What Bench Seat to use

[70GMCer]

I'm debating on using a late model front bench seat for my 83...

What are some of the late model truck seats that are being installed on the sq bodies without any major mods?

[TKCR]

If it were me, I would stick with the correct year seat for the truck. That would mean using a 81-87 seat. They all tilt and you shouldn't have any issues with your seatbelts. Read below for some info on the differences of the seats. Parts are available to make any repairs needed to the frame.

Any of the 73-87 seats will bolts directly to the cab floor of the truck. The tracks changed through out the years:
73-76 77-80 and then 81-87

What you need to be careful of, is that the tracks have to match the frame, to bolt directly up. But like I said in the 1st sentence, they will all bolt directly up to the cab floor.

73-80 seats are heavier, they have more beef to the frame. They are a tad bit longer than the 81-87. The only issue you might have, and this is something that I'm not sure of. If you use a 73-80 seat, I don't know if it will interfere with your 81-87 seatbelts.
Some of the 73-80 seats tilt, some don't.
When it comes to buying new foam and covers, they have to match the year, because of the length. 73-80 have a full foam and a poor mans foam. The 81-87 only has the one style of foam.

All 81-87 seats tilt.

There was a thread that was started awhile back, that talked about all the differences of the seats. This was when I was just learning some things about the seats myself. I'll look for it and then post it here.

[TKCR]

Here's that thread.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=733808

[RDrancher]

Originally Posted by TKCR

Here's that thread.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=733808

Thank you for the info link.

I'm heading out in a bit to pick up this seat to replace the buckets in our Suburban https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/pt...569863437.html. We'll put it to good use until it gets recovered.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by RDrancher

Thank you for the info link.

I'm heading out in a bit to pick up this seat to replace the buckets in our Suburban https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/pt...569863437.html. We'll put it to good use until it gets recovered.

That seat is not a Chevy/GMC Benchseat. It maybe coming out of a Chevy Truck, but it has been swapped out of another truck at one time.

[70GMCer]

That's why I'm asking about what seat to use. The PO swapped a different seat in my 83...Don't know what it came out of...

thanks for all the advice on this....

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by 70GMCer

That's why I'm asking about what seat to use. The PO swapped a different seat in my 83...Don't know what it came out of...

thanks for all the advice on this....

Can you post a picture of the seat that is in the truck now. Here is what an 81-87 Benchseat looks like.

[mongocanfly]

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/pt...569863437.html
wow...150 for that?....ive got a full set of 91 burb blue seats I was debating on trying to sell, or sending to the junk pile...didn't know there was a big market for them

[TKCR]

Problem is, that isn't a Chevy seat. I'm not sure what that seat came out of. I buy up a lot of seats out of junk yards and from private sellers, for the sole reason of restoring them. The average price I pay is about $50, sometimes $75.

[mongocanfly]

if your ever down Alabama way ive got that set of burb seats id sell...im not keeping em around for long though...theyre in decent shape but do need covered....I may stick em on craigs and see if anybody local wants em

[RDrancher]

Originally Posted by TKCR

That seat is not a Chevy/GMC Benchseat. It maybe coming out of a Chevy Truck, but it has been swapped out of another truck at one time.

I didn't see your post, but when I saw the seat in person I could tell it wasn't the right seat. Even so, the mounting measurements were correct so I bought it anyway for less than the asking price. If it doesn't work out I have another vehicle I can use it in. I do have some questions regarding the correct seat, but to avoid muddying up things I'll post in the thread you linked to.

[RDrancher]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

if your ever down Alabama way ive got that set of burb seats id sell...im not keeping em around for long though...theyre in decent shape but do need covered....I may stick em on craigs and see if anybody local wants em

Hardly ever see bench seats for sale here that don't need foam. Either that or I'm not looking at the right time or in the right place.

[mongocanfly]

I don't know what shape the foam is in with covers still on em....covers arnt terrible but need replaced...

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by RDrancher

Hardly ever see bench seats for sale here that don't need foam. Either that or I'm not looking at the right time or in the right place.

Foam can be repaired or replaced. I repair them all the time. Just takes some patience. Use some very good Foam Spray Glue and a block of dense foam from JoAnn Fabrics.