Installing Buckets seats (Tips and Help Needed)
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Installing Buckets seats (Tips and Help Needed)
Well, I've got a 1985 F150 XLT that I plan on installing some bucket seats. I should probably mention that my truck currently has a bench seat and it's in bad shape.
I got a set of tan leather buckets out of a 2006 Ford 500. These things are sweet.
Anyway, when I was measuring and planning on the best way to install these all I can say is wow.......this does not look easy at all. I know it can be done but wow.
Has anyone does this swap before? Going from bench to buckets? Any tips or tricks for me?
I know the bolt holes were not going to line up correctly, but I'm not sure how to do this correctly and safely.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Josh
I got a set of tan leather buckets out of a 2006 Ford 500. These things are sweet.
Anyway, when I was measuring and planning on the best way to install these all I can say is wow.......this does not look easy at all. I know it can be done but wow.
Has anyone does this swap before? Going from bench to buckets? Any tips or tricks for me?
I know the bolt holes were not going to line up correctly, but I'm not sure how to do this correctly and safely.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Josh
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 625
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
Most people swap to Bronco bucket seats, because they match the floor contour and the outer mounting holes properly. Using seats out of a completely different car will require some creative mount fabrication.
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Junior User
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yeah, thats what I was kind of afraid of. Well, sounds like I've got to think about what I want to do now........spend more money on finding some Bronco seats, or figure out a way to mount these things......
I guess I'll have to wait and see what happens...........Just out of curiousity, is it only 80-86 Bronco seats that will directly fit, or will 87-93 bronco seats fit as well?
Either way, I've got to think about what to do.
Thanks again,
Josh
I guess I'll have to wait and see what happens...........Just out of curiousity, is it only 80-86 Bronco seats that will directly fit, or will 87-93 bronco seats fit as well?
Either way, I've got to think about what to do.
Thanks again,
Josh
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 625
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From: Colorado
The F-Series seats up to '96 mount the same. To use Bronco seats, you have to bolt them in using the outer mounts, then drill and use bolts with large washers for the inner mounts.
For your newer buckets, I would get a bottom frame from a correct fitting bench seat, and go from there. It probably wouldn't be too hard to figure out how to marry the two.
For your newer buckets, I would get a bottom frame from a correct fitting bench seat, and go from there. It probably wouldn't be too hard to figure out how to marry the two.
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If they are really comfortable seats for you then I would highly recommend going to whatever lengths it takes to fit them. There's nothing more annoying/painful than a bad seat on a long trip.
These were out a Mitsubishi Colt that was wrecked with 1000 k's on the clock, essentially brand new. The 2 inner mounts made it onto the flat section of the floopan, the outer 2 you can see here. The front one is rhs and the rear is just plate sections. I made up load spreading plates for the inner attachment points and welded them to the floor. Each attachment point has a 3/8 nut welded captive to the plate so that you don't have to reach under the car when you're fastening them down. 3/8 Stainless socket head cap screws make it look a bit tidy from the top.
These were out a Mitsubishi Colt that was wrecked with 1000 k's on the clock, essentially brand new. The 2 inner mounts made it onto the flat section of the floopan, the outer 2 you can see here. The front one is rhs and the rear is just plate sections. I made up load spreading plates for the inner attachment points and welded them to the floor. Each attachment point has a 3/8 nut welded captive to the plate so that you don't have to reach under the car when you're fastening them down. 3/8 Stainless socket head cap screws make it look a bit tidy from the top.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
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From: Northern California
Just for clarification.
1980-1996 (1997-F-250-HD F-350) F-series and Bronco seats are swappable between each other.
A: Crew cab seats, the rear bench seat is swappable for the front and will fit standard cabs.
B: The Front Buckets out of a crew cab, bronco or supercab are swappable with each other and a regular cab if you drill the center holes and reinforce them with washers as described above.
C: Seats from 1973-1979 F-series will fit if you remove the seat track and bolt the 1980-1996 one to it, or vise versa.
The seats 1997 (except F-250-HD/F-350) and newer will not fit without quite a bit of modification.
Hope this helps.
1980-1996 (1997-F-250-HD F-350) F-series and Bronco seats are swappable between each other.
A: Crew cab seats, the rear bench seat is swappable for the front and will fit standard cabs.
B: The Front Buckets out of a crew cab, bronco or supercab are swappable with each other and a regular cab if you drill the center holes and reinforce them with washers as described above.
C: Seats from 1973-1979 F-series will fit if you remove the seat track and bolt the 1980-1996 one to it, or vise versa.
The seats 1997 (except F-250-HD/F-350) and newer will not fit without quite a bit of modification.
Hope this helps.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Sheffield, AL
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,477
Likes: 19
From: Sheffield, AL
81-F-150-Explorer,
This caused me to think as I soon will need to recover my original seat covering. I know of a rear seat of a 1986 Lariat of the same color truck as mine. The truck was a business truck and the rear seat was removed early on and stored. Your post indicated the rear bench seat is swappable. Would it still have the tilt feature for reaching behind the seat?
This caused me to think as I soon will need to recover my original seat covering. I know of a rear seat of a 1986 Lariat of the same color truck as mine. The truck was a business truck and the rear seat was removed early on and stored. Your post indicated the rear bench seat is swappable. Would it still have the tilt feature for reaching behind the seat?
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