Has anyone put a bench seat in their '73-'76 Blazer?

[SDEPOINT]

I am thinking replacing the bucket seats with a bench seat.

WHY? I could fit three people up front, a kid could sleep on the bench, and I could have the option of taking out the back seat when I go camping.

Thoughts?
Matthew

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

I put a GMC Kodiak bench, in my '88.
It now resides in my '70 C/10.

They fit PERFECT.
About 3/4" clearance, between the arm rest and seat, on either side.

I imagine yers cant be much different.

Also, the seats from 80s-90s dodge ramchargers/pickups fit, too.

 

[dremu]

I tried a bench out of a late 70's pickup in my '74 Blazer. No go.

The problem is not width, but the 73-77 Blazer has very little space immediately behind the seats. Unlike the 78+ Blazers where there is foot room for the rear passengers, on the early trucks the rear floor comes right up to the back of the front seat.

The seat tracks for the bench don't have anywhere to mount in the back, without doing some fairly industrious cutting and welding.

-- A

 

[SDEPOINT]

Very helpful guys. thanks!

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

My seat was placed, where the rear of the seat, was where the factory seats stopped.

If that makes a difference.

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

Why not do a 40-20-40 seat, from a Suburban?
That way, you have benchseat capacity, with bucket seat footprint and accessibility.
And a b*tchin' arm rest!!

 

[diesel4me]

I put a leather 6 way power seat from a 70's Caddy in my '72 K5,and it wasn't that hard to adapt it to fit,I just used some square tubing I had from a rack I had to "level" it off--used the tracks that were on it,all I had to do was drill 4 bolt holes and get long enough bolts,some fender washers,and it was in..and I loved it,it was like driving a couch compared to the bony bucket seat it had before!..

 

[flynhawaiian]

I have a front bench seat from a 1984 suburban in my 74 Blazer. I ended up cutting the original seat brackets in half and attaching a piece of flat bar to them. Then I bent the tabs on the truck bench seat so they were flat and bolted it to the flat bar. I could take a picture if you want tomorrow.

It is all the way against the floor in the back.

 

[SDEPOINT]

Any pictures would be great. I want to do some research before I hit the junkyard.

thx!
matthew

 

[flynhawaiian]

I will try to grab a picture tomorrow. Once again it is dark.

 

[chulisohombre]

Eventually I am going to do the split seat with flip up console center section. I've heard the newer Tahoe seats fit good. But need to make a new bracket to bolt to the floor. My buddy had a 97 dodge crew cab that I measured up and the seats from that era truck will fit good as well.

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

Any seat can be welded to flatbar, or square tube....
Then, weld that to the og seat bracket.

Done.

 

[imiceman44]

Any seat can be welded to flatbar, or square tube....
Then, weld that to the og seat bracket.

Done.

What if you don't have the seat brackets

 

[dremu]

What if you don't have the seat brackets

Then you get a set from a member here. Surely Iceman has five or six -- even I have one or two sets.

Though I've no idea how that would work on 73-75's when the driver's side bracket slides and the passenger flips.

And if you can weld you can just make your own anyway.

-- A

 

[SDEPOINT]

to be honest, i am not doing this work myself. I am working with a good body and paint shop in the Tucson area. We have a TON of junkyards here, so should be able to find the right seat.

attached is a picture of the current state of restoration.

 

[flynhawaiian]

Here are some pics of the brackets I made. If my blazer looked like yours, I would consider making something nicer. On the plus side they were quick and easy to make, without creating new holes in the body.