Welcome to Club Hot Rod!  The premier site for everything to do with Hot Rod, Customs, Low Riders, Rat Rods, and more. 

  •  » Members from all over the US and the world!
  •  » Help from all over the world for your questions
  •  » Build logs for you and all members
  •  » Blogs
  •  » Image Gallery
  •  » Many thousands of members and hundreds of thousands of posts! 

YES! I want to register an account for free right now!  p.s.: For registered members this ad will NOT show

 

Thread: '70 F100 question
          
   
   

Reply To Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 18
  1. #1
    Big Tracks's Avatar
    Big Tracks is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Keller
    Car Year, Make, Model: '79 Dodge Diplomat Coupe
    Posts
    832

    '70 F100 question

     



    After many long years of faithful service the bench seat in my old truck is going to go.

    I want to replace it with a wrecking yard seat that will not only look good but will also be kinder to my skinny rear end than what's in the truck now, and I'd be grateful for some advice from somebody who has been there and done that.

    I'm sure that some choices would be better that others from an ease-of-installation standpoint and I don't want to find out the hard way that I have bought unsuitable seats.

    The pickup is a plain old standard type, that is, it's not a club cab or a crew cab or anything fancy like that. There's nothing behind the seat but a gas tank.

    I would appreciate some guidance and also hearing about seat installations you have done or seen.

    Thanks,


    Jim

  2. #2
    FFR428's Avatar
    FFR428 is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    fairfield
    Car Year, Make, Model: 68 Cougar S code, 427 Tunnelport.
    Posts
    942

    A bud of mine used what I think was the front bench seat assy (with fold down armrest) from either a Explorer or Ranger in his 74 F100. I want to say Explorer because it was grey leather more than likely from a 90's something XLT. Far as I know it was a pretty simple bolt in. I can ask him more details if interested.

  3. #3
    hotroddaddy's Avatar
    hotroddaddy is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    jacksonville
    Car Year, Make, Model: 53 Ford Panel truck/59 tbird/73 VW Thing
    Posts
    1,656

    Any of the chevy or ford newer trucks should work pretty easy as long as you get a bench seat. i had a 2000 chevy bench in my merc for awhile< but the only issue was it was a split seat so it has for mounts that might interfere with the tranny tunnel. the middle two are shorter, but the tunnel high might not be close, i had to modify mine.

  4. #4
    glennsexton's Avatar
    glennsexton is offline CHR Member/Contributor Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Tigard
    Car Year, Make, Model: 63 Nova SS
    Posts
    2,584

    I believe that your '70 F100 has a 60" wide seat. As such, you should be able to find a nice comfortable replacement in the 59-61" range at a wrecking yard. The key, as stated above, is to get a pickup seat that hinges forward.

  5. #5
    Big Tracks's Avatar
    Big Tracks is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Keller
    Car Year, Make, Model: '79 Dodge Diplomat Coupe
    Posts
    832

    Thanks for the input, FFR428, HRD, and Glenn. You're telling me what I need to know.

    You're right, Glenn. The F100 seat is sixty inches so I can go from there.

    And FFR, If you think your buddy's Explorer/Ranger installation looks good I'd like to investigate that, too. If he has any suggestions on the subject I would appreciate hearing them.

    Thanks again.


    Jim

  6. #6
    Dave Severson is offline CHR Member/Contributor Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Madison
    Car Year, Make, Model: '67 Ranchero, '57 Chevy, '82 Camaro,
    Posts
    21,160

    I had a stock one rebuilt with some new foam, think he called it High Density or something. He use a couple differnt types and thicknesses, huge improvement over how Ford built it in '71!!!!

    I used a bench seat out of an '85 and put it in a '69 on a previous build, it worked well and was comfortable, but didn't really match the style of the rest of the interior.....
    Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, Live for Today!
    Carroll Shelby

    Learning must be difficult for those who already know it all!!!!

  7. #7
    FFR428's Avatar
    FFR428 is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    fairfield
    Car Year, Make, Model: 68 Cougar S code, 427 Tunnelport.
    Posts
    942

    Jim I asked my bud about his truck seats and I was really wrong!!! He took a 94 Explorer front seat assy and put it in his 96 Ranger. Sorry for the bad info. I thought he used them in his F100.

