best newer seats?

woodsnake · Apr 7, 2010

OK, all my cars are the 67-70 vintage. I'd like to recover the originals, but used buckets are cheaper at the bone yard.
Which are the most direct bolt in from later model cars? 84-94 mustangs? Cougars? What about wiring in the power portion of the power seats? I found a really nice pair of buckets from a 95 or so cougar, for 20 each. I don't have access to major sheet metal repair though, and I need something that will pretty much either bolt in direct, or swap in by changing the tracks. I've heard there is a good Subaru seat that is a direct fit? What else?

JonK · Apr 9, 2010

I used a pair of foxbody seats, $60 for the pair and they were red to match my interior. I'll recover them with TMI covers to match the original horizontal stitch when I'm done Classic Automotive Interiors - Restoration and Restyling Products for Classic, Fox Body, and Late Model Mustangs.

Not a lot of work, drilled the 'feet' off the fox sliders, made a 1" plate steel spacer and mounted in original holes. I don't weld so it was all done with drill, hacksaw, file, gained ~2"+ of slider room as I'm 6'1" and don't use the full extension even. Seats are at the same height as my '67 seats but I now have full recline, headrests, electric lumbar, etc. much more comfortable and supportive. The electric seats usually have the motor underneath which causes clearance issues and pushes you closer to the wheel at your thighs and your head to the ceiling.

Adapter/spacer 1" X 1/4" bar

Jon

StangDreamin' · Apr 9, 2010

There also have been a few threads floating around here about guys going to Pontiac Fiero seats.... I think Pakrat was working on the particular mod as well. Apparently fitment is NOT an issue.

(Just don't let any Curbsters hear about it! )

woodsnake · Apr 9, 2010

OK, I went back to the bone yard today to go shopping for seats. Any bucket is a 20 dollar bill. That's hard to beat. I found several that were decent in the Taurus/sable platform, as well as a few really nice ones that I liked in 90's Escorts, as well as a few nice sets out of like a Nissan and Subaru.

So, which is more or less blasphemous, using import seats, or GM/Chrysler bucket seats in my 68 Cougar?

Any input on which platform will be less labor intensive? THe Taurus/Sable or the Escort? I don't even know what "platform" those are called.

I liked the look of the Subaru GL seats, and the Nissan ones, but would rather stick with a Ford product, just because.

htwheelz67 · Apr 9, 2010

any bucket for 20 bucks? look for bmw 320i recaros, (e-21) easy bolt in and sit as low as stock.

woodsnake · Apr 10, 2010

They didn't have a lot of BMW's, or any German cars really. The Ford Escort seats and the Taurus/Sable looked like the best bet from the DOA Ford products.

What about newer years? Anything an easy fit from 99 + ?

JonK · Apr 10, 2010

I'd start by measuring the width of the seat tracks/mount and the distance between the mounting bolts front to rear to get as close as you can to stock, you will probably have to make some adapter brackets either way but if one of the 2 measurements line up it's a lot easier to start with. Also measure the seat bottom width, has to fit between the door jamb lip and trans. tunnel, I've read posts where guys bought seats and couldn't get them to fit due to hip width of the seat bottom.

Also measure from the bottom of the track to the top of the seat bottom (where your knees and butt will go) to make sure they're not too high in the base area. Some installed newer mustang seats and they put them into the roof as the base was more raised. You can see in my 2nd pic that the seat bottom height is almost identical, my height in the car didn't change, knees didn't get any closer to the wheel.
Jon

phutch11 · Apr 10, 2010

Jon's got good advice and his late model seats look like they were made for his '67.

I put in Fiero seats and like the way they look and the way they fit. Had to fab up an adapter bracket to bolt them in, but it wasn't too hard.

Google Mr. Mike and you'll get an idea of what the Fiero seats look like installed.

Good luck...

woodsnake · Apr 11, 2010

That looks pretty sharp!

Mr. Mikes Leather Upholstery for PT Cruiser, Fiero, Kit-Car, Camaro and Firebird

68stang351 · Apr 11, 2010

JonK said:
I used a pair of foxbody seats, $60 for the pair and they were red to match my interior. I'll recover them with TMI covers to match the original horizontal stitch when I'm done Classic Automotive Interiors - Restoration and Restyling Products for Classic, Fox Body, and Late Model Mustangs.

Not a lot of work, drilled the 'feet' off the fox sliders, made a 1" plate steel spacer and mounted in original holes. I don't weld so it was all done with drill, hacksaw, file, gained ~2"+ of slider room as I'm 6'1" and don't use the full extension even. Seats are at the same height as my '67 seats but I now have full recline, headrests, electric lumbar, etc. much more comfortable and supportive. The electric seats usually have the motor underneath which causes clearance issues and pushes you closer to the wheel at your thighs and your head to the ceiling.

I've been wanting a pair of black fox seats in my 68 for the longest time now. I wouldn't even have to recover them because the stitching pattern is vertical in the 68.

afast93stang · Apr 11, 2010

I'm in the process of hunting down a set of 94-04 leather seats for my 67, from what I have read you can just take the latemodel seats off of their factory track and bolt on the classic seat tracks with some minor drilling to the seats base and it fits just fine. I think the 01 Bullitt and 03-04 Mach 1 seats look the best but be prepared to pay $$$ for those.

woodsnake · Apr 12, 2010

afast93stang,
where did you read this? You hit the nail on the as I'm trying to get a better pair of sets, but with the LEAST amount of fab work required! I have a nice set of tools, but not for doing metal work..

afast93stang · Apr 12, 2010

Here is a good write up with pics.

Late Model Seats into your Classic Ride - FordMuscle.com Forums

afast93stang · Apr 12, 2010

And this shows that the rear latemodel seats can be used but it requires more work than the front seats.

http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/619347-new-mustang-rear-seat-classic.html

best newer seats?

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