Seat fold forward? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

justinburnett · 10-17-2010, 11:13 PM

I have a 1973 gmc. Is the bench seat supposed to fold forward? It looks like it should, but I can't figure out how. Sometime in it's past someone screwed a gun rack to the back wall behind the seat, but there's no way to get to it very well without folding the seat forward because it hits the 4wd selector before it slides forward very far.

79'84'chevy · 10-17-2010, 11:19 PM

there should be a lever on the back of the seat at the end or there is a lever on the bottom of the seat that moves it forward.

sierra4x4 · 10-17-2010, 11:49 PM

My 74 Sierra Grande's Seat doesn't fold forward. So yours likely doesn't either. I don't think any of the 73-74 seats fold.

justinburnett · 10-17-2010, 11:58 PM

There's only the lever to slide it forward and back. Checked, and nothing on the back.

That kinda sucks. I still can't figure out why someone would store firearms back there when they would be so hard to reach. Oh well. I need a new seat anyway. Mine's pretty saggy on the driver's side. Maybe I'll luck out and find a newer folding one. Anything up till 1987 fit?

babyJay · 10-19-2010, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinburnett

I still can't figure out why someone would store firearms back there when they would be so hard to reach....

You're not supposed to be able to reach them driving down the road...

Unless you live in Indianapolis....

justinburnett · 10-19-2010, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babyJay

You're not supposed to be able to reach them driving down the road...

Unless you live in Indianapolis....

I just meant that to get them you have to slide the seat all the way forward, get up on the seat, reach down and pull them up and out. Just seems kind of inconvenient.

Either way probably wouldn't be easy while driving, but if it folded forward at least you wouldn't have to be crawling all over trying to pull them out.

Besides, long guns are a PITA to shoot out of a moving vehicle when you're driving.

BowTieMan · 10-19-2010, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinburnett

Besides, long guns are a PITA to shoot out of a moving vehicle when you're driving.

Do I wanna ask how you know this? Haha

79'84'chevy · 10-17-2010, 11:57 PM

my bad. my 79 does.

*78 Chevyrado* · 10-18-2010, 11:43 AM

Don't know if the 73-74 folded up or not, but on some other years, only the higher end trucks seats folded up and the base models seats didn't.

Jonboy · 10-18-2010, 11:49 AM

Hard to say. My '74 has a folding seat, and it looks to be the original seat.

jchav62 · 10-18-2010, 12:20 PM

The original seat on my '73 didn't fold. I think there is a way to get it fold, but I just put a newer seat in (1983). The original seat seems to sit up too high.

burger · 10-19-2010, 04:50 PM

My '73 has fixed seats that do not fold forward.

Greenlee · 10-19-2010, 05:01 PM

I have been told that on non-folding suburban and crew cab rear seats, there is bolt that can be removed and moved to a different hole and it will fold. Not sure if that applies to the 73-74 seats. I'm not even 100% sure if it's true that you can convert the non-folding seats to folding seats. If anyone can confirm, please speak up.

jchav62 · 10-19-2010, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenlee

I have been told that on non-folding suburban and crew cab rear seats, there is bolt that can be removed and moved to a different hole and it will fold. Not sure if that applies to the 73-74 seats. I'm not even 100% sure if it's true that you can convert the non-folding seats to folding seats. If anyone can confirm, please speak up.

I've heard the same thing about the seventies seats...

RandyP · 10-19-2010, 07:34 PM

My '74 bench folds, no idea if it's original seat or not though. I'm scared to take the seat cover off and look.

tucsonjwt · 10-19-2010, 07:49 PM

My 1973 C20 did not fold forward - real PITA - no useful access behind the seat. Mr. Seymore might have the definitive answer on this, though I think he started building squares later in the 70s.

justinburnett · 10-19-2010, 09:41 PM

I'll have to rip my cover off and check it out. That'd be great.

As for the shooting, we had this left-handed drive-by type target practice with 30-30s one day. Made sure we were safe about it, dead end logging road, no one in front of you, trying to hit a big poster of Osama Bin Laden... It was fun, but I don't think anyone ever hit him while driving. I'd tell you the secret to doing it right, but I never figured out how to do anything but hold the rifle so it didn't hurt as much when you fired.

notrailerqueens · 11-06-2010, 12:13 AM

i sympathize with you i have the same issue with my 86. really is a pita cause apart from some stereotypical wear and tear to the drivers seat corner its in great shape hate to replace it would rather recover it but your right sucks with little to no access back there. im def gonna have to check out what hubscrub said hopefully ill get lucky and the fix will be that simple

79gmcc15 · 11-06-2010, 01:09 AM

Can you make a non folding seat into a folding one? Maybe take the hardware off of a j/r one and replace them on yours?
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justinburnett · 11-11-2010, 07:39 PM

I pulled some bolts out but then the back just flopped around all the time and I hated it, so I went and found a folding seat. LOVE IT!!!! I can grab my shotgun or jumper cables whenever I need them. Seat's a little more "comfy" (squishy) than my old one, I prefer a firmer seat, but it's worth the trade. Cost me $100 for the seat AND the entire interior trim (yes, WITH a good dash), and outside drip rails since mine didn't have them. Figured I made out pretty well on the deal.

lilpoindexter · 11-11-2010, 11:54 PM

My '78's OG seat did not fold forward.

