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Projects Seats, closed cab Model A PU

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by IRION29, Dec 29, 2014.

  1. IRION29
    Joined: Feb 25, 2013
    Posts: 60

    IRION29
    Member
    from Alberta

    Vaguely remember reading about using 2nd row mini-van seats in a Model A truck,too big a stack of magazines to try to find 1 paragraph.Anyone have any insights on which ones are good to use,the right width, comfy? Truck is a '31, channeled 3" over frame.Any advice appreciated,Thanks, Jim
     
  2. aplayer
    Joined: Dec 2, 2006
    Posts: 148

    aplayer
    Member

    I used a seat out of a 1990 Plymouth Voyager in my '33 Ford cab. Fits great and it's comfy. i built new mounts to lower it and change the angle a bit to get more leg room. Sorry. no pics handy.
     
  3. AVater
    Joined: Dec 9, 2008
    Posts: 3,148

    AVater
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. Connecticut HAMB'ers

    Used the second row seat from a 2006 Chrysler Mini van. Fits pretty good and will recline, tip forward as well. I was also able to use the risers out of the seat to mount to the Model A floor as well. I needed to chop out about an inch and a half off the bottom. Other years will also work but like the tilt/recline function as it allows access to some space behind the seat.

    Pete
     
  4. RainierHooker
    Joined: Dec 20, 2011
    Posts: 2,031

    RainierHooker
    Member
    from Tacoma, WA

    I have a second row seat out of a 1980's dodge van that I'll be using in my future Closed-Cab build. Fits the Seat-riser almost to a T. No idea what exact year, it was a junkyard find...
     

  5. Seems like just about any second row mini van seat will work,generally Chrysler are the seats of choice. HRP
     
  6. mike bowling
    Joined: Jan 1, 2013
    Posts: 3,560

    mike bowling
    Member

    There's a bunch of threads on here-Caravan mini van seat #2 is the hot item.Fits an "A" perfect.I've used them in 2 coupes, 2 roadsters and a Tudor, so a PU would probably work too.Comes out easy too- no tools needed; unlatch and go!
     

    Attached Files:

  7. IRION29
    Joined: Feb 25, 2013
    Posts: 60

    IRION29
    Member
    from Alberta

    Thank You all for the helpful suggestions!
     
  8. mullskull
    Joined: Dec 30, 2009
    Posts: 251

    mullskull
    Member

    For my truck (30/31 closed cab, full fendered and unchopped) I originally tried to run the stock set up(riser, back and bottom) but It took up too much room.. I ditched the stock back and bottom(kept the riser) I wound up using some plywood.. I cut the bottom not much bigger than the riser... And for the back The seat attaches to the cab via the stock mounting brackets.. Again cutting the plywood to be proportional to the seat bottom .. Once everything was properly fit, I took the plywood to the upholstery shop... 3" foam on the bottom and 2" for the back.... And upholstered with some marine grade vinyl ... It came out great!

    My reasoning for the direction that I chose to go with for simply for maximum space...
    Even with my truck being unchopped and channeled its a tight fit, plenty of let room, but the posture isn't the best, kinda upright.. Using a mini van seat would but me way too close to the steering wheel... And I'm pretty slim.. There just ain't that much room too work with!

    The stock seat riser serves a dual purpose.... My battery, and electrical system is mounted inside the riser..

    I can take pictures is ya want...


    Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2015
  9. denis4x4
    Joined: Apr 23, 2005
    Posts: 4,198

    denis4x4
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Colorado

    Posted this before, a pair of Bestop Jeep seats. I replaced these seats with highback Jeep seats with bolsters DSC00011.JPG
     
  10. need louvers ?
    Joined: Nov 20, 2008
    Posts: 12,903

    need louvers ?
    Member


    Please do! I'd like a picture of your truck like your avatar too so I can put it in my Model "A" inspiration file.

    I too have found that in a lot of cases the mini truck seats just take uip more room than they are really worth. In a coupe or sedan they are awesome, in something as tight as a pickup cab, building what you described is a far better bet. Did you do any webbing in your seat base?
     
  11. mullskull
    Joined: Dec 30, 2009
    Posts: 251

    mullskull
    Member

    No webbing, i used 3/4" plywood- I framed out the underside so it indexes into the riser..
    Here are some pictures... ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1420690212.739598.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1420690234.117601.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1420690255.996475.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1420690275.612609.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1420690291.665726.jpg


    Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
     
  12. earlymopar
    Joined: Feb 26, 2007
    Posts: 1,608

    earlymopar
    Member

    I didn't like the fact that min van seats were a little narrow. They fit but had to be quite a bit narrower than the cab in order to allow for the taper of the cab on my pickup. So I bought a seat from a mini-truck (Mazda) that had a nice tube frame and then cut the frame section in the center of the seat bottom to "pinch" it to fit the cab taper. I ended up with a seat that was more like a stock seat in terms of the shape and also ended up with the seat back that tilted forward for access behind the seat and still have the seat track for adjustment.

    - EM
     
  13. 31Apickup
    Joined: Nov 8, 2005
    Posts: 3,366

    31Apickup
    Member

    I did something similar to mullskull. Piece of plywood for the back. I'm using an original type bottom spring, but am going to change that to just webbing and foam. I eliminated the wood cab reinforcement on the back of cab and bent up a piece of 1/8" strapping in place of it.
     
  14. Does it feel like you gained any room ??
     

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