Retrofitting seats into a 3rd Gen

[Big Face]

I have a 1996 3rd Generation Hilux Surf (4Runner) & I find the stock seats uncomfortable on long journeys.

Being a right hand drive auto vehicle, when i'm driving my right leg is unsupported by the seat as there is no upward adjustment, & it starts to give me a leg & then a back ache.

Has anyone ever fitted an alternative seat, either new or used into a 3rd Gen?

Was it a straight forward swap?

The drivers seat is the only one that i'm bothered about.

Many Thanks

Regards

Lewis

 

[Ray K.]

Lewis, I know what you mean about the stock seats being uncomfortable!

I have an '02 4Runner SR5 2wd. Just last month I found a set of front Sport seats locally from another 4Runner. They have the manual lumbar and seat cushion adjustments, plus the tilting headrest. It was a straight/easy bolt in.

I did have to have them reupholstered because they were the wrong color, but otherwise I am very pleased.

I got the seats for $225/pr and it was $480 for re-upholstery.

Ray K.

 

[Big Face]

Re: Re: Retrofitting seats into a 3rd Gen

Lewis, I know what you mean about the stock seats being uncomfortable!

I have an '02 4Runner SR5 2wd. Just last month I found a set of front Sport seats locally from another 4Runner. They have the manual lumbar and seat cushion adjustments, plus the tilting headrest. It was a straight/easy bolt in.

I did have to have them reupholstered because they were the wrong color, but otherwise I am very pleased.

I got the seats for $225/pr and it was $480 for re-upholstery.

Ray K.

Thanks Ray K.

Were the sports seats that you fitted from a 2nd Gen 4Runner?

Did you have to use your exsiting seat frame or did the frame with the sports seats bolt in?

Many Thanks.

Regards

Lewis

 

[pat161]

IIRC Ray did the same thing I did with my 00. He replaced the stock base buckets with stock sport buckets from another 3rd gen. In that case it is a direct bolt in, you simply remove the old seats, rails and all, and the new ones bolt right into place, only thing I had to do was run power as mine were from a limited. While these seats are nice they still are not the most comfortable, mainly after a few hours of seat time. A friend of mine swapped Volvo buckets into his Tundra and they are incredible, night and day over even the best 3rd gen seats. A swap like that requires some modification to the rails to make the bolt holes line up, but nothing overly major. Some people also say Celica seats are a nice upgrade and don't require a ton of modification.

 

[Ray K.]

Hey Lewis,

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, but Pat covered it well.

Yes, I simply replaced my 3rd gen stock seats with a set of sport seats from another 3rd gen 4Runner.

It is a direct bolt in. Remove four bolts and you take one seat with rails out and replace it with the other. It can be done easily in about 15 minutes for both seats.

Ray K.