80 seats in a 60

[dtrain]

I searched around but didnt find much....

Has anyone put 80 seats in their 60 (thinking somwhere between yrs 94-98)? Wondering about the height and if they fit in well.

 

[cruiserunc]

80/100 seats in a 60

When I replaced my seats in my 60, I had a set of seats from a wrecked 97 FJ 80 and a set from a wrecked 99 FJ 100. Just an overview;

The 80 seats will come from model years 1991-97, 94-97 are slightly different than the 91-93. I tried to put a set of seats from a 99 FJ 100 into a 97 FJ 80 and it just took too much work to make it happen. I did use the FJ 100 seats in my current FJ 60 project vehicle. The 80 seats seem to mount higher than the 100 seats.

For the 60, the FJ 100 seats only have one excellent attachment point; front near the console for both seats, outside near the doors is ok, will need a little work but is ok, the rear attachment points will need to be created and need some steel added behind the holes. Another consideration for both, the travel of the 80 and 100 seats is different than the 60, a safety design to move the seat closer to being behind the B post and a change of the door opening positon between the 60 and the 80/100 series.

Follow the link in my signature if you want to see what some 100 seats look like in a 60.

That said, for the 60 seats from a 100 or an 80 leaves you a long way from the pedals. If you are tall it is not problem, I am quite comfortable but I am 6'1", more than a couple inches shorter will create some real problems for you.

In other words, my wife can't drive it but then again, that would suggest she would WANT to drive it which is NOT the case!

 

[ginericLC]

I wouldn't use 80 seats. They aren't that great, actually I say they suck. They just don't feel right, the leather is terrible unless from an LX or 40th and even then it is marginal. I spent over 100k in them and never loved the seats. Unless you found a nice set of cloth 93/94 ones I'd forget about it. 100 seats are a lot nicer. You could space the front of the 100 series seats forward using washers or even a cut down piece of tubing with a longer bolt. This might light up the back holes better too and give you the desired forward and back range. The 100 seats have a really really long range of motion. Much longer than the 60 or 80 seats. Volvo seats are a nice seat for a 60 too. They aren't too hard to adapt.

 

[cruiserunc]

Seats - Safety

One other option I would consider is something from a newer vehicle that has the entire seatbelt contained in the seat.

I don't mean to hammer too much on the safety piece but I work as a researcher in medicine at a university and have quite a bit of experience related to the kinetics of a vehicle accident. I have an ARB bumper in part because I refer to it is my "poