Seat Upgrades??

[bealaddison]

I have been searching high and low looking for information on swapping '99-'06 Chevy Silverado 40/20/40 seats into my '87 Chevy Suburban. I have found bits and pieces info. It looks like the '91-'98 seats are easier to do. I am just wondering if anyone else has done a swap like this and what issues they ran into. I will attempt to use the original mounting points for ease of install and safety concerns.

Photos and a description would be helpful if anyone would like to share. I am also interested in swapping some newer model seats into the 2nd row as well.

Thanks in advance!

[chevak20]

I bought those seats to put in my -82 Suburban and realized that they would sit too high up without cutting and welding the floor to the same height they came from.

[68Timber]

Here's a build that used buckets from that era: LINK I've seen several guys here use them but I don't recall a "how to" thread using the original mounting holes.

[mcmlxix]

I know Blazers have a flat floor and trucks have raised floor. Not sure what the Suburbans floor looks like. I'm looking for the 96-98 bucket seats without the built in seat belts. If you use 99+ seats and plan on using the built in seat belts, please make sure you reinforce the floor where the seats mount. If you're in an accident the seats could rip apart from the floor as they were not originally designed to accommodate that force. The factory belts anchor in the B pillar and C pillar.

[chevak20]

Suburban and Crew cab floor have raised floors, that's why I sold my 99-06 bucket seats.
Tried a bench seat from -95 pickup but it is not working well either, Your sitting offset off the steering wheel or move them apart and you have a gap between the 60/40 seats and then also the OEM seat belt would not fit because of less space left at the doors.
Ideal I think might be Suburban bucket seats from 96-98 with the undercarriage cut down to proper height.
That is what I am going to use eventually.

[bealaddison]

Yes, the Suburbans have the floor similar to the trucks. I have seen where the 99-06 have been done with extensive floor mods. What I'd really like is a 60/40 or a 40/20/40. Either of those with a flip down center console. I would like the option of seating a 3rd person in the middle. I realize a bench of the 78-87 era could probably be made to work with the existing seat brackets, but then you're left with no flip down center console. Just looking for other members that have tried this and their results.

Thanks for the interest!

[68Timber]

Do you already have factory bucket seats? Or bench?

[bealaddison]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

Do you already have factory bucket seats? Or bench?

I have buckets with the center console.

[Electricduane]

What I take away from all of this is that no later years Chevy/GMC seats are a direct bolt-in for our trucks (mine is a 1989). Can anyone confirm that?

If the above is correct, then getting later-model Chevy seats to work in my truck would involve significant time and $$$ to buy the seats, then modify (or fabricate) brackets to make them work. Instead of doing all that, I think I would rather pay an upholstery shop to fix up my OEM seats.

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by Electricduane

What I take away from all of this is that no later years Chevy/GMC seats are a direct bolt-in for our trucks (mine is a 1989). Can anyone confirm that?

If the above is correct, then getting later-model Chevy seats to work in my truck would involve significant time and $$$ to buy the seats, then modify (or fabricate) brackets to make them work. Instead of doing all that, I think I would rather pay an upholstery shop to fix up my OEM seats.

True. It's always 'some fab involve' depending on how you want to mount them. You can mate the new seats to the original bases or mount the new seats and bases to your floor, or mate the new and old bases somehow. Reupholstering what you have is the easiest route unless you're comfortable cutting/drilling/welding to make it work and keep it safe.

[bealaddison]

My OEM seats are fine. I just want a flip down console with 3rd seat option, something GM never made for these vehicles. It helps me to get a project started by doing a little research and see what others have tried and their results.

[mcmlxix]

I would keep and reupholster your factory seats and add a center jump seat and have it upholstered to match...



See if you can get just the center seat from this guy.... or ebay
http://maine.craigslist.org/pts/5254068840.html

[mcmlxix]

Originally Posted by bealaddison

My OEM seats are fine. I just want a flip down console with 3rd seat option, something GM never made for these vehicles. It helps me to get a project started by doing a little research and see what others have tried and their results.

Post some pics of your current interior.

[bealaddison]

Originally Posted by mcmlxix

Post some pics of your current interior.

This isn't my interior, but I have these seats. The stock Suburban buckets with the center console.

I have already purchased these 04 Chevy Silverado seats.

