Narrowing a bench seat

[rrenner]

Picked up a bench seat from a 66 to put in my 58. Test fitting shows its a little wide. Thought I would strip it down and section out a piece from the middle to make it stock width. I think stock width is 56". Anybody know if that correct? Would like to get to a stock width to be able to use a stock upholstery kit from LMC or the like. Any thoughts will be appreciated.

[MARTINSR]

If you plan on putting a kit from a different year you had better study big time as to if this seat is identical other than width, which I find hard to believe.

Personally, I would plan on just narrowing it, which is a piece of cake, then simply carry it down to an upholstery shop and have it done.

I am no upholsterer but have dabbled a little bit and one common myth is that because it's flexible it will change shapes a little to accommodate but it really doesn't much at all. It's like trying to put a '66 Fender on your '58, they have about the same metal and all right?

It's not that easy, you best know that the seats are identical other than width to proceed with that idea.

Brian

[MARTINSR]

As near as I can tell the springs are very different 58-66

Here is a 66 seat spring. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-1966-Ch...pWBXs6&vxp=mtr

Here is a video of a 58 go to about 5:00 and you will see they are totally different, at least by this quick look of these two sources. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-yUk3gFjMw

Brian

[_Ogre]

you'd be better off getting a stock 55-59 bench seat, lotta builds here that are tearing them out
if you still want to proceed with this, it is a most basic seat, it's not that hard to make a new cover
cut the seat narrower a measured distance, then tear the stitching out of the cover
cut the same measured difference out of the old seat cover, lay the old cover on new material and start cutting
basic upholstery is not that difficult, very similar to rust repair; cut, fit, weld (stitch)
my wife and i have done a few over the years on her basic kenmore sewing machine

or narrow the seat and take it to a shop, plan on paying a lot more than the cost of materials

i did something similar when i chopper 6'' out of the back of ford focus bucket seats for my truk
i had a neighbor do the upholstery as he had better machines and the time
this is one seat chopped next to the unchopped seat

[mr48chev]

That isn't going to be as easy as it sounds and I have to agree with the other guys that you would be better off finding a good stock seat to start with.

I'd also agree that you will be far better off by taking the cut down seat and springs to a local upholstery shop and having it recovered than attempting to put a kit that wasn't originally designed on that seat after it is cut down.

The frame will be easy to cut down but the springs will probably cause you to run out of the shop screaming before you are done. I'd consult the local upholstery guy/gal on how to do them right as the wire around the edge is spring steel and you don't just cut and weld it.

[OrrieG]

here are the stock seat and cab dims

[Daze57]

OrrieG

You always seem to come up with the right diagrams.
Thank you very very much -------always helpful sir !

[fastbruce]

I used a Bench seat out of a Dodge Dakota, Fits great and looks like it belongs there