Further research show that sitting position has made it from “Not Possible” to “Not Bad”. Wish i had pedals in it. Yeah, I ate my lunch sitting in it, pretending drive thru...
Front seating for my ‘31 I still haven’t reached front seat nirvana. Feeling like it should be a bench seat but not sure why, Probably because I looked at the glide engineering seat frame on line. Makes other options show there short comings. ‘65M-stang front bucket seats are ok and fit pretty good.(each about 22 inches wide) ‘65M-stang back seat better width on top part (42 inches) but really square corners suck. Bottom just too wide(52 inches). Both pieces haven’t real frames to hold it together for mounting on adjusters. Chrysler mini van seat (40 inches with out arm rests) fits good but already set to fit back seat and is a bit narrow. I have to sit on the left edge and it is already sagging, I’m big so wish it was 46 wide. You’d think something in this pile of seats would be satisfactory. Still looking for different options (meaning something free).
What about taking the covers off the Mustang rear seat and rounding the frame corners on the top and cutting the ends down to fit on the bottom? Wouldn’t take much and you could put the same covers back on and just pull them tighter around the corners. They wouldn’t fit perfect, but they’d do for now.
I like this idea. Thank you. Anything ‘Chopped” for a HotRod is cool right? I think the actual path to a functioning seat is more convoluted. 1. I Would have to weld a real frame around it, its structure came from package shelf/ trunk partition. 2. Tilt forward would be nice for some map pockets behind but not necessary. 3. If you make the top then you have to make the bottom. 4. I want it adjustable so others can drive it too. 5. Don’t want to pay a lot for my muffler. (was a great commercial) Still dreaming of the Glide engineering frame but its kind of costly. A search of the HAMB about Glide E. and some people have complaints and some love it It doesn’t look anything like my junky back mustang seat. drdave you got me thinking. For the price of welding wire and spray paint... hmm...how many seat parts would I have to weld together to be successful. Isn’t there lots of spring steel that can’t be welded? Maybe thats a non issue and just the frame would need it?
I sectioned the bottom of the 64 Tbird seat I put in my '64 Pontiac in the 80's with a rented stick welder....and very little skill. You clearly have more skill than I did back then, so I think you can do it with not too much problem. I don't think you'd get into the springs really. If I remember right, the springs are just clamped to the outer frame, so if the outer springs are in the way, you could probably loosen the clamps, slide the end of the spring over an inch or whatever and squeeze the clamp back down. The outer frame should be no trouble to trim and reweld, or even cut out and replace with 1/4 inch round rod to whatever shape you want. Now, for the hinges, if you don't feel too bad about cutting up another set of seats, how about cutting the hinges out of the bucket seats and welding them to the corners of the back seat frame while you have it apart. On the same 64 Pontiac, I wanted the front buckets (64 Tbird again) to not only hinge, but to recline. Had a set of reclining buckets out of my mom's 74 Maverick, so I cut the hinges out and welded them into the Tbird buckets...worked (and still does) great. Here's the before and after of mine (pardon the quality 110 instamatic film quality LOL). For the back panel, how about making a panel that's fixed and the seat cushion just flips forward and you have a cubby back there for whatever you want. Adjustable seat tracks is the easy part....just mount your new bench to the tracks from one of the bucket seats. See, easy, nothing to it. You should have it done in 15 or 20 minutes.
So; take my seating for 8, easy cutting and welding! Be no trouble! Done in 15min! Got it! I love (the cheapness of) this Plan!
The Hot Rod Gods (mods?who knows), Heard my lamentations. Sent this my way. Early 90s Chevy Astro Van middle seat. The split bench I’m dreaming of... well almost. 55 inches upholstery edge to upholstery edge. 5 arm rests seems like a lot. But it was a C-list free B! Thank you Mr. Nice Guy in Manoa.
Couldn’t wait to get her home and rip her nickers off. Needs to lose 10 inches and the fold down drink holder is 10 inches. That cut took only one spring out of the middle. Slid a pipe in the front and tacked it all back together. Then Cut stock feet down So far so good.
Mock up with 10 extra inches of bottom upholstery wedged against passenger door. Figured it was working and started work on adding sliders from one of the other seats. Not much light under porch but got er done. Now this far along I figure I could make a better set of mounts from scratch if I had material. Just gonna keep moving forward.
Spent whole after work week sitting on and trying different heights ect. Then cut up and added 2 inches with middle spring back in. I know measure twice and cut once (and I did) but final destination is more important. This next week I hope to thin down the overstuffed, Lazy boy, couch feeling, back rests. perhaps do away with the middle bolstering, arm rests, and head rests too. Not sure how to add bottom flip forward or removable seat base without removing springs and using a piece of ply. But with split back, reclining, and adjustable tracks so far, 3 out of 4 ain’t bad.
