Bucket seat Swap

[Builderguy]

I have restored a 1973 Roadrunner to as close to original as I can get. I have a second 1973 Roadrunner (340 4-speed Sure grip) that was ordered with a bench seat. Some PO had swapped out the bench for buckets that didn't fit right and were from an earlier Roadrunner.
I hunted down the correct bench seat so I could put the car back to original. I later discovered that I sold the buckets way way way too cheap. Ya don't know what ya don't know and I did not need them, but I digress. I have decided to go with bucket seats on this build since I will making several other modifications (mostly to the suspension and engine) that will take it far from "stock". Heck, may even go with a center console if I can use the existing shifter. I have a set of 1977 Cordoba buckets that really don't look too much different than the 1973 Roadrunner buckets. The mounting brackets are different but I can fab those without too much trouble. My question is, will I be able to just put 1973 RR seat covers over the 1977 Cordoba seat frames. Anyone ever try this or know if it will work?

1973 Roadrunner

1977 Cordoba

 

[T2R9]

Yes, the basic seats are the same. Your going to have to manipulate the covers and the foam but they will fit.

 

[Builderguy]

Good to know, I was thinking about these covers and foams from Legendary:

About $1200 worth, but it might just be the way to go.

Still have to figure out if the stock shifter will work, being that is was for a bench seat, it might have a bigger offset to allow for the bench being moved forward.

 

[JG71B]

I just put those on my late 71. They should work.

Just a heads up...Legendary has been backed up to a 36 week wait minimum! I got lucky and found mine on ebay through a Mopar dealer. Was his last set. Said not expecting another shipment til June of 22

 

[Builderguy]

I was looking a little closer at this whole swap idea. Personally I like the buckets better but it looks like the floor hump is much further back on a bucket seat car than it is on a bench seat version by several inches. In addition the shifter on the bucket seat car is much straighter. I am not afraid of doing any type of metal work but; adding a new hump, getting a different style shifter, and getting the proper linkage looks like a great big pile of money. I understand the bucket seat car may draw out more money but it just might be a wash after all the work that is needed. IDK maybe I should just keep the car original looking and work on the engine internals to give it more power.

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Yes, manual transmissions with bench got the hump further forward.

 

[T2R9]

Add a buddy seat with the buckets. That used the bench shifter plus you get a nice armrest to go with the pistol grip. I am doing that on my 71.

 

[Builderguy]

Add a buddy seat with the buckets. That used the bench shifter plus you get a nice armrest to go with the pistol grip. I am doing that on my 71.

Thanks, I did not know about that option. That just might be the ticket.

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Forgott to say that! LOL... yes, buddy seat manual cars got the shifter on same location than bench cars