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switch from bench to bucket

Mel BEEP

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Location
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thinking about switching from bench to bucket seats in my 70' Road Runner. has anyone had any experience at this? Wondering if the rails match up? Would I have to drill new holes in my floor board to accommodate new seat rails? Thanks
 
You can use the outer bench holes and have to drill 4 inner holes for the buckets.
 
be sure to use reinforcement plates on the holes near the hump like the factory bucket seat cars used
 
You'll be sorry when you loose the comfort of that bench seat for '70 straight back buckets.. I can guarantee you and your neck that!
 
You'll be sorry when you loose the comfort of that bench seat for '70 straight back buckets.. I can guarantee you and your neck that!

I would also never trade my bench or buddy seat for buckets.
You're not only loosing comfort but also one seat and space in general.

I think bench seats are a big advantage over buckets with center console /floor shifted cars. :)

At least both of my american cars have it. On purpose. :)

I dont get why so many people seem to prefer bucket seats.
 
buckets with or without console, floor mounted shifter always look more sportier in a hi perf car. However, on a long drive I always wish I was sitting on a bench seat.
 
I always thought the buckets in my '70 Barracuda were comfortable, many long trips included. But I was 18 to 24 years old at the time, LOL. Add the plates on the console side.
 
Mel beep....I have xtra70 buckets if u need a pair I will sell....unfortunately located in New York state
 
I have Procar buckets coming soon, manual transmission next year. I'm doing it for "sport" driving as I slide around to much on the bench. I'm keeping my bench seat and using it in the man cave \ garage.
 
buckets with or without console, floor mounted shifter always look more sportier in a hi perf car. However, on a long drive I always wish I was sitting on a bench seat.
You know that you can have the best of both worlds correct... just be careful slamming it in to 3rd when the GF is beside you!
beedonecruise.JPG
 
I have a 70 Sport Satellite. Haven't had the interior in it for many many years because it's been a long long project. Though it's a bucket seat car my heart still has a place (preference) for my old Coronet that had a bench.
 
I would also never trade my bench or buddy seat for buckets.
You're not only loosing comfort but also one seat and space in general.

I think bench seats are a big advantage over buckets with center console /floor shifted cars. :)

At least both of my american cars have it. On purpose. :)

I dont get why so many people seem to prefer bucket seats.
I guess its the whole sporty aspect of it. Would like to get rid of the column shifter
 
would just like to get rid of the column shifter. The 4 speed conversion seems to be a lot more of a big and expensive job than just using the tranny I have and going to the floor shifter
 
thinking about switching from bench to bucket seats in my 70' Road Runner. has anyone had any experience at this? Wondering if the rails match up? Would I have to drill new holes in my floor board to accommodate new seat rails? Thanks
yes, yes, and yes.
 
I would also never trade my bench or buddy seat for buckets.
You're not only loosing comfort but also one seat and space in general.

I think bench seats are a big advantage over buckets with center console /floor shifted cars. :)

At least both of my american cars have it. On purpose. :)

I dont get why so many people seem to prefer bucket seats.

Some of us like to take our old iron into fast turns. When I'm racing those hyundai elantras and Toyota corollas, the only thing keeping me from coming in dead last is not getting thrown across the seat in the turns...
 
would just like to get rid of the column shifter. The 4 speed conversion seems to be a lot more of a big and expensive job than just using the tranny I have and going to the floor shifter

I did both. I converted my 70 RR from automatic to a 4 speed. The conversion turned the car into a totally different feeling car. Being able to wind the gears and shift allows you to feel much more of the power, IMHO. It was expensive, costing about $5k all said and done, but definitely worth it. When I sold the car, I got more than I would have if it was just a 383 automatic, so I recouped some of the cost.

I also swapped the bench seat in my 70 Satellite convertible for buckets. I found the bench seat to be VERY uncomfortable and was always sliding around in turns. I installed bucket seats and it was a great improvement. As for the installation, the bench seat just uses the outer mounting studs with the holes near the doors. The buckets use those holes but also needs 2 holes per seat drilled through the floorpan, close to the hump. There are indents in the floorpan to locate the holes. Just double check the spacing before you drill the holes. The factory welded in reinforcement plates for those inner holes. If you're not a welder (which I am not) you can use large fender washers on the underside between the nut and the floorpan. That's what I did and had no problems. I sprayed them with some rattle can undercoating to protect them from rust and blend in with the undercoating on the car.
If you go to an automatic floor shift, you will have to install a console. Consoles in nice condition are big bucks. When I converted my RR, I sold the console for $600 and it wasn't perfect. If you stick to the column shift you can also install a buddy seat which gives you an extra seat up front but also folds down into an armrest when not used as a seat. The buddy seat brackets have to be welded in though. Or, you can buy an aftermarket console/armrest which just sits in between the bucket seats. I did that and it was great. Had cupholders and also a USB port to charge my phone. Here's some pics. First 2 are the Satellite with the Humphugger console.

IMG_6679.JPG
IMG_6681(1).JPG
carpet14.JPG

Above pic shows the buddy seat bracket sticking up through the carpet between the two seats. This was after my conversion to a 4 speed. Plus the pistol grip shifter is just BAD *** !!!
 
Can you switch the other way in a 68 Coronet from buckets to a split bench without drilling any holes?
 
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