I like your idea though. I may just try to install the 04 center console/jump seat with my existing bucket seats. If it looks decent, I will have the center console recovered or see if I can purchase some decent seat covers that will tie them together. This thing is by no means a show vehicle, just a hunting/backwoods vehicle.

[mcmlxix]

The console I posted has a lockable compartment under the seat. Perfect for hand gun storage. I think it was the next gen 2007.5 and newer. Keep an eye out on craigslist for a clean rear bench seat in the same material/color that you can use to reupholster the center console...

[bealaddison]

Originally Posted by mcmlxix

The console I posted has a lockable compartment under the seat. Perfect for hand gun storage. I think it was the next gen 2007.5 and newer. Keep an eye out on craigslist for a clean rear bench seat in the same material/color that you can use to reupholster the center console...

Yes, it is the same as the console in my '09 Silverado. I actually have a spare set of buckets that I could rob fabric from. I changed mine out due to a broken seat back frame. I have a friend with a junkyard, so I picked up some the same color for little to nothing.

[Electricduane]

Originally Posted by bealaddison

This isn't my interior, but I have these seats. The stock Suburban buckets with the center console.

I have already purchased these 04 Chevy Silverado seats.

I like your idea though. I may just try to install the 04 center console/jump seat with my existing bucket seats. If it looks decent, I will have the center console recovered or see if I can purchase some decent seat covers that will tie them together. This thing is by no means a show vehicle, just a hunting/backwoods vehicle.

This is a very cool idea . . . biggest concern I would have is having seatbelts added for the center seat.

Many people have made later year model (or other car mfr's seats) fit into Blazers/Suburbans, but what makes me nervous is the "crashworthiness" aspect of that. . . meaning that the seats could tear loose from the tub sheetmetal in an accident, if the OEM (reinforced) mounting points are not used. Especially true in those Chevy seats that have an integrated seatbelt.

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by Electricduane

This is a very cool idea . . . biggest concern I would have is having seatbelts added for the center seat.

Many people have made later year model (or other car mfr's seats) fit into Blazers/Suburbans, but what makes me nervous is the "crashworthiness" aspect of that. . . meaning that the seats could tear loose from the tub sheetmetal in an accident, if the OEM (reinforced) mounting points are not used. Especially true in those Chevy seats that have an integrated seatbelt.

You have existing seat belt mounts on either side of the console that you could piggy back onto to add a center lap belt for the jump seat.

[bealaddison]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

You have existing seat belt mounts on either side of the console that you could piggy back onto to add a center lap belt for the jump seat.

That is what I was thinking. I have all the seatbelt equipment that came with the 04 seats. I will try to use these, if not I will track down a blue Squarebody lap belt.

[Edahall]

I installed bucket seats out of a 1990 Cadillac Deville into my 1990 Suburban. They fit perfectly almost as if they were designed for the vehicle. They are also much more comfortable than the original 1990 Suburban high back seats.

[Electricduane]

Can you post pics of the Cadillac seats? Did the seat brackets line up with the suburban floor bolt holes?

[Edahall]

Originally Posted by Electricduane

Can you post pics of the Cadillac seats? Did the seat brackets line up with the suburban floor bolt holes?

I believe that the rear brackets lined up but I had to weld some extensions to the front brackets so that I could use the existing floor bolt holes.

[Electricduane]

That sounds awesome, I would love to have pimp Cadillac leather seats in my burb! Would love to see some pics if you get a chance.

[Edahall]

Originally Posted by Electricduane

That sounds awesome, I would love to have pimp Cadillac leather seats in my burb! Would love to see some pics if you get a chance.

Were you not able to see the photo I attached? The seats are red but one of these days, I will dye them black.

Here's the link.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...a/P1030302.jpg

[motornut]

Originally Posted by bealaddison

This isn't my interior, but I have these seats. The stock Suburban buckets with the center console.

I have already purchased these 04 Chevy Silverado seats.

I like your idea though. I may just try to install the 04 center console/jump seat with my existing bucket seats. If it looks decent, I will have the center console recovered or see if I can purchase some decent seat covers that will tie them together. This thing is by no means a show vehicle, just a hunting/backwoods vehicle.

I love the red seats,some seat info ,
I was able to bolt the 78 Jimmy bases to 89 Suburban seats.
some conversion trucks had the center seat flip,like my 88,I'm going to redo for the 78