heY I HAVE A 99 EB ex AND was wondering if it is possible to switch the bench seat in the 2nd row to a newer navigator/expedition captains seats with the console in the middle thanks.

 

I had an 04 EB with a bench seat and asked the same question. The dealer told me no, since the mounting would not line up, therefore, they couldn't do it. I don't know how true that is, but I didn't ask any further.

I now have an 05 EB with captain chairs in the second row. It is so much easier for the kids to get to the back without having to fold a seat down...

Joe

 

Im sure you can do the swap. An 04 is the new body style, in the new body style more things vary between the two vehicles in terms of the interior.

 

I'm interested in this conversion as well. My bet it that it can be done. There is no way that there are two different bodies made - one for captains chairs, and one without. Have the factory service manuals, and plan on investigating once I get it on the road.

 

I had a windstar and the receivers for the captain seats were in the floor under the carpet. On the van you could change to the other seats but you would need the correct carpet to go with the seats. Unless you just wanted to cut a hole in the carpet. I would think the expedition is the same but I have not had the carpet out of my expedition yet. The van was a 95.

 

I have an 00 Epy EB. I have the captain 2nd row seating. And I agree with N4Ziq, much easier for the kids and anything else. The change out can be done from 00 to 02. not sure about anything earlier. In the 00 to 02, the mounts are already there you just need the chairs.

 

I had a '99 f150--the front seat mounts are all there for either capt chairs or bench, or 40/60--I would think the same would apply to the Expys for the 2nd row. I'm trying to remember my '99 Expy--wasn't the 2nd seat a 60/40 type bench that the 40 folded forward to allow access to the 3rd row? It that is so, than the bolt holes might be different--should be easy to check--take out the 2nd row and look under the carpet.
It the holes are there, the nuts are welded to the frame and you're in business--don't forget the belts for safety.

 

Finally installed the captain's chair - read on.

I had a 00 EB 4x4 with bench 2nd row seat, and was planning to install captains chair which I luckily won real cheap at ebay ($102 for the pair, leather-tan and was lucky to be reasonably near for pick-up, ergo no shipping cost - don't know exactly the XP model where the chairs were pulled, but it should be at least 00, and definitely from first gen XP).

When I got the seats, I gave my 00 an initial look at montings available and it became apparent that the '60' of the 60/40 needed some work, the '40' looked like a direct replacement.

Sadly, that 00 EB got totaled (head-on but I'm alright - my XP with new rancho shocks, new plugs - all DIY was not) ... and so I didn't get a chance to install the seats.

I liked the darn thing so much that I looked for a similar vehicle for replacement, and so I got a 99 XP 4x4 XLT, same color, same leather-tan interior - with bonus LLS (okay, I know, not a lot of folks out there are big fan of LLS, but I'm not complaining).

And after a couple of months, I finally got around it, and here is the deal:

For 99 (and very likely for 00 too)

- the '40' is a direct replacement (passngr side)
- for the '60', only the double-bolt front-outer leg will be 'aligned' and can be directly used, the rest will need fabrication. No shop would want to do it, liability issue, I guess. Of the three that needed work, the outer-rear, double-nuts fastened to the floor can be easily used with little imagination and some readily available material. This gave the seat two solid support (the outer front leg and the outer rear-leg). The middle front leg and the middle rear leg will need more involved fastening tricks, but the good news is that there is a middle rear 'latch' from the '60' that can be utilized as additional anchor for the middle rear leg, which is where seat-belt is fastened.

And yes, the seat belts are directly usable.

Please don't ask how I did my fabrication, I don't want the liability either, even in my imagination. I know that you would do your due diligence in making sure that the seat will be securedly fastened to the floor if you will venture to do this - specially the leg where the seat-belt is anchored.

I like the capt chairs, great improvement over the 60/40 bench.

BTW, for ease of access, I removed the '40' in both my current 99 even prior to installation of the capt chair, and in my previous 00 EB. I got four small kids and its hard for them to fold-up the '40' to go to the third row.

Happy hunting for captn chair