Upgrading My Seats

[bmzero]

bmzero The seat looked great at the ECR and the double looks twice as good! Happy wives make happy shops!! Glad we got to meet but next time for a little longer. If you get up here don't forget to call! Pat

 

 

The Old Sailor

 

Thanks, Pat. I enjoyed it as well. I was only able to spend 2 days there last year. I got a few more this year. Maybe next year will be a full pull.

[evilgto]

This thread is AMAZING..

 

But Questions

 

haha

 

so what are the criteria for a good replacement seat? arm rests? (that would be mandatory for me or I would have to build something haha because I cant do the no armrest crap on long drives).

 

are there size criteria? what really is the defining characteristic to look for in a replacement seat?

 

BTW I joined just to ask these questions haha

[bmzero]

This thread is AMAZING..

 

But Questions

 

haha

 

so what are the criteria for a good replacement seat? arm rests? (that would be mandatory for me or I would have to build something haha because I cant do the no armrest crap on long drives).

 

are there size criteria? what really is the defining characteristic to look for in a replacement seat?

 

BTW I joined just to ask these questions haha

 

Ha ha. Glad this was intriguing.

 

My criteria were:

• Armrests
• Black (to match interior)
• Leather (real leather)
• New

I wasn't too concerned about the size of the seat since I was fabricating most of the mount structure, but I was a little concerned about everything lining up with the door-side armrest for each seat. These seats were perfect. I'm sure there are many others that would work well, too. I found a van customization shop on eBay that takes the seats out of the Toyota Sienna vans. They're literally brand new and the price was great. I'm very happy with them.

 

Disclaimer - I have been swapping in OEM seats for a long time and have had tons of practice:

1. (King Ranch seats) - http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f29/king-ranch-seats-1997-f350-193557/
2. (Mazda RX8 seats) - http://www.mazdabscene.com/threads/33784/5
3. (Mazda 626 seats) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/britmansell/1399103097/in/album-72157601725015732/

Often times, the mounts are pretty challenging. These seats were definitely the most challenging. Worth the effort, though.

[evilgto]

 

Ha ha. Glad this was intriguing.

 

My criteria were:

• Armrests
• Black (to match interior)
• Leather (real leather)
• New

I wasn't too concerned about the size of the seat since I was fabricating most of the mount structure, but I was a little concerned about everything lining up with the door-side armrest for each seat. These seats were perfect. I'm sure there are many others that would work well, too. I found a van customization shop on eBay that takes the seats out of the Toyota Sienna vans. They're literally brand new and the price was great. I'm very happy with them.

 

Disclaimer - I have been swapping in OEM seats for a long time and have had tons of practice:

1. (King Ranch seats) - http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f29/king-ranch-seats-1997-f350-193557/
2. (Mazda RX8 seats) - http://www.mazdabscene.com/threads/33784/5
3. (Mazda 626 seats) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/britmansell/1399103097/in/album-72157601725015732/

Often times, the mounts are pretty challenging. These seats were definitely the most challenging. Worth the effort, though.

 

Sweet.. thank you.. I love the idea of doing this and would love to see your completed install (with the plastic side covers) I was thinking about this myself, and it seems like its a great option I just want to find the most comfortable seats I can.. (honestly wouldnt mind ventilated either since I am in Phoenix haha). I think I found the same shop you did on ebay.. surprisingly cheap.

 

As far as the challenge goes was it an engineering challenge or just purely a fabrication challenge? I am a novice welder, but an experienced problem solver haha

 

 

BTW I was considering some 2006 GTO seats (soo comfy and supportive, amazingly so) but alas no arm rests.. any options if the seats dont have integrated armrests?

[bmzero]

 

Sweet.. thank you.. I love the idea of doing this and would love to see your completed install (with the plastic side covers) I was thinking about this myself, and it seems like its a great option I just want to find the most comfortable seats I can.. (honestly wouldnt mind ventilated either since I am in Phoenix haha). I think I found the same shop you did on ebay.. surprisingly cheap.

 

As far as the challenge goes was it an engineering challenge or just purely a fabrication challenge? I am a novice welder, but an experienced problem solver haha

 

 

BTW I was considering some 2006 GTO seats (soo comfy and supportive, amazingly so) but alas no arm rests.. any options if the seats dont have integrated armrests?

 

Here are the seats I bought (in Scottsdale) - http://www.ebay.com/itm/131758781692?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

Ventilated would be cool (pun intended).

 

It was mostly just a fabrication challenge. The passenger side was considerably more difficult than the driver's side due to the seat frame in that seat, but it was still pretty basic. It just took quite a while to get it right.

 

I thought about building a frame that would contain the arm rests that was separate from the seats, but that would be considerably more work and wouldn't look as tidy. Definitely hold out for arm rests.