1st to 2nd gen seat swap project

[DeclansDaddy]

Well it wasn't long after I got my '86 that I realized the front seats were much more uncomfortable than my '95's so I decided to swap them out. And the back seat of my DLX was in no way shape or form safe for my children so I decided to tackle that project too. This write up will be more detailed about the back seat more than the front as the front seats were easy. I got 2 in awesome shape front seats from a '94 at the local pick and pull for $32. The drivers seat was an exact bolt in although I did have to put the two bolts closest to the center of the truck in first and pull the outer track about 1/4 of an inch to get those bolts in but it wasn't hard and doesn't effect the functionality of the track. The passenger front seat wasn't direct bolt in. The two front bolts aligned just like the drivers however both back bolts were about 3" further back. However under the carpet on the rear hole closest to the door there was a threaded hole and sure enough the bolt went right in. The inner back bolt had to be drilled and to my surprise where the hole had to be drilled was still in the reinforced section of the floor so I feel a thick washer and lock nut will suffice. Now on to the rear seat..

My rear seat was a metal bench seat with a thin cushion that velcroed to the metal. The back was hinged with the latching system bolted to the rollbar. Apparently this was about the most base grade back seat ever put in any 4Runner. I know it would of been ideal to find a SR5 1st gen and snatch the back seat but they aren't exactly easy to come by so instead I picked up a split seat from a '93. Seat and all hardware for $14.

I started with the bottoms. It was clear that the bolt holes weren't going to be the same. But while I had the seats mocked up like this I went ahead and marked where the new holes were going to be.

First I pulled off the hinges from the frame and the hinges had the number 3 or 4 stamped into them so I marked their location.


I went ahead and cut the hog rings and pulled the cushions off the frames to protect them from and grinding and welding I might do.
So then I decided I'd drill the holes in the body that I had marked and my plan was to use a 1/8 flat bar with a nut welded to it to reinforce the bolt holes. And to keep the installation and removal of the seats in the future easy I drilled 2 smaller holes on both sides of the bolt hole that I will later fill with weld to keep the nuts in place.

Here are the brackets I made with grade 8- 3/8 nuts tacked to the back.

the front
I was able to access the area that the nuts needed to be from the fuel pump access hole for the passenger side. the drivers side I needed a helping hand. I just put a bolt through them for the time being just to get them welded up.

Now the frames were ready to bolt in.

 

[mikekfr]

Awesome work, if you need some hog rings & the pliers, i do upholstery/canvas for a living...hit me up and use what you need, no charge. I'll PM you my number.

 

[DeclansDaddy]

Pt 2

Now that the frames were in I had to relocate the catch on the floor that keeps them down. The factory ones were about 3" off from where they needed to be.
Heres the new one in and whats left of the old one I cut out.

This was a trial and error process. I pretty much eyeballed where I thought they needed to be and tacked them in and actually both sides worked the first time so I went ahead and welded the spots fully. (I drilled the spot welds and got the factory latches from the donor rig)
Heres both frames in and latching down.

After reattaching the cushions with zip ties (temporary in case I needed to remove them again) I had to tweak the catches on the floor a little. Both seats latched but wouldn't release but a few taps with the ol hammer they work great.
Now the seat back. The center hinge for the seat back was direct bolt in and the sides were close. The bottom hole on the side hinges was already elongated but it needed about 1/8" more.

That was the easiest part of the back seat so far. However the seatback latch system was nowhere near compatible. Although my catches were mounted to the rollbar after I took off the side interior panels I noticed that holes were already there for catches but they were way too high for the 2nd gen seats. So I put on the thinking cap again and got to cutting and grinding. After a lot of eyeballing and 2nd guessing heres what I came up with

Its a 1/4" flat bar that actually started life as the catch for the original seat. The lower hole in the body was already there and the metal was flared around it so its actually a pretty strong hole. I mounted the catch from the donor vehicle where it looked like it needed to be and then drilled the top hole. It was the same with the floor catches, it needed a couple persuasive blows from the mall to latch correctly but works quite well and is very rigid. I did the pass. side first and used it as a template for the drivers side and once bolted in the drivers side worked flawlessly.
So heres the finished product.

Now all that's left is to re hog ring the cushions on and decide on new seat belts. I know that the existing holes in the rollbar that previously held my catch is where many guys mount the belts so that's my next move. If any of you want to tackle this project and have any question feel free to ask and please guys don't hesitate to criticize my work if you feel you know a better way. I am a floor covering installer that likes cutting and welding crap in my yard so I am far from an engineer and I know that so please if you see something that can be improved leave it here for the next guy.

 

[DeclansDaddy]

The only obvious difference in the seats are the angles on the outsides of the seats for easier entrance and exit from the 4 door 2nd gen but once I get carpet in this thing which I plan on it going up and under the seats I thing it will look great.

 

[flagbasher]

So I meant to message you the other day.

I heard from a guy that those seat latch bars attached to the roll bar are for a factory rear seat delete kit. Apparently it comes with a folding insert that fills in the depression where the rear seat passenger feet would go. Then it can fold up and latches to the roll bar.

So when it's down, it just makes the bed long and flat. Probably great for camping too. Then you lift it up to make two separate cargo areas.

---

On second thought, looks like I was wrong. Looked into it more closely and the seat deletes fold forward, not back. So your seat mounts are likely aftermarket then.

 

[DeclansDaddy]

It was wierd because the seats that were in it all matched. The bottoms of the back seats were actually just like the split seats I put in but were pretty well tore up. The seatback was the flat metal bench. I could unvelcro the pad and fold down the metal part and it was exactly how you explained. Perfectly a flat surface from the tailgate all the way to the front seats. Where you the guy telling me about the aftermarket seat belts? Someone told me what they had and I forgot. I need to get those ordered soon.

 

[papawhellie]

Very nice work! Those 2nd gen seats look nice and I bet they are a major comfort upgrade. They fit perfect width wise in the rear area? How are you holding the tops back? 1st gen hardware mounted on the sides? I would like to see more pictures from different angles (sides)?

This might be helpful: I remembered Subaru so used it in search.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/classic-t4rs/174456-1st-gen-rear-seat-belts.html

 

[flagbasher]

It was wierd because the seats that were in it all matched. The bottoms of the back seats were actually just like the split seats I put in but were pretty well tore up. The seatback was the flat metal bench. I could unvelcro the pad and fold down the metal part and it was exactly how you explained. Perfectly a flat surface from the tailgate all the way to the front seats. Where you the guy telling me about the aftermarket seat belts? Someone told me what they had and I forgot. I need to get those ordered soon.

Yeah that was me. I think I dumped all the info in one of your threads. If you end up using my source, just make sure you get the 12" receiver ends instead of the 8" ones. They're just a little too short.

 

[DeclansDaddy]

Very nice work! Those 2nd gen seats look nice and I bet they are a major comfort upgrade. They fit perfect width wise in the rear area? How are you holding the tops back? 1st gen hardware mounted on the sides? I would like to see more pictures from different angles (sides)?

This might be helpful: I remembered Subaru so used it in search.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/classic-t4rs/174456-1st-gen-rear-seat-belts.html

I used the 2nd gen hardware that I got from the donor vehicle. I had to do a little fabrication but all went well. The width was perfect. I'll try to get a couple more pics tomorrow of the bracket I came up with. Some might think it's a bit primitive but I am not going to spend a bunch time coming up with something else just because it looks better. Its behind a panel so as long as it functions safely I'm good with it.