88-98 Bucket seat alternatives

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Moparmat2000

I'm Awesome
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
1,774
Reaction score
3,996
Location
Grand Tetons
What about a seat frame that tips the entire seat forward. Didnt the 80s blazers have that? Seat back didnt tilt, the whole seat did. Something like that would open up some more seat possibilities.

I also have a low mileage 2007 mustang GT. Just took a 1600 mile one way road trip to visit family. TBH before I started out, I didnt think I was gonna make 6 hours in those seats with the nerve damage I have in my lower back and clutch leg. However I drove 12 hours on day 1 and 14 hours on day 2 and my back and leg felt great.

I am actually considering a set of these myself. Same seats from 2005 to 2009. Look for ones without the seat side bolster airbag. Same seat frame between V6 and GT V8, only the upholstery is what differentiates the 2 models, and companies now make replacement seat foam and seat covers in cloth and leather. They can be recovered in your shop using simple hand tools. If you plan on recovering them anyways, get the cloth LX V6 seats out of the junky in deplorable condition. You can prob get em dirt cheap since theres a bunch of these out there. My local wrecking yard told me if I wanted a set and I pull em myself they would be $50 a pair. The 3 colors they were available in were black, tan, and grey.
 
Last edited:

MSCustoms

Its not just a Truck
Joined
Jan 14, 2013
Messages
3,353
Reaction score
195
I used yj wrangler seat brackets in my k5. They lift the whole seat up and forward so you can get in and out of the back
 

98chevy2500SS

Specializes in Accessories 101
Joined
Feb 10, 2017
Messages
3,512
Reaction score
4,148
Location
Iowa
For those with the cloth Bonneville seats, are they worth it over the stock seats? Are they super comfy? Looking to maybe spruce up my 97's comfort.
 

Dominick H

Newbie
Joined
May 29, 2019
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Location
California
I need some guidance on a seat swap. I have a 90 scsb Chevy and it has the normal 40/60 bench seat in it and I was thinking of swapping newer seat from a 96 in my truck. Is there anything I have to look out for? Maybe holes I have to drill or is it a direct bolt in swap? All info is appreciated!!
 

bustedknuckles

I'm Awesome
Joined
Aug 5, 2019
Messages
175
Reaction score
173
Location
Fall Branch Tn.
Like info and pics of seats like the Bonneville seats. Mine are leather and thick. While pretty comfy i cant recline at all due to newding seat all the way back for leg room. Hoping to set a couple of inches lower as well.
You must be registered for see images attach
 

Rich Lofton

Newbie
Joined
Aug 24, 2019
Messages
3
Reaction score
1
Location
South Dakota
Figured I'd post this here for those who may have not seen it elsewhere.
Several others have performed this as well. Some may like them, some don't, but this is an easy swap that can be performed in an afternoon.

'88-98 manual seat bases bench and bucket, are comprised of of the same components.The risers are interchangable;
If you have a factory bench, unbolt the horizontal bars that go across the trans tunnel, and you have the riser for one seat.(obviously you will need a shorter spring).
You will need another bucket or bench, set of risers for the second seat. There is some variation with extended cab trucks that have rear seat entry. I have never owned an extended cab truck. You will need to drill 4 holes for the inner mountings of both seats.
I have owned 4 C/Ks since '88 (88,90,94& 99)All of them had dimples (markings) in the floorpan for factory bucket seat mounts. My '94 suburban had the un-threaded nut and backing plate welded in the proper location beneath the un-drilled floorpan.
Mid size '92-'00 pontiac bonneville (and other GM midsizes on the same platform) bucket seats will bolt directly to '88-'98 seat risers with NO MODIFICATIONS, they both share the same riser-to-seat bolt pattern. These seats are cheap, and plentiful,and come in cloth and leather,recline and power lumbar was avialible.
I purchased 4 seats for my suburban for $100.00
In the case of SUV's, the rears are not straight bolt in, new holes and mounting points have to be fabricated, but this mainly addresses the front seats.
The power seat units in '88-'94 and '95-'99 C/Ks will also bolt directly up to these seats with no modifications.
The Pontiac seat bolts directly to the C/K seat motor without modification. Therefore, the new seat is at the correct height for the truck, the riser already fits the truck, and no fabrication to make the Pontiac mechanism the proper height, or bolt pattern is necessary.

Check the pic of my '94 sub. The driver side power unit is from a '98 Tahoe, and the passenger side is my original '94 bench seat riser.
No mounting holes were enlarged,slotted,or modified in any way.

I find these seats to be EXTREMELY comfortable, and they fit the wide physical dimensions of the cab nicely.


You must be registered for see images attach


In my '91 reg. cab...

You must be registered for see images attach


Bench seat riser. The end sliders are identical to bucket risers. If you have a bench, unbolt the cross bars, and you have the riser for one bucket seat. You'll need to get another pair for the second seat.



You must be registered for see images attach


Use the outer two original seat mount holes from the bench as your starting point. (passenger side shown)

You must be registered for see images attach



The inner holes that need to be drilled for the inner riser/slider need to be 13 and 3/8" inward from the original mount holes, center to center, and will end up on an embossed (raised) section of the floor pan intended for bucket seat mounting. (driver side shown)

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach


If you are using a Bonneville seat, or a fullsize GMT 400 bucket, I strongly recommend bolting the riser to the seat, and determining your measurement this way.

