Switching to buckets (pics!) OBS

[Clarkson]

Heres my in progress of switching from the stock bench to bucket seats in my 96 Chevy RCLB... I got a pair of stock buckets (88-94 style cuz they are my fav) from the barrie flea market and just finally got around to cleaning them up.

The seat brackets were rusty, so I used my angle grinfer with a wire wheel to clean them all up, then Rust Check Rust Converter to take care of any leftover rust I couldnt get to. Anyone with rusty brackets... pull those seats out and clean them up! They come away from the seats with 4 bolts... very easy.


http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z202/atclarkson/100PENTX-IMGP7662_IMGP7662.jpg
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z202/atclarkson/100PENTX-IMGP7661_IMGP7661.jpg

The seats were a mess when I got them, and are starting to get better, still need some work to get them the way I want tho.

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z202/atclarkson/100PENTX-IMGP7660_IMGP7660.jpg


stock bench

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z202/atclarkson/100PENTX-IMGP7669_IMGP7669.jpg

I'll get more pics up when I get them in. (Tuesdayish)

[ruger4d4]

thats gonna look good man...what kinda center console are u gonna use?

[Clarkson]

thanks man... I want to build a console for my sub (downfire) that has cupholders and a junk tray.. but I want it to look very clean and inconspicuous. Probably carpet, maybe fibreglass, definetly black tho. For now I'm gonna run without.

I have the stock console at home too, prob toss it on the for sale forums soon.

[flopeyeman]

thanks man... I want to build a console for my sub (downfire) that has cupholders and a junk tray.. but I want it to look very clean and inconspicuous. Probably carpet, maybe fibreglass, definetly black tho. For now I'm gonna run without.

I have the stock console at home too, prob toss it on the for sale forums soon.

I'm in desperate need of that center console but I cant afford very much at all!!!shoot me a PM and let me know how much!!

[ruger4d4]

I think you should go with fiberglass personally. whatever you decide,post some pics of it.

[Nick5811]

I bought some seats a while back with sharpie pen marking all over them from an aborted recovering project; anyways, I found that using that fast orange hand cleaner from the auto parts store worked wonders for cleaning out the permanent ink, and it didn't take any work to clean em.

You may want to try it...plus your seats will smell good.

[Clarkson]

mmmm...orange cleaner

I'll give it a try

[DraKhen99]

So what all is involved in swapping the seats?

I would think you'd have to figure out how to get the center seatbelt out of the stock bench (I still haven't really looked at that part), unbolt the 4 bolts holding the stock bench in, drill 4 new holes for the center-most mounts for the buckets, and bolt 'em back down, am I right?

-John

[Clarkson]

you got it DraK

Just did er tonight!

The Center seatbelt comes out with a bolt for each belt behind the seat. This must come out before pulling the seat out.
I was actually surprised how easy it was to get the new holes in for the seats, and I grabbed some hardware I had at the shop.

New Buckets In

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z202/atclarkson/100PENTX-IMGP7758_IMGP7758.jpg

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z202/atclarkson/100PENTX-IMGP7760_IMGP7760.jpg

Space inbetween seats (I'm liking the no console for now... at least until I build mine! Lots of extra space in the reg cab)

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z202/atclarkson/100PENTX-IMGP7764_IMGP7764.jpg

Tossed the console in just to show the difference and see how it looked

Forward

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z202/atclarkson/100PENTX-IMGP7769_IMGP7769.jpg

Back

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z202/atclarkson/100PENTX-IMGP7767_IMGP7767.jpg

The Shop :D

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z202/atclarkson/100PENTX-IMGP7753_IMGP7753.jpg


I still have to hook up the power driver seat, (jumpered it to move it where I wanted it) but so far I like it!

[DraKhen99]

Did you lift up the carpeting in order to drill your mounting holes for the new seats, or did you just drill through it?

I might just do this, once I figure out the best way to drill the holes without screwing up and having to re-drill them.

-John

[CKTA]

Cut a little X in the carpet where you will be drilling the hole. grab the bit you will be using and 1/16" up from the end of the cutting tip wrap it w/ tape.....the tape whon't "grab" the carpet like the bit would.

[Clarkson]

I have rubber, not carpet, so I just cut the hole in the floor and drilled.

CKTA- good idea tho I'll remeber this

[jeephauler]

buckets, nice! but i like my 60/40!

[Chevyguy96]

hey what did you do to mount the seats, what i mean is what did you do to mount them because there is only 2 bolt holes on each side

[Nick5811]

Dude! Sick! I was gonna do a custom console in my older truck too, but when I saw how much more space I had, I went with a removeable one. Sometimes it's helpful to have lots of room inside your regular cab truck if you know what I mean (think :boobies: )

So what all is involved in swapping the seats?

