Bench seat frames

[Fhunter1]

Hello,

It's time to do something about my very tired front seat in my 80 stepper. I'm really tired of my butt bottoming out.

So the seat is not original and looks to be from a 81-87 with the cut outs for the seat belts. I had a 79 and much prefer the seat belts coming between the 2 halves of the seat. Since I need foam and upholstery. can I pick up new foam and upholstery from a 78 or 79 and will it fit properly on my seat frame?

I've read lots of posts but did not find the answer to this one.

Thanks in advance

[Fhunter1]

Anyone?

If the frame is the same I can just get foam and upolstry kit rather than look for the proper seat.

[midnight rambler]

you can buy the foam at an upholster store and cut it to size.. im not sure if anyone sells the foam precut you might want to check with one of the companys that sell the premade upholstery.

[midnight rambler]

call these guys TMI Phone: 951.272.1996

[truckin 79]

I am hoping to get my seats done very soon but what I can tell you is the foam from a 79 bottom bench is different from 81 and up. My 79 had a piece cut out on the 2 ends of seats because springs are higher up there. I went to j-yard to find a 79 seat cushion beacuse I was going to try and sell my old seat to recoup costs on new seat. Well there were only 81 and up seat available. The foam on the 2 trucks I took out had full foam cushions except for seat belt cut outs, no recess on either side like 79. So i ended up taking foam out of my 79 to use on my new seat

[KrazyRay]

The 80 and older seat frames are different than the 81-87. The seat tracks won't work from early to late.

[TKCR]

you can get foam from here, no holes for the seatbelt:

http://www.classicparts.com/1973-80-.../#.V83uUDv89Hg

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/full.aspx?Page=90

[tucsonjwt]

If you need an exact match with proper foam you will likely have to get the exact seat foam for your model year, which is expensive.

I had a local upholstery shop rebuild and recover my seat and it came out nice for about $250. These upholstery shops can get fabric very similar to if not exactly like your OEM fabric. I had the upholsterer use denser and thicker foam than stock, since butt bottoming out is the biggest wear issue as you indicated. I seem to sit a little higher on the seat but I do like the denser foam - it makes for a nicer ride for me, and still looks stock.

[Fhunter1]

Thanks for all the comments and input. I'll probably hit up my local upholstery shop.