Hey guys so I decided after taking out my bench seat last week to fix a shifter cable, that I want to put in bucket seats because my bench is in dire need of a restoration and it also weighs a ton. So today I was on carbeau racing seats website and I noticed that they made direct fit sliding mounting brackets to work with their seats. So my question is I noticed that when I had my carpet up, there are pre drilled holes on the seat rails. Now would it be just a matter of wielding in a stud and nut to the holes in the front and rear. Also what would you guys run for seat belts, I was thinking about 4 point harnesses, but I was reading some articles that they could be unsafe in a car without a roll cage because if the car was to roll the roof could cave in and crush you because they don't allow you to move like a lap belt or newer style belt does. The guy at carbau that I talked today also said that I could run normal lap belts with their seats. Well let me know what you guys think. Here is a link to the brackets. http://www.streetbeatcustoms.com/Corbeau/Seat-Brackets/Ford-Ranchero-Corbeau-Seat-Bracket/810295/
I ran into this putting aftermarket seats in my 72. The big problem is that the floor pan is not designed to carry the weight. The original seats hook in wide where it is strong. The front universal would scrape the tunnel during bumps. I ended up putting a support on both sides the transmission mount. Actually, I am glad the universal scraped, otherwise I would not have been aware of the flexing until the sheet metal failed.
Would you by any chance have any pictures of your setup? Also is it possible to make those brackets work properly with few modifications?
It's rather low under there. I just tack welded some rectangular tubing on and forced some 3/8" thick rubber over it. Actually, it looks like shit so I would be ashamed to post a pic.
Lol but it works, will have to look into doing that setup when the racing buckets go in this winter. Also what are you running for belts?
ribald he talking about using the factory bucket,60/40 bench mounting holes. They are plenty strong enough to mount the aftermarket seats to. the Factory used 3/8 caged nuts and short studs to mount the seats so no welding needed
Yeah, in my case since my car originally had a bench, I have only one stud and nut on the outside, I am thinking I will have to add one of each to each side. What would be the be the best way to do that?
Do yourself a favor and buy the brackets direct from the guy that makes them, I have been buying them for 25 years. http://wedgebrackets.com/ford-ranchero-bench-71-74-seat-brackets.html?___SID=U Tell him I sent you.
Thanks man, think I found the brackets that I am going to run. Cant wait to get buckets in this car. Also one thing I like about living in the northeast, long winters give you plenty of time to mod the car. Got my whole undercarriage repainted, and fuel cell put in because of them.