Removing a armrest. Hacked into cast in place foam to cut bolster support wire and arm rest hinge point. Foam burns. Whoops. Wet it down a little for further cuts Hacked hinge point out also. Shaved bloster foam down Added flat layer of foam ( see pink block on grinder) to fill deflated balloon side of seat a bit. One side sans middle armrest. Worked on seat mounts / sliders
Left to right piece I cut from middle, after sewing. Daughters cat smelling some thing different in house. Freshly sewed seat bottom cover Sewing machine. Had to pin machine to floor and get wifey to help pull material through the machine. Sewing machine was not happy with this task and wouldn’t go pass the piping at all. A little crooked yes but done for now. Was hard to do. This seat needs the touch of a real upholstery guy with some Marine grade vinyl, but still meeting my cheapskate criteria for now. Speaking of free C-list freebie model a parts I scored this weekend. Front and rear cross-members 10 leaf spring more bumper stuff ( I’m now sporting 3 incomplete sets) fender support some small odds and ends (not pictured) Thank you Bill in Kailua
Found out about this available 59A-B with T-5 adapter kit and Camaro T-5. This might have to be my new goal. Would blow my LOW dollar budget right out of the water though. Wouldn’t I need the S-10 T-5 instead? Man o man makes my heart beat faster just thinking about it.
3 months since update. Cut bottom of front seat panel and welded in 3/8 square tube hoop. Cut mounting flange off and working on 8 inch set back patches. Got B pillar supports bolted to frame rail. Will be adding second bolt on crossmember. Seat fits and 3 of 5 armrests are removed along with headrests. A bit plush but are sprung nicely for my weight. Might need to lower seat another 2 inches. Working on the seat belts which will bolt to frame too “hopefully”.
Was trying to work deal to swap some carpentry for part of the price (his idea), but he is attached to that motor and I don’t blame him because its neat. I just got to be patient, but I should phone/text him again... Hot Rod Buddy is fixing on one of his friends ‘30A last week. Was fun to look at. Digging that color. He keeps me motivated...
I see my last post was deleted. Probably due to off topic tires and rims on buddies car. Apologies to the Mods, will try to stay on topic.
Working on the seat set back fillers. Bent top over on buddies brake then hand pounded the reveal line in to match existing. First side mocked and tacked in place working on second side filler now. Sitting on my bucket, working in the dirt.
Getting a hell of a lot more done in the dirt on a bucket than many of us with access to a good garage floor. Thanks for the update !
Been a year since an update. Life just demands your time. Spent this last year reading everything on the Hamb about home frame building at least 5x or more. Bought a piece of 2x4 tube for my rails. Loaded up for trip home The metal cutting Diablo blade cut it good but it is like a shrapnel bomb going off. It made it through about 30 foot of cutting 1/4 inch before dulling some, so I was impressed. Did not have a 3/16 option in stock. Definitely need eye protection and a face shield! Front tapers Some stick welding and wishing for more / stronger clamps. Just move em around and lots of cooling time between. Got to commit to 103.5 or 106. wheel base now. 103.5 = hood and sides fit. 106= 289 fit without cutting firewall - i think. Yes 289, won’t be able to get my hands on the 59A-B flathead now. So 60s theme. So I’m started on this frame build. I have my rails partly made now. Got an old A rear crossmember and poorly cut up after market front cross member. Still collecting parts for this. Viva La Tub!
I'm glad to see you back at it! I've been checking on this thread occasionally to see if you were posting. Good luck with your chassis! Viva la Tub!
Just now found your thread! Really dig it. I do t think anyone’s mentioned it but please take a good close look at that front axle. That arch in the “dropped” ends I’ve only ever seen when someone cuts the stock ends off and welds in a thick slab of plate with the drop in it and welds the kingpin bore on the end. not that I havnt seen it work just fine but there could be some scary shit hiding in that. Best to take a look while it’s still “early” Keep up the good work
Big changes this year, different job site 4me, wifey and son got new jobs and daughter went off island to college. Almost back to an even keel now. Its fun to look at but my hot rod buddy says same thing “get it magna fluxed before use’ I’ve been reading all the drop axle threads and found one that looks the same in the background of a picture. So maybe not a one off? That is all I’ve been able to do/find out so far. I have a ‘A’ axle with spring perch bolts busted off and a 37 axle (I think). Wonder what it would cost to have the A shipped and lowered/fixed and shipped back? Will probably just have to buy a regular 4 inch drop one before all is done...[/QUOTE]
I wonder if there’s not someone closer to you that could drop it for you. For the amount of time and money involved with getting stuff to the islands I would think even if you had to make a jig to drop it yourself you’d be time and cash ahead.
The Jalopy Journal
