55.2-59 Seats that fit where the gas tank was.

[bigshrek64]

Hello all,
Im building a 56 truck taskforce truck, im relocating the fuel tank to the bed, well im 6'4" 280lbs, with bum knees, im trying to find all the legroom i can, and im wondering if anyone makes a bench seat that fits where the fuel tank was, or if anyone made their own, if so what did you start with and how much did it cost to get redone after cutting it down, and if you could post pictures. I cant seem to find any on google. I know if i cut down a seat and shave some foam i can pick up 6" add some shortie pedals and hopefully add 8" total of legroom.

[dsraven]

I think a lot of guys use the 88-98 chevy truck bench seats. they take the head rests off so it fits further back.some are 60/40 with the big part on the right, some are on the left. I have heard of some guys using dodge seats as well. intrepid I think. check bam's build post 2167. some guys also use astro van rear bench seats or yukon rear bench seats. not sure what they do for sliders but if youre building a truck the seat slider wouldbe the easy part. post up some pics of what you have to work with.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...440079&page=87

or you could try this

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...age=2&t=436321

[dsraven]

you might check ogre's build too. he is a taller dude I think. post 15. it's a ton of work though.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=501998

[bigshrek64]

Im planning on getting a gm bench with the armrest, i was just wondering if anyone has actually cut it down "into" the fuel tank hole, but it doesnt look like anyone has.

[mr48chev]

I think you are going to loose way too much height and legroom if you try to set the leanback back in that area and from this diagram you don't gain much if anything. The attached diagram has your stock seating measuremts and gives a pretty good idea of what you are dealing with.

I'd go along with the 88/ 94 or so split bench Silverado seat. I've got one in my 71 GMC and that is super comfortable after going from a worn out stock seat to some terrible buckets out of a van and then a plain bench a friend gave me out of a base line 88 4x4 That his wife had bought him a Flexsteel seat for. That seat was like a wood church pew an not comfortable even though it was free.

Another seat you might look at is late 90's and maybe early 20k Dodge Dakota. They are about a half inch wider than the stock seat in the 56 and should have thin backs.

[dsraven]

this is the reason why I extended the cab on mine. I wanted to use highback GM buckets with integral belts.

[bigshrek64]

If i use a slider bench and scoot the whole thing all the way into the fuel tank area ill get 5 or more inches alone, not sure the whole leaning back idea, i keep my seats pretty upright anyways so im not to worried about that part.

[_Ogre]

ogre is 6'4" 230lbs 14WWWW feet and a gimpy body, i know where your coming from
cutting a seat down to fit in the gas tank area would leave you with a mid back height seat, your neck tilted forward on the glass and your head tilted forward more by the top frame of the window
basically it won't work. easy way to confirm this is to remove the back, unbolt the seat and slide it back into the tank area


what i did... used 07 ford fusion seats, chopped 6" off the highback and raised the seat 2" over stock height
as is my seat goes back to the metal frame
raising the seat did more for extra legroom than everything else
try finding the thinnest back you can, i believe the fusion seats are 3" at the back

[_Ogre]

first time i threw the seats in, i cried...

not for the beauty, for the pain

i cracked my head on the top of the window frame, i added the headrests over the window
my head doesn't ride on the window frame headrest, not far from it thou
gotta duck going in thru the door, but what's new there?

[bigshrek64]

Whats the height of your seat cushion, i measured 12" to be max height without messing visability, i have a kinda long torso.

[Bobbyh68]

I'm 6' 6'' 220 lbs and I've tried 3 sets of seats, finally went with the 88/98 Silverado bench seat yesterday. I have tons of leg room! Some people cut 1'' out of the frame to lower it. I might do that this weekend. Very pleased with this choice. Don't get me started on how many engines I've had under the hood. lol

[Black_Sheep]

The 88-98(?) standard cab seat has thin back cushion which essentially provides more leg room.

[mr48chev]

I think you may have misinterpreted my comment on "leanback" it wasn't that it leans back but that you lean back on it.

Extended cab front seats quite often are padded in the back to protect back seat passengers on later trucks which takes up space. The 98 mid 2K Silverado seats have thin backs as several of us mentioned.

Looking at the diagrams I posted in post 5 the front of the seat is 14.95 from the floor while the low point of the seat is 12.9 so your 12 inches is pretty close. Much lower and the brake and gas pedals get awkward to work for some.

[Russell Ashley]

I didn't gain any more legroom by removing the tank as the seat back touches the cab before it would hit the tank. I'm not tall at 5'7" but I still would like more legroom so I'm going to have my seat re-done and see if the shop can make the seat back thinner.

[mr48chev]

This was in an AD that I saw today at the show I went to. The seat back is so straight up and down I don't see how a guy could manage to drive it any distance and be comfortable.

[bigshrek64]

Ha, thats alot how i put my seats in my trucks...lol