bench seat modification (more recline!)

[oilspot]

Just got my 97' ext cab back on the road yesterday. I forgot how much I like driving the truck. One big complaint!!!
The factory bench seat feels like it sits to damn close to 90 degrees. Its ridiculous.
Has anybody attempted to modify factory bench seat to let it lay back a little?

Of course this would need to be a proper/ safe mod. I'm not trying to do a accidental full recline, most likely a high speed, on the damn hwy.

 

[sewlow]

You could put washers on the front bolts between the floor & the riser. But that'll raise the front of the cushion, too.
Buy new ones the right size for the bolts.
It doesn't take much to make a diff. Start with two & see how that feels. I wouldn't go more than four high.
If you just want to get the backrest to recline, that would involve seperating the backrest from the cushion, removing the cover & then modifying the frame. The stops for how far the seat now reclines are made of pretty thick steel so it wouldn't just be a matter of bending them. Slicing, dicing & welding required.

 

[AK49BWL]

I'm guessing you couldn't just pull the recline mechanism out of a 60/40 seat and swap them in? I genuinely don't know.

 

[east302]

Do some just not recline at all? I had a regular cab with full bench a while back and pretty sure it reclined.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

Do some just not recline at all? I had a regular cab with full bench a while back and pretty sure it reclined.

MY reg cab bench does not recline.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

You could put washers on the front bolts between the floor & the riser. But that'll raise the front of the cushion, too.
Buy new ones the right size for the bolts.
It doesn't take much to make a diff. Start with two & see how that feels. I wouldn't go more than four high.
If you just want to get the backrest to recline, that would involve seperating the backrest from the cushion, removing the cover & then modifying the frame. The stops for how far the seat now reclines are made of pretty thick steel so it wouldn't just be a matter of bending them. Slicing, dicing & welding required.

This is a good idea. The simplest solutions are often the best. I will try a couple of washers.

 

[Pinger]

You could put washers on the front bolts between the floor & the riser. But that'll raise the front of the cushion, too.
Buy new ones the right size for the bolts.
It doesn't take much to make a diff. Start with two & see how that feels. I wouldn't go more than four high.
If you just want to get the backrest to recline, that would involve seperating the backrest from the cushion, removing the cover & then modifying the frame. The stops for how far the seat now reclines are made of pretty thick steel so it wouldn't just be a matter of bending them. Slicing, dicing & welding required.

I've done that (and by quite a bit sometimes) on other cars and maybe will on my Burb too, but my reason is to pull the cushion under my knees - which I find a lot more comfortable.
It will work for the OP's aim I think. I notice a subsequent post saying he's going to try it. Cheap and cheerful and easily reversible and/or adjustable.