88 needs bucket help
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: bonham texas
88 needs bucket help
i just bought an 88 ranger xlt 4x4. its got a 60/40 bench seat, but i would like to put buckets in it with maybe a center console. its a standerd shift. is there a serton donar vehicle i could get the seats and mounts out of to make it a little easyer.
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Aurora
I believe you'll be looking for a pre '01 Explorer. Before that, they seem to share a lot of chassis parts like seats. Seat swap from Explorer is well documented on older threads. Try a thread search at the beginning of the forum.
Fred
Fred
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Connecticut
Fred, I'm not sure the Explorer seats fit in the late-80's style Ranger.
This is a quote from AllanD over @ TRS, I'm pretty sure his comments apply to an '88:
This is a quote from AllanD over @ TRS, I'm pretty sure his comments apply to an '88:
Here is what seats will bolt in to a Ranger:
Tempo/Topaz
All years. Tempo GT's are the nicest. Tilting "pillow" headrest and frequently power lumbar.
Escort/Lynx
1981-1991? GT's again are the nicest,
"Halo" style headrest, sometimes power lumbar.
Mustang
Don't bother looking they will be gone when you get there. If you're lucky, look for Mustang GT's.
Also halo style headrests on GTs.
Thunderbird
1982-1988, Turbocoupe has nicest seats same as Mustang GT but with tilting "pillow" head rests, almost always power-lumbar, adjustable thigh support, adjustable side bolsters on base. The best factory ford seat (IMHO).
1986 Merkur XR4TI
The front seats from an 86 Merkur XR4TI will fit in a B2, so I assume rangers too, If you drill out the rivets, and swap the brackets from the tracks, 1/2 hour per, the seats I used gave me height adjust, adjustable headrest, lumbar support, much better lateral support, (no more bouncing out of the seatbelt) and they're heated. (Submitted by Merc)
All of these 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 completely different).
You will have to run a Tap 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 EXTREMELY uncomfortable)
If you have a Supercab Ranger or a Bronco2 headrest clearance isn't an issue.
One other word of warning Ranger Standard-cab, Ranger Supercab and Bronco II's 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.
Tempo/Topaz
All years. Tempo GT's are the nicest. Tilting "pillow" headrest and frequently power lumbar.
Escort/Lynx
1981-1991? GT's again are the nicest,
"Halo" style headrest, sometimes power lumbar.
Mustang
Don't bother looking they will be gone when you get there. If you're lucky, look for Mustang GT's.
Also halo style headrests on GTs.
Thunderbird
1982-1988, Turbocoupe has nicest seats same as Mustang GT but with tilting "pillow" head rests, almost always power-lumbar, adjustable thigh support, adjustable side bolsters on base. The best factory ford seat (IMHO).
1986 Merkur XR4TI
The front seats from an 86 Merkur XR4TI will fit in a B2, so I assume rangers too, If you drill out the rivets, and swap the brackets from the tracks, 1/2 hour per, the seats I used gave me height adjust, adjustable headrest, lumbar support, much better lateral support, (no more bouncing out of the seatbelt) and they're heated. (Submitted by Merc)
All of these 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 completely different).
You will have to run a Tap 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 EXTREMELY uncomfortable)
If you have a Supercab Ranger or a Bronco2 headrest clearance isn't an issue.
One other word of warning Ranger Standard-cab, Ranger Supercab and Bronco II's 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.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 361
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From: Lake Almanor
You can put most any year buckets into your gen 1 Ranger. The key is the mounts.
I put 93 Exploder buckets and console in my '88 4x but had to find gen 1, 83-88, bucket brackets, drill the holes for the inside brackets cause a bench seat came out. They sat a little low but with some 1x2 stock between the seat bottom and the bracket raised the seat just enough. Theres a couple pics in my gallery and cardomain.
Good luck
Rich
I put 93 Exploder buckets and console in my '88 4x but had to find gen 1, 83-88, bucket brackets, drill the holes for the inside brackets cause a bench seat came out. They sat a little low but with some 1x2 stock between the seat bottom and the bracket raised the seat just enough. Theres a couple pics in my gallery and cardomain.
Good luck
Rich
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 771
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From: Aurora
Good stuff Rockledge!! Thanx for clearing that up. Gen 1 Explorers started in 91 and Gen 1 Rangers ended in 88, but as Fyre82 mentioned, the bench to bucket issue might require mount rearangement.
74Shane, let us know what you find.
Fred
74Shane, let us know what you find.
Fred
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 361
Likes: 1
From: Lake Almanor
He has a 60/40 already so the buckets are the thing. I think that some explorer buckets may just bolt onto the 60/40 brackets. Most of those have other holes on the botom of the seat that just needs tapped out to match the mount holes on the sliders. If I had started out with a 60/40 instead of a bench m conversion would have been much smoother. There were some variations of mounting I did that scare me to this day 
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