  8. #8
    junkyardjeff's Avatar
    junkyardjeff is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Dayton
    Car Year, Make, Model: 37 chevy p/u 55 ford convertable
    Posts
    629

    You can use any seat from a Ford truck up to 96 as long as you use the 70 seat tracks and it will bolt in,they might be a little wider and will be closer to the doors. A real nice seat is the 87 to 91 XLT seat with the center armrest but like what was said above it wont match the rest of the interior.

  9. #9
    Big Tracks's Avatar
    Big Tracks is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Keller
    Car Year, Make, Model: '79 Dodge Diplomat Coupe
    Posts
    832

    HAH! Thanks, Jeff! I guess that's really what I needed to find out. I'll go scout out some Fords. The fact that they would be a pretty direct bolt-in outweighs whether or not they are perfectly matched to the interior. I'll face that disgraceful situation later.

    I appreciate your follow up, FFR. I won't pursue that one.

    Dave, I made a reasonably successful attempt at rebuilding the seats in a '70 Dodge crew cab I owned. It looked presentable enough but I learned that just new sponge and upholstery won't compensate for pooped-out springs. Outside of that the only experience I've had was installing a set of Volvo buckets in a Dodge panel. They were really great seats and a snap to put in.

    You guys are a great help.


    Jim

  10. #10
    vara4's Avatar
    vara4 is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Pahrump
    Car Year, Make, Model: 1947 International Pick Up
    Posts
    3,188

    Big tracks; I too have a 70 F100 sport custum.
    I did like Dave said and had the seat redone for about 100 bucks.
    I had the thick foam put in it, and that seat is very comfortable.
    and it matches the rest of the truck.
    I am very glad I kept it that way. Kurt

  11. #11
    Big Tracks's Avatar
    Big Tracks is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Keller
    Car Year, Make, Model: '79 Dodge Diplomat Coupe
    Posts
    832

    Hi, Kurt

    Thanks for the suggestion.

    My first thought was to go the rebuild route. The seat isn't in really terrible shape as it stands and is definitely repairable. A major consideration (in my decision to replace it) is that my wife has back problems that have necessitated surgery and still cause her trouble. The lack of adjustability of the stock seat causes her discomfort on longer drives, and, as the saying goes, "If Mama ain't happy then ain't NOBODY happy".

    I though a little more modern seat might help.


    Jim
    Last edited by Big Tracks; 02-23-2009 at 07:57 AM.

  12. #12
    vara4's Avatar
    vara4 is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Pahrump
    Car Year, Make, Model: 1947 International Pick Up
    Posts
    3,188

    Well you Got me there Big Tracks.
    I don't take mine on long trips.
    I just put around town in mine. Kurt

  13. #13
    junkyardjeff's Avatar
    junkyardjeff is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Dayton
    Car Year, Make, Model: 37 chevy p/u 55 ford convertable
    Posts
    629

    Even the newer seats do not have any more adjustments then the originals so dont expect much from a newer seat but somewhere around 91 or 92 a lumbar adjustment was added,its the type with a bladder that is controlled by a pump to pump air in and out of it but its a easy two wire electrical hook up.

  14. #14
    Big Tracks's Avatar
    Big Tracks is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Keller
    Car Year, Make, Model: '79 Dodge Diplomat Coupe
    Posts
    832

    That lumbar support would be nice, come to think about it. We recently traded off a 2001 Crown Victoria that we bought new that came equipped with that goodie.

    Actually, being able to vary the tilt of the seat back fairly regularly seems to relieve whatever it is that causes her discomfort, but if I found a seat with both features, why not!


    Jim

  15. #15
    FMXhellraiser's Avatar
    FMXhellraiser is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Car Year, Make, Model: 46 Chrysler,49 Ford,66 F100,68 Lincoln
    Posts
    2,835

    Older Mustang bucket seats bolt in and bronco seats as well... Look on www.fordification.com and they have heaps of info there for 70's F100s. Great site for info on your truck. I used 2000 and something (forgot the year) Jeep Liberty tan leathered, powered and heated buckets in my 66 F100 but had to do some fab work on the mounts since one side was much taller than the other and they were much too high. I dropped them down as far as I could and they are very comfy and look great. The head rests come off so that is what I did as not to block the back window. The top of the seat is not flush with the bottom of the rear window which I didn't like but I looked in some magazines and saw a few trucks with the seat poking above the bottom of the window a few inches so I left it. I dont like the look of a seat being viewed from the outside but the seats are comfy on my back so they will stay. Maybe I am too picky on it I dont know...
    www.streamlineautocare.com

    If you wan't something done right, then you have to do it yourself!

Reply To Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Links monetized by VigLink