Adams74Chevy · 11-12-2010, 01:29 PM

My '74 Custom Deluxe (read cheap model) has a folding seat and my father bought it in '75 from the original owner and my father never replaced the seat so I'm 99.9% its the original. My '73 "Silverado" (in quotes since more and more it seems to be a frankenstein style hodge podge from POers ) is also a folder but it might not be the original seat who knows.

HOTFUN · 11-13-2010, 10:57 AM

It was optional as it is listed as an option on one of my 73's build sheet sticker and my 74 doesnt have it. Just like the drip rails in late 73-74 it was an option.

10-17-2010, 11:13 PM	#1
justinburnett Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Dalles, OR Posts: 392	Seat fold forward? I have a 1973 gmc. Is the bench seat supposed to fold forward? It looks like it should, but I can't figure out how. Sometime in it's past someone screwed a gun rack to the back wall behind the seat, but there's no way to get to it very well without folding the seat forward because it hits the 4wd selector before it slides forward very far.

10-17-2010, 11:19 PM	#2
79'84'chevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Cody, Wyoming Posts: 76	Re: Seat fold forward? there should be a lever on the back of the seat at the end or there is a lever on the bottom of the seat that moves it forward.

10-17-2010, 11:49 PM	#3
sierra4x4 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 308	Re: Seat fold forward? My 74 Sierra Grande's Seat doesn't fold forward. So yours likely doesn't either. I don't think any of the 73-74 seats fold.

10-17-2010, 11:58 PM	#4
justinburnett Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Dalles, OR Posts: 392	Re: Seat fold forward? There's only the lever to slide it forward and back. Checked, and nothing on the back. That kinda sucks. I still can't figure out why someone would store firearms back there when they would be so hard to reach. Oh well. I need a new seat anyway. Mine's pretty saggy on the driver's side. Maybe I'll luck out and find a newer folding one. Anything up till 1987 fit?

10-17-2010, 11:57 PM	#8
79'84'chevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Cody, Wyoming Posts: 76	Re: Seat fold forward? my bad. my 79 does. __________________ deer hunting, fish catching, 4x4ing country boy

10-18-2010, 11:43 AM	#9
78 Chevyrado Account Suspended Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Unnapreciative, Trollville Posts: 2,079	Re: Seat fold forward? Don't know if the 73-74 folded up or not, but on some other years, only the higher end trucks seats folded up and the base models seats didn't.

10-18-2010, 11:49 AM	#10
Jonboy Slots go on anything! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 5,957	Re: Seat fold forward? Hard to say. My '74 has a folding seat, and it looks to be the original seat. __________________ 1974 Jimmy- 5.3/4L80e/NP241

10-18-2010, 12:20 PM	#11
jchav62 1962 C-10 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Las Vegas, New Mexico Posts: 4,978	Re: Seat fold forward? The original seat on my '73 didn't fold. I think there is a way to get it fold, but I just put a newer seat in (1983). The original seat seems to sit up too high. __________________ Joseph Chavez "See the USA in a Chevrolet!!" ......................_____ .........________//__{\_____ ,,,,,,,/__(O)___//___/__(O)_/ 1962 C10 Shortbed Fleetside 327/th350 GV overdrive 1974 C10 Longbed Fleetside 350/th350 "The Trash Truck" 1999 Chevy 2500 OBS, Longbed 5.7/4L80E 4x4 2015 GMC Sierra SLE 1500 4x4 Last edited by jchav62; 10-18-2010 at 12:20 PM.

10-19-2010, 04:50 PM	#12
burger Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: philly burbs Posts: 160	Re: Seat fold forward? My '73 has fixed seats that do not fold forward.

10-19-2010, 05:01 PM	#13
Greenlee Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: El Lago, TX Posts: 1,668	Re: Seat fold forward? I have been told that on non-folding suburban and crew cab rear seats, there is bolt that can be removed and moved to a different hole and it will fold. Not sure if that applies to the 73-74 seats. I'm not even 100% sure if it's true that you can convert the non-folding seats to folding seats. If anyone can confirm, please speak up.

10-19-2010, 07:34 PM	#15
RandyP Getting Old; Going Broke Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Owasso OK Posts: 2,764	Re: Seat fold forward? My '74 bench folds, no idea if it's original seat or not though. I'm scared to take the seat cover off and look. __________________ *Why is every used 350 sbc out of a corvette?* There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys. *VEGETARIAN: That's an old Indian word meaning "I don't hunt so good."* When the going gets tough, switch to power tools.

