The Great Seat Debate - Test Fitting Complete

[Chevy305]

The factory bench foam has seen better days and its not comfortable to sit on for extended drives. I've looked into just replacing the foam and seat cover and its going to run me up over $700 to have it professionally done. I figure for that price I could have a set of newer seats from some late model truck which would be nicer and far more comfortable. Looking into seats on eBay it seams like people are awfully proud of their used seats. But something I have to consider is being a pickup, my floor has a hump for the gas tanks so only short seats from sports cars would really work height wise. For ****s and giggles I measured the seats from my Camaro (which I love) and they are the perfect size. I did some digging on the Camaro forum and lots of people are stripping interiors to make drag cars so seats are plentiful and cheaper than eBay. It looks like I could be into them for around the same price as fixing my bench seat. Here's what they look like:

Here's my current bench seat:

I looked into doing a set of custom seats that some of you might remember me talking about. They look good their website but look hokey in the truck, and not to mention the cup holders useless.

 

[79rustyk10]

I don't know man. I've never been a fan of newer seats in these trucks. Never looks right to me, although I'm sure it would be really comfortable.

 

[dhcomp]

If you aren't afraid of some custom mounts, i say go for it.

I like the idea of keeping the stock seatbelt points. Its nice to do the newer seats with built in belts, but don't like the idea of all that force being transmitted through your home brew mounts in the case of an accident.

Those seats look pretty badass. The kicker will be figuring out some sort of factory looking trim to cover your bracket madness.

 

[andyblack]

I think I've told you this before, but when I first got my truck in '05, it had the same white exterior and red interior as your truck. However, the bench seat was sprung and really uncomfortable. Just so happened that my brother's Firebird had caught on fire and burnt up only the front clip a few months earlier, so I traded him some brand new shoes that were slightly too small for me for the seats out of the '95 Firebird and built some custom mounts out of some 1" square tube. I mounted the front part of the frame I built in the holes where the front of the bench seat had been and drilled two more for the rear of the bucket seats. Best thing I ever did to the that old truck for sure. No more sliding around or sitting too upright like I did with the bench. They won't lean back very far, but I was able to get them at about the angle I wanted without having to slide too far towards the steering wheel. Plus I was able to keep the old seat belts, but I know the seats you're looking at may be different. I think you can make them work since you're about the same height as me (5'8").

So I say get the Camaro seats. They're a lot newer than mine, but I think you can make them work. Don't forget to look for Honda Civic seats also. They're not as comforable, but they're a lot shorter in the part you sit on, in case you want to slide them forward so you can lean the seats back more.

 

[andyblack]

Oh and then the interior looked empty since I kept the column shifter for the auto trans, so I mounted a 30mm steel ammo can to the seat frame I built to use as an armrest/storage area. I mounted some cupholders to it too.

 

[Chevy305]

I agree with you guys that newer seats tend to look out of place in our trucks but I think these might be ok. I was thinking of using a center console from a newer truck as it'll match the seats and fit a fullsize. I'm definitely not using ammo cans and anything I make won't satisfy my protectionism. My problem here is that I just can't justify spending over $700 on my bench seat.

 

[andyblack]

I think the seats will look fine in there. I didn't figure you would use an ammo can either. I was just saying that there was plenty of room in the middle for a center console. I may get a lockable Tuffy for a Jeep Wrangler and put in mine one day. Or something like that.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

If the Camaro seats have built in seatbelts I'd either reinforce the hell out of the floor or get rid of the belts and use the stock setup.

 

[496truck]

I don't see built in belts with the pic provided , so prob not an issue.

I like a nice bench for the occasional..... roadside affection.

Your truck is taken a bit away from stock anyway, I say try out some new Camaro seats. What do you really have to lose? You can buy them at a decent price and if they don't work out just sell 'em. Hold on to the bench as a back up plan.

 

[72blazerguy]

I like a nice bench for the occasional..... roadside affection.

What about a split bench from a newer chevy? My 2003 silverado has the fold down console, integrated seat belts, and is very comfortable. Not sure about the height...

 

[Chevy305]

I don't see built in belts with the pic provided , so prob not an issue.

I like a nice bench for the occasional..... roadside affection.

Your truck is taken a bit away from stock anyway, I say try out some new Camaro seats. What do you really have to lose? You can buy them at a decent price and if they don't work out just sell 'em. Hold on to the bench as a back up plan.

Isn't that why trucks have beds??

Well I have the seats in question, just a matter of a few bolts to see what a set look like in my truck

 

[496truck]

What about a split bench from a newer chevy? My 2003 silverado has the fold down console, integrated seat belts, and is very comfortable. Not sure about the height...

A few people have done the newer truck seats in the reg cabs. They end up sitting too high. Not sure if it's how they made the brackets or if the seat bottom is just too thick to make it sit properly.

 

[andyblack]

A few people have done the newer truck seats in the reg cabs. They end up sitting too high. Not sure if it's how they made the brackets or if the seat bottom is just too thick to make it sit properly.

That's why I went with some older seats from a car. I'm actually sitting lower than I was on the bench even though I did raise the seats with some 1" spacers I made. I think that's why he's looking at the Camaro seats vs. newer truck seats.

 

[79HeavyChevy]

I didn't know you had buckets in your truck Andy, I need to swing by sometime and look at them. I've been wanting to ditch the bench out of mine for a while. I'm about to swap cabs so this would be a great time while its gutted haha.

 

[jekquistk5]

I used seats out of a Z24 Cavalier and the tough part is keeping them low enough. The seats are a little higher than I would like. Even with my smaller steering wheel.

 

[andyblack]

I didn't know you had buckets in your truck Andy, I need to swing by sometime and look at them. I've been wanting to ditch the bench out of mine for a while. I'm about to swap cabs so this would be a great time while its gutted haha.

I thought you saw them. I don't want to post pics here but I'll PM you if I get a chance.

 

[82355]

You're truck is too nice for different seats. I have NEVER seen a set of different seats swapped in one of these that didn't look ugly and out of place.

Martin

 

[82355]

Have you shopped around on having your seat redone? My old man and a guy here in town both had there bench seats redone for around $300.

Martin

 

[Chevy305]

You're truck is too nice for different seats. I have NEVER seen a set of different seats swapped in one of these that didn't look ugly and out of place.

Martin

Have you shopped around on having your seat redone? My old man and a guy here in town both had there bench seats redone for around $300.

Martin

You see, I totally agree with you and that's my dilemma.

Also I keep hearing about people getting seats redone for cheap but they never mention if that includes all new springs, foam, and cover. Even doing it myself wouldn't be much cheaper as the reproduction foam is close to $500

 

[82355]

My old man's was foam an seat cover in a 1976 C65. Reused the springs.

Martin