I would think you'd have to figure out how to get the center seatbelt out of the stock bench (I still haven't really looked at that part), unbolt the 4 bolts holding the stock bench in, drill 4 new holes for the center-most mounts for the buckets, and bolt 'em back down, am I right?

-John

When I swapped out my bench for two buckets that was pretty much what I did. I had an issue with my passenger side inner holes though because of a heat-shield that was attached above the catalytic converter (cali smog laws). It would have been helpful to have welding tools/experience so I could have just welded the nuts in place instead of trying to hold one while turning the other one.

I marked the holes on the carpet with a sharpie, lifted the carpet up to drill the holes, then cut the sharpie mark out with a razor after putting the carpet back. My drill bit did chew up a lot of that padding under the carpet before I learned my lesson and did it 'the right way'.

[neevnav]

Looks sweet man. Now lets get started on that console!

[Clarkson]

haha you just want to guinea pig my truck!

soon tho man, I want my nice stereo back, speaker bass is killin me here

[CanadianEdm]

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i314/chevy_impala57/Rightsideviewofseats.jpg

Console was a bit of work to get in, and it ended up backwards. My heat reflecter had plates in it. I poped them and no problems. Seats drill 2 more holes.

[91blkstpsd]

I had some 92 buckets and console in mine for a while. Was pretty easy to install. Just had to drill the two inner holes on each seat. I have just taken them out now and am switching to 96 leather seats with a 99+ console. I dyed the seats black to match my new interior im doing. If anyone is interested in the 92 seats I will part with them and console. They are in great condition with just a slight separation on the armrest and drivers is power. Just PM me. Here is a few pics.
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q153/91blkstpsd/205855960_684528266_0.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q153/91blkstpsd/205035636_681684247_0.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q153/91blkstpsd/seats-1.jpg

[Jballin4]

New seats look good!!!

[sundeb]

sweet man been thinking about doing this to my truck.

[Clarkson]

sweet man been thinking about doing this to my truck.


go for it, I'm loving them more everyday! The whole truck feels better haha :aniteef:

[305ho]

When you bolted in the new seats did you put a backing plate on the underside of the floor where the nut is. I ask this because if you crash or roll over the seat could could brake loose if the two new bolts pull through the floor. Just a thought I did this too mine for safety.

[Clarkson]

When you bolted in the new seats did you put a backing plate on the underside of the floor where the nut is. I ask this because if you crash or roll over the seat could could brake loose if the two new bolts pull through the floor. Just a thought I did this too mine for safety.


I actually just put in a few large washers... this should be enough right? If nlot, I'll pull them and put a plate it. Safety first :D

[Justin_Inc]

wow, this is giving me second thoughts on switching to a 60/40 bench... i may just have to do buckets!

[Clarkson]

do it you won't regret it :D

[94383Z71]

Looks Great

[onewingedangel]

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q153/91blkstpsd/seats-1.jpg

That is exactly what I want to do! If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for that set up? I want to see what I might be looking at.

[91blkstpsd]

That is exactly what I want to do! If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for that set up? I want to see what I might be looking at.
Honestly this will make alot of folks on here sick.haha I only gave $25 for the leather seats but I had to dye them black. The newer console only cost me $40 and Im painting it black. So at a maximum this whole setup cost me about $80 including the dye.;-)
I got all this at a local junk yard that only has chevrolet trucks. They are VERY cheap on parts. Im thinking about buying alot of stuff and reselling it on ebay.

[ShotgunFacelift]

if you can get me both seats, dont mind the color, Ill pay plus shipping to 33334. PM me please.

[90slammer]

i just got these and got a console for $20 on ebay

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b224/fast94accord/seat2.jpg

[Projex]

i was thinking of doing the same to my truck, but with a low rise bucket seats:aniteef:

[Clarkson]

same deal... low rises are sweet too!

[96thebossgrnchv]

came out nice man

[scorpian]

how hard was it to dye the seats? did you have to take off the leather seats covers..?
if you have them installed, has the dye worn off or came out at all?

Thanks!
Ian

[91blkstpsd]

how hard was it to dye the seats? did you have to take off the leather seats covers..?
if you have them installed, has the dye worn off or came out at all?

Thanks!
Ian

I bought some SEM leather/vinyl prep which cleans and prepares the seats to be dyed. Then I used SEM color coat dye and sprayed light coats allowing it to absorb into the material before doing more. I did not have to remove the covers to do this either, just recline the seats so it will cover everything. Its very easy to do and I have had them done for about a month and no signs of wear yet so I think they will hold up good.

[Smooth05]

Nice Job!!!

[Bagged 04]

I like it looks nice.