You must be registered for see images attach


The hole distance from front to rear (on one riser) is 10 and 5/8" The distance on the slider portion where the seat itself bolts to the slider is 14" There is some room for adjustment, or possibly another seat option, as the front holes are slotted.

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach


Underneath on the passenger side, there is a knockout portion on the heat shield for the exhaust to access where the inner front hole will end up (in the recessed area)

You must be registered for see images attach


Passenger side, inner rear hole. This area is unobstructed.

You must be registered for see images attach


Driver side inner front (I did not driil this, because in this case,I installed a 60/40 and the holes are on the transmission tunnel)

You must be registered for see images attach


Driver side inner rear.

You must be registered for see images attach


For safetys sake, you should weld a nut to a piece of 3/16" (minimum) plate roughly 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" square, or a very large fender washer to prevent the bolts and nuts from pulling through the sheetmetal floor pan in the event of a collision.
 

Rich Lofton

Newbie
Joined
Aug 24, 2019
Messages
3
Reaction score
1
Location
South Dakota
Figured I'd post this here for those who may have not seen it elsewhere.
Several others have performed this as well. Some may like them, some don't, but this is an easy swap that can be performed in an afternoon.

'88-98 manual seat bases bench and bucket, are comprised of of the same components.The risers are interchangable;
If you have a factory bench, unbolt the horizontal bars that go across the trans tunnel, and you have the riser for one seat.(obviously you will need a shorter spring).
You will need another bucket or bench, set of risers for the second seat. There is some variation with extended cab trucks that have rear seat entry. I have never owned an extended cab truck. You will need to drill 4 holes for the inner mountings of both seats.
I have owned 4 C/Ks since '88 (88,90,94& 99)All of them had dimples (markings) in the floorpan for factory bucket seat mounts. My '94 suburban had the un-threaded nut and backing plate welded in the proper location beneath the un-drilled floorpan.
Mid size '92-'00 pontiac bonneville (and other GM midsizes on the same platform) bucket seats will bolt directly to '88-'98 seat risers with NO MODIFICATIONS, they both share the same riser-to-seat bolt pattern. These seats are cheap, and plentiful,and come in cloth and leather,recline and power lumbar was avialible.
I purchased 4 seats for my suburban for $100.00
In the case of SUV's, the rears are not straight bolt in, new holes and mounting points have to be fabricated, but this mainly addresses the front seats.
The power seat units in '88-'94 and '95-'99 C/Ks will also bolt directly up to these seats with no modifications.
The Pontiac seat bolts directly to the C/K seat motor without modification. Therefore, the new seat is at the correct height for the truck, the riser already fits the truck, and no fabrication to make the Pontiac mechanism the proper height, or bolt pattern is necessary.

Check the pic of my '94 sub. The driver side power unit is from a '98 Tahoe, and the passenger side is my original '94 bench seat riser.
No mounting holes were enlarged,slotted,or modified in any way.

I find these seats to be EXTREMELY comfortable, and they fit the wide physical dimensions of the cab nicely.


You must be registered for see images attach


In my '91 reg. cab...

You must be registered for see images attach


Bench seat riser. The end sliders are identical to bucket risers. If you have a bench, unbolt the cross bars, and you have the riser for one bucket seat. You'll need to get another pair for the second seat.



You must be registered for see images attach


Use the outer two original seat mount holes from the bench as your starting point. (passenger side shown)

You must be registered for see images attach



The inner holes that need to be drilled for the inner riser/slider need to be 13 and 3/8" inward from the original mount holes, center to center, and will end up on an embossed (raised) section of the floor pan intended for bucket seat mounting. (driver side shown)

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach


If you are using a Bonneville seat, or a fullsize GMT 400 bucket, I strongly recommend bolting the riser to the seat, and determining your measurement this way.

You must be registered for see images attach


The hole distance from front to rear (on one riser) is 10 and 5/8" The distance on the slider portion where the seat itself bolts to the slider is 14" There is some room for adjustment, or possibly another seat option, as the front holes are slotted.

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach


Underneath on the passenger side, there is a knockout portion on the heat shield for the exhaust to access where the inner front hole will end up (in the recessed area)

You must be registered for see images attach


Passenger side, inner rear hole. This area is unobstructed.

You must be registered for see images attach


Driver side inner front (I did not driil this, because in this case,I installed a 60/40 and the holes are on the transmission tunnel)

You must be registered for see images attach


Driver side inner rear.

You must be registered for see images attach


For safetys sake, you should weld a nut to a piece of 3/16" (minimum) plate roughly 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" square, or a very large fender washer to prevent the bolts and nuts from pulling through the sheetmetal floor pan in the event of a collision.
What bucket seats and center console would fit a 1991 Chevy K1500 Extended Cab
 

kennythewelder

Officially Retired, B31-3 (6-G) certified welder.
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Jul 14, 2014
Messages
6,519
Reaction score
9,164
Location
Louisiana
Well I spent 2 days, abd drove a total of 100 miles for nothing. Seat shop was a joke. They wanted to recover my drivers seat bottom in a fabric that was not OE. I said NO. So on to plan B. I guess I will do buckets. I have60-40 now. So question is, will the passengers side brackets work, or will I need both drivers and passengers brackets. I know the drivers side will need to be swapped out for bucket seats. I figure I will do thid in the junk yard.
 
Top