Original Seats

[NorCal69]

Yesterday I was helping my friend shim out his doors from the recent bushings and 1" BL that we installed last month. As I was holding the wrench on #2 and #3 inside the cab, I noticed that his rear seats sit a lot lower than mine. Anybody following my build, knows how much this could help with the head room for the back passengers vs. the cage overhead. We measured the difference between his back seat and mine and it almost sits 2" lower.

Now I realize that I could fab something for the seat to sit lower, or cut 2" out of the braces on mine to lower the seats, but it's more of a curiosity thing that had me wondering what these might be out of. Both of the K5's are 69's, mine being a CST. I don't' know if that matters though.

After the discovery of the lower seats in his, we started looking at the front seats. His are much wider, like Lazyboy wide at the top, while mine are the traditional seat.

So the question is, was there maybe a difference between the CST models and the utility versions. I would think that is what his was originally. Are his even out of a k5? His front passenger seat does flip up like the rest. I was thinking maybe his back seat could be the third seat to a burb???

Couple of pics.

His back seat. Yes, it's a mess, but the rig gets used a lot by us.

Lower back bracket.

Different mounting style and much lower.

My back seat.

Front mounting of my back seat.

Back mounting of seat. This sits about 2" taller.

Now for the front seats. The first photo is of mine and what I thought was the only seat style that came with these trucks.

His LazyBoy seats. They are probably close to 6" wider at the top shoulder area.

So, that do you have?

 

[Greg72]

Mike,

You've got the standard "CST" style seats in yours. His seats (up front at least) are what they call "Utility" seats..... much wider at the top and more flat across the seating areas, no bolsters.

I've never heard of a "utility" back seat, but I suppose it's possible. The only one I'm familiar with are the ones like you showed with the tubular front mounts that need the small hold down clamps to secure them.

Ultimately, it wouldn't take much to build a "cradle" for the rear seat and incorporate it into your rollcage so that nothing even touches the rear floor. Add a few clever quick-disconnects and you'd have a truck that could be converted into a "Home Depot plywood hauler" without even needing to break out your socket set.

That was my own personal plan anyway. It means I can also put down rear carpeting without a bunch of "through holes" for the seat bolts....easy to remove if it ever gets wet, or if I know in advance I'm going someplace muddy and I just want a "rinse-out" interior anyway.

 

[NorCal69]

Good info Greg, thanks.

I thought that may be the case with the fronts, just have never seen them personally.

The back I have never heard of though. I see a ton of guys always wanting to buy the front clips that go over the front bar to hold the seats down. Maybe a little research over on 67-72 will tell me what they are. Just curiosity more than anything, I guess.

I've been thinking about the "hanging rear seat" more and more as I go through the cage build. Just want to get finished with the top end first. It took a lot to build the motivation this weekend to start cutting and do some stuff over this weekend.

All in all, it was nice to see that the back seat could be lowered and still be comfortable. The two inches gained, would be all the difference in the world to the back passengers. I've spent a good amount of time in the back on snow runs and it was fine being lower to the bed.

 

[ashman]

wow, I'd never seen seats like his either. mine look just like yours (or did before I replaced the fronts). it would be interesting to know how rare his rear seat is.

just out of curiosity, do the bolt holes line up between the 2? it looks from the pic that his front bolts come down in front of the seat, while the tube style bolts down under the seat.