10-19-2010, 07:49 PM	#16
tucsonjwt Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,189	Re: Seat fold forward? My 1973 C20 did not fold forward - real PITA - no useful access behind the seat. Mr. Seymore might have the definitive answer on this, though I think he started building squares later in the 70s.

10-19-2010, 09:41 PM	#17
justinburnett Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Dalles, OR Posts: 392	Re: Seat fold forward? I'll have to rip my cover off and check it out. That'd be great. As for the shooting, we had this left-handed drive-by type target practice with 30-30s one day. Made sure we were safe about it, dead end logging road, no one in front of you, trying to hit a big poster of Osama Bin Laden... It was fun, but I don't think anyone ever hit him while driving. I'd tell you the secret to doing it right, but I never figured out how to do anything but hold the rifle so it didn't hurt as much when you fired.

11-06-2010, 12:13 AM	#18
notrailerqueens Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Spring, TX Posts: 233	Re: Seat fold forward? i sympathize with you i have the same issue with my 86. really is a pita cause apart from some stereotypical wear and tear to the drivers seat corner its in great shape hate to replace it would rather recover it but your right sucks with little to no access back there. im def gonna have to check out what hubscrub said hopefully ill get lucky and the fix will be that simple __________________ Lindsey Rae 85' chevy long box, built by a girl! My Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=429956

11-06-2010, 01:09 AM	#19
79gmcc15 Gettin It One Pice At A Time Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: everett, washington Posts: 2,688	Re: Seat fold forward? Can you make a non folding seat into a folding one? Maybe take the hardware off of a j/r one and replace them on yours? Posted via Mobile Device __________________ RIP ELJAY Work In Progress 1979 GMC C1500 Trailering Special. Getting the truck done, one piece at a time. “You can tell a lot about a fellow’s character by his way of eating jellybeans.”Ronald Reagan “I don’t know the key to success but I know the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” Bill Cosby



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11-11-2010, 07:39 PM	#20
justinburnett Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Dalles, OR Posts: 392	Re: Seat fold forward? I pulled some bolts out but then the back just flopped around all the time and I hated it, so I went and found a folding seat. LOVE IT!!!! I can grab my shotgun or jumper cables whenever I need them. Seat's a little more "comfy" (squishy) than my old one, I prefer a firmer seat, but it's worth the trade. Cost me $100 for the seat AND the entire interior trim (yes, WITH a good dash), and outside drip rails since mine didn't have them. Figured I made out pretty well on the deal.

11-11-2010, 11:54 PM	#21
lilpoindexter Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: los angeles Posts: 1,134	Re: Seat fold forward? My '78's OG seat did not fold forward.

11-12-2010, 01:29 PM	#22
Adams74Chevy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MD Posts: 417	Re: Seat fold forward? My '74 Custom Deluxe (read cheap model) has a folding seat and my father bought it in '75 from the original owner and my father never replaced the seat so I'm 99.9% its the original. My '73 "Silverado" (in quotes since more and more it seems to be a frankenstein style hodge podge from POers ) is also a folder but it might not be the original seat who knows. __________________ 2006 Silverado Crew Cab 1500 4x4 5.3L automatic 1986 M1008 CUCV 6.2L Detroit Diesel TH400 4.56 Detroit Locker rear NP208 1973 K20 "Silverado" 350ci, HEI, TH350, NP203 with 2wd conversion, A/C, power windows,tilt wheel, dual tanks. My '73ish K20 thread My 5yo son claims it as his. 1987 V20 Custom Deluxe 350 TH400 NP208 "farm truck" getting parted out. 2016 Nissan Altima grocery getter/commuter

11-13-2010, 10:57 AM	#23
HOTFUN Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 2,145	Re: Seat fold forward? It was optional as it is listed as an option on one of my 73's build sheet sticker and my 74 doesnt have it. Just like the drip rails in late 73-74 it was an option. __________________ '66 CST BBW swb fleet 327 fac ac '67 CST 4x4 swb 327 stepside project '72 Cheyenne K20 50k original '72 Cheyenne Super K20 project '73 Sierra swb 4x4 frame off in paint stage '74 Cheyenne Super swb w/16k actual '71 & 72 Cheyenne K10 4x4 swb's '70 426 HEMICUDA conv SHAKER 4 sp Dana 60 '60 Impala conv 327 PG fac ac loaded 3rd owner '72 GMC K2500 4x4 '59 Apache CST BBW fleetside swb 283 '73 ElCamino SS LS1 T56 true SS bucket tach '76 ElCamino SS 52k survivor '87 Grand National 41k True 2nd to last built in 1987. '86 K30 454 SRW fleetside CA since new '88 Trans Am GTA 39k bought new 2018 DEMON plum crazy @ 840HP! "Need for speed"

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