Technical Seat riser structural or can I cut it?

Finally getting around to actually mounting my caravan seat into my 1940 Chevy truck. It had been just kind of sitting on top of the gas tank box/seat riser thing whatever you want to call it. So I want to make some actual mounts with sliders, and bolt it to the floor. In order to do that I need to remove the seat riser. So my question is can I just take a cuttoff wheel I cut the box out? Or is it maybe structural and I shouldn’t do that because if I do there might be some flexing/weakness?

 

Not familiar with 40 Chevy truck but would expect that it is riveted in, just grind the rivet heads off, knock them out and remove it as a unit.

 

If the 40 is anything like my 36, the risers are spot welded in and not a structural part. Lose it, you'll be fine. Mitch

 

Do you want the van seat directly on the floor pan or is on the "box" about right? (I'm thinking, mount the sliders across the top of the box. That's some good bootleg space, right there.)

 

the seat riser is spot welded all the around the base to the floor.there is 2 body to frame mount bolts on the edge of the flange also. the back of it is also welded into the braces for the door posts. if you are not going to use the stock gas tank you can remove it with out any problem. just remember the floor is not flat or level under it. the floor drops down for the gas tank to sit in.

 

My '51 had a similar seat riser which I'm sure added some rigidity to the floor pan, so rather than remove it entirely, I cut it down enough to get the new seat frame inside with room to position and bolt it down. The remaining vertical structure provided kind of an under-seat package tray. I used "U" shaped plastic edging to finish off the cut edge, some carpet on the floor, and now I can stash a lot of stuff under there without worrying about it sliding around too much. YMMV

 

Cut it out. It's not doing anything. I cut mine out of my 46 GMC (same cab) and mounted my S10 seat on risers that mount to the floor. The dropped floor area under the seat works great, it gives me a couple more inches height under the seat and I often put luggage under there.

Over 36,000 km since built and no issues. My dad has a 52 Chevy pickup, he did the same and his has over 60,000 km, no issues as well. As was said they're spot welded in, they're not holding anything together.