Seating For Two in a 33 Ford Pickup

I need a seat or seats for my 33 Ford Pickup. Since I can not find a set of good used springs anywhere, I am wondering if anyone knows of a seat that will work other than a stock one. I know that Mac's has replacement springs but I am looking for something more modern that could be more comfortable. Any suggestions? I have tried a few buckets that I have around here but I think I need something more upright and narrower - I am 6'2". I have thought about making a seat out of foam rubber and having it covered - anyone done that? Thanks...Tom

 

just cut up an old schoolbus seat

jump or third seats in mini vans

jeep back seats

 

For my 33 ford pickup, I found an abandoned ford van 3rd seat lying on the ground next to a dumpster at work. The back was the perfect width but the bottom was too wide. I just removed the cover and foam and cut 4" from the center, welded it back together. I cut the foam down and stretched the cover over, hog ringed it and viola! A comfy seat the fit for free....

 

I doubt that I will suggest anything you haven't already thought of, but there are a lot of middle and back van seats out there which oughtta fit right in there and be reasonably comfortable. I've never actually picked out any for a truck like yours though. I do, however, know that against my advice, my friend Jim drug home several sets of buckets when he was building a '27 T roadster. Eventually they all went to swap meets and he had the original seat rebuilt and recovered. Your truck should work out better for late model stuff, though, as you're actually straight across whereas Jim had the back curve to deal with. All that being said, I've got buckets from a mid 80's small Oldsmobile (sorry, but I don't recall which model) in Clarence. I've had them in there for 10-12 years and have no complaints. I go to a minimum of two events each summer where the drive is at least a long hard day's drive each way. I've measured them and they would fit in a Model A sedan so they should fit your pu.

As quick as some of the hambers are you'll probably have a half dozen better replies before I get this up, though.

 

well, two anyway. with more to come i'm sure.

 

I'm in the same boat. 32 p/u Anybody care to discuss building a foam seat from scratch? What density? etc etc. Are there warehouses for upholstery shops that carry the foam?

 

'87/89 Escort rear seat.......works just fine and the back folds down......

 

Think of your seat as a suspension component for your ass.

If you are going to do some long distance driving, you might want to have springs in the seat rather than only foam.

 

Hey - Thanks! All those suggestions sound workable but I like the Escort idea. I am only a mile or so from the local junk yard - guess I know what to look for now. I had not thought about narrowing a van seat but that could work too...should be cheap...Thanks HAMBr's! Still would like to hear about anybody building a foam seat and the comfort level...Tom

 

i'm in the same boat as well. need a seat for a 31 chevy p/u
it came with a mini van seat for it.i'm 6'4" and the problem i have with it is the back of the seat puts me to far forward leaving no leg room. i welded up some angle iron for a seat bottom frame and cut a piece of plywood for the bottom and nothing for the back. was thinking of making a pad of some sort that just snaps onto the back of the cab for a back rest. i'd like to see pics of the escort rear seat installed. sounds like it might work.

 

I used a middle seat from a dodge mini van for my 34 pickup which is the same as your 33. The width is 40" and all you need to do is take off the arm rest. I'm shorter than you so maybe you could chop the bench seat frame to give you more room. I found the seat very comfortable compared to the Fiero seats I originally installed.
Joe

 

I got a Dodge Caravan middle seat also, 1988 I think.

I just put it in for a test fit today. I removed the stock seatriser and cut the Dodge seat risers to about 3" in the back and 3-1/2 in the front. I think it will work out good, I may even leave the arm rests...

 

This might be helpful: Junkyard seat dimensions

 

I used one of those seats that fold into the trunk of a stationwagon that seats two people backwards, some late sixties Ford I think, takes the whole width of my34 and is this nice metallic vinyl

 

I was a passenger in my uncles 31 A bone, on a trip of over five hundred miles. He scrapped the bench in place for some old MG midget bucket seats. They were comfortable and well cushioned and best of all they were cheap!

 

You didnt say how wide you needed but Im using a Jeep rear seat in my T and have a couple inches on each side of it.
If you make your own seat, what Ive seen done is cut out the plywood base under your butt and then weave lawn chair webbing in the hole. Then cover it with foam and upholstery.

PetT

 

[ QUOTE ]
I got a Dodge Caravan middle seat also, 1988 I think.

I just put it in for a test fit today. I removed the stock seatriser and cut the Dodge seat risers to about 3" in the back and 3-1/2 in the front. I think it will work out good, I may even leave the arm rests...

[/ QUOTE ]
Neal, can you remove the lower cushion for access underneath? It doesn't look like you can. I'll need access to my battery and I like to mount the fuse box there. I suppose the whole seat could be hinged for limited access. Space is a problem in these trucks.

 

More great ideas! Thanks! Right now we have about 3 feet of snow everywhere. As soon as we get some melting, I will be on the way to the junkyard to look around - tape in hand...Tom

 

[ QUOTE ]
Neal, can you remove the lower cushion for access underneath? It doesn't look like you can. I'll need access to my battery and I like to mount the fuse box there. I suppose the whole seat could be hinged for limited access. Space is a problem in these trucks.

[/ QUOTE ]

The seat is all one piece. I suppose you could hinge it, I will think about that. These seats do have latches on the lower rails that might work out well for that, with a little adaptaion of course.

Neal

 

Dave built a seat for his 34 truck using plywood, chair webbing and high density foam,,,in layers for depth in the middle......i'm having trouble with the photo page so here are the pics ....one at a time

 

This is the bottom of the seat,,,,,,it measures 47"at the widest point and 42" in the front and is 18" wide,,,

 

...The back of the seat is about the same,,,47" across the bottom edge and 43" across the top and the back is 23" tall.
HRP

 

...Last one shows the built up areas on the seat back....seating for two look,,,,HRP