new seats in fj40 w/ compartment under driver seat...custom mount ideas??

[DCruiser138]

i want to start plannin some new seats in the cruzah! i have a early 70s tub w/ the compartment under the driver seat. how can i make some mounts to fit new seats. im not sure of what seats ill have..pron pnp specials. ive seen ones from jeps in cruisers nicely. perhaps... also, how to mount em on the pass side w/ the gas tank? thanks pics would help..

[peterfj40]

i have some mazda 626 seats..i like tehm, they have the mazda sliders on them so i can move them forward and back..the previous owner made some seat mounting bracket thing..we "modified" it a little..it kinda looks like the BTB one that they sell for like 700 bucks or something...i dont have a digi cam or scanner sorry..i'll try to get some pics somehow

[SpaceGhost]

Here's a pic of my 68. I pulled the rusty storage box up and cut the floor out under the drivers seat. Replaced it with some 14 gauge and made a seat rack out of 1x2 tubing. Used all stock holes except for the strut under the drivers seat. The seat frame holds the tank down. Seats are Jegsters with covers. <IMG width=384 height=288 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/cruiser.seats.601.jpg">

I can probably snap some more pics if you personal mail me.
Mike

[SpaceGhost]

Here's the other side.
<IMG width=384 height=288 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/cruiser.seats1.601.jpg">
Mike

[rustbucket]

PNP is where it's at for seats. I got some out of a Ford Escort. Just cut the stuff off the bottom of the new chair bolt it to the bottom bracket form the stock chair. This way you can still use the box and the gas tank. Look for low profile chairs since big thick chairs will put you too high.

[SpaceGhost]

I spent way to much time in junkyards looking for the perfect seats. Do all yards leave the windows, doors and tops open or just the brain surgeons here in the midwest?

The stock bench seat mount looks like a good starting point, but beware the passenger seat is a couple of inches higher than the drivers side. Tried some buckets from an Astro van and they were to tall. Specifically the bottom cushion was too thick.

[JasonH]

Originally posted by rustbucket:
<STRONG>PNP is where it's at for seats.</STRONG>

You got it. A buddy and I went one day and both got a pair. Mine are from an MR2 and his were from an Acura Integra. $24 each.
Spaceghost those seats look sweet. I like the colors! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> The last pictures I saw of your truck, it had the skinny 33's on it. Let's see some new ones!

<IMG width=480 height=360 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/mr2seats.jpg">

[SpaceGhost]

Jason,
Nice seats, look comfy! I just took some pics a couple of weeks ago, I'll get off my butt and post a few, maybe tonight after work.
Mike

[60seriesguy]

Just this weekend I saw a cool mod on an early FJ40 that made me wish I had my camera. The owner replaced the stock seats with some nice ones out of a wrecked Acura (dunno which model), and to retain use of the compartment, he welded up the lid and then cut and mounted a stock FJ40 glovebox door into the SIDE of the compartment, on the driver's side. Although the access to the compartment was reduced, he was able to mount his seats with minimal modification AND still use the compartment for storage. Looked really trick!

Another cool modification I've seen is on a friend's FJ45 pickup. The previous owner welded expanded metal to the sides of the stock seat mounting brackets, to make little "storage cages". He did a nice job, using thick expanded metal and powdercoating the units before installing them. They work like a charm, keeping all sorts of crap secured; nothing worse than being on an incline and having water bottles, camera, film containers, etc sliding around in the cab.