These seats are the most comfortable and adjustable and offer by far
the best support, but are also the most difficult to pry your backside out of
Note: if you already have power lumbar seats in the ranger
you will have to swap the wiring harness in the seat frame onto
the TC seats as the TC and the Ranger/Bronco2 use a different
connector. I suppose you could simply cut and splice on the connector,
but it takes only a few minutes to swap the harness.
EXPLORER seats are similar but not identical to Ranger seats.
As Explorers usually have 4drs the tilt-forward provision has
been deleted from some seats. so you MAY have to exchange some
of these parts from your original seats.
Some of the nicer Explorers will have POWER adjustable side bolsters
and thigh supports similar to those used in Later Mustangs
"perforated" Leather (Similar to that used in Mustangs) seats
in some fully equipped models.
Well equipped Explorers also have Power lumbar, thigh supports
and adjustable lateral support cushions on the back rest, these are
exceptionally nice...
AEROSTAR front buckets are similar, but the seat base is thicker
(taller) in an Aerostar. These may be a solution for short statured
individuals, additionally the Aerostars have a narrow armrest that is adaptable
to most (if not all) of the seats on this list, but finding them in any color other
than Grey or Blue can be a challenge (red is the rarest Aerostar interior color)
NOTE: some seats already have the holes drilled for the nut plate that this armrest
hinge bolts to in the seat, but be careful when unbolting it from the "donor" seat,
there is a "nut plate" inside the seat that can easily be lost inside the seat back frame.
Additionally many of the seats that are not drilled for the armrest mounting will have
"dimples" in the location where the holes (21/64") need to be drilled.
POWER LUMBAR can be added to most seats as all of the mounting tabs are present
in every seat I've ever had apart. but specific instructions for adding it are too much for
this simple list (I.E. You can do it, it isn't all that hard, but you are basically on your own
All of these seats will bolt directly to your factory tracks if you have
either Buckets or split-bench.
If you have a conventional bench then you will need to replace your
tracks with split-bench/bucket-seat tracks.
(Toss your solid bench tracks they are compleatly different).
You will have to run a Tap (8mm x 1.25) through some pre-drilled holes in
the bottom of the seat frames. The holes are already there but
unthreaded.
If you have a conventional cab Ranger you will probably have to
use the "halo"style headrest used in Mustangs and Escort GT
models, as the pillow style will hit the rear window.
This forces the seat back into a very upright position.
(and is EXTREEMLY uncomfortable)
If you have a Supercab Ranger or a Bronco2 headrest clearance
against the back of the cab is not an issue.
One other word of warning Ranger Standard-cab, Ranger Supercab,
Bronco2's and Explorers all have different floor pan profiles and so
use different seat tracks,
So if you want to put buckets or a split-bench into a Std-Cab Ranger
you must get your seat tracks out of a Std-Cab Ranger.
In general power seat tracks are a waste of time.
Be honest, do you really let anyone else drive your "pet"?
All the effects of adjustable seat tracks can be duplicated by
trial and error shimming of the seat to the track.
I personally use 1" spacers (and obviously longer bolts) to
raise the front of the seat base by approx. 7/8".
And a last note:
On Bronco2s and Ranger Supercabs there is a pull rod
that releases the "double" seat track on the passenger side seat.
ONLY the Supercab/Bronco2(late) Recliner/tilt latch has the little "ear" that this
pull rod attaches to, so you will need to retain the latch from the original
passenger side seat to install into your "new" seat so that ease of entry/exit
to the back seat is retained.
Also this latch was slightly revised for the '88 model year, so different
side trim is used on the seat with an additional release lever.
************************************************** ********************************************
This publication may be reprinted provided proper credit is given to the author (ME)
AND no changes are made without specific permission of same (Again, me.)
************************************************** ********************************************
Hope this helps someone in their junkyard seat searching.
Good luck and good Junkyard crawling
AllanD
Seatlist 4.0
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02-28-2002, 08:45 AM
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