Thread: 1937 Chevy pickup seats

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Hi everyone
I'm new here and more into cars then computers so bear with me.
I'm building an 37 chevy pickup and need a seat or seats.
Because the cab tapers so much and it's so narrow what would work well that I can find at the wreckers?
Thanks, Rob

Depends a bit on what look you're after.

For a bench seat, look to the import pickups, the older the narrower.

For buckets, Fiero seats are about the narrowest, after that, it's imports and very small domestics. Probably need to find something 19-21 inches in width.

Thanks Bob,
I would prefer a bench seat and all the imports I've looked at have buckets, but fiero seats might just work. as I recall they aren't too high in the back. Thanks again.
Rob

The most comfortable seats I've found that will fit your situation are from a Ford Escort/Mer Topaz.
They are bucket sears - I use them in 1929-34 Fords......Don

Hi Rob. Welcome to the site. I've built a few old Ford pickups and had the same problem. Some of the bucket seats I used were 75 Pinto, 79 Mustang and my favorite 64 T-bird seats. The newer ones Don suggests are probably more comfortable than the older seats and some Fiero seats have speakers built into the headrests. If you like your exhaust LOUD the headrest speakers are a good idea. But if you like the music loud you'll probably blow them out.
I like a bench seat in a pickup better than buckets.I tried bench seats from import trucks but they don't taper and the backrests are too narrow. I used a rear seat from a 76 Olds Cutlass in a 40 Ford pickup by modifiying it to fit. Here's how it was done:
First take your tape measure to your favorite wrecking yard and find a seat that will fit with the doors open. Most rear seats have good upholstery so if you find one in a color and pattern you like you can probably reuse the upholstery and save some of those Canadian dollars. (I love Canadian swap meets. I can buy $300 worth of parts for $200.)Turn the seat over and cut a large sheet of cardboard to the shape of the seat bottom. Put this in your truck and use a straight edge to mark the taper on the cardboard. Cut on these lines and radius the front corners. Make a frame of steel rod to the shape of the cardboard and weld on some mounting brackets. Carefully remove the upholstery and the foam pad turn the seat upside down and weld your frame to the seat frame. Anything that sticks out beyond the frame is bent down to weld to the frame or cut off. Put the foam back on and trim it to the new shape. An electric knife is the best way to cut the foam and get a smooth cut. If the foam curves down on the sides make a pie cut to bring in the sides and glue them in place.You can cut the stiches along the sides of the upholstery, cut the top to fit and restich the sides. Most rodders don't know how to run a sewing machine so you can probably get an upholstery shop to do the sewing. It should take less than an hour to sew it back together so it shouldn't cost much. Or if you have enough in your budget they can reupholster both pieces in tuck and roll or whatever you like.
The Ford seat was 49 inches at the back and 45 at the front so I trimmed 2 inches off the front on each side of the Olds seat. It had flat S shaped springs with 4 inches of foam. Coil springs would be more difficult to modify if your springs are wider than 45 inches or whatever width a 37 Chevy is. Check the springs before you buy the seat to be sure it can be narrowed. Convertible rear seats are narrower than most sedans. Here's a picture of the seat bottom.
AL

Thanks Al,
That sounds like something I can do myself, don't know why I never thought about modifiying a seat to suit.I have a G.M. mini van seat that i really like and the upholstery is the right colour and in perfect shape.I may just spend the afternoon having a go at it.
And you're right on about the dollar,everytime I head south it cost's me roughly double the advertised price .
Thanks again, Rob.

Rob
I like what Al is saying. It sounds a lot like what my upholsterer wants me to do. He has a 48 Chebby two door and wants a split bench. I'll trim and section a 63 Merc split bench to fit. You might like a split as well for access behind the seat.

Craig

I have seen the Chevy Astro van seat used on a 1937 Chevy Pickup done in Grey Leather with matching door pannels.
The only problem with this is that you have to raise you shifter linkage and use a cable shift kit from summit. That way when you power shift you are not bent so far over you won't see the road.

Rob Its nice to hear someone else has a 37 chevy truck. On mine I used a Dodge Caravan seat(bench) and didn't have to cut anything although I wish I had another 2 or 3" of leg room.

If you want a original type seat a local junkyard has a 41 to 46 that still has the seat springs in it, I know the feeling about leg room as I over stuffed the original seats in my 37 and I am almost too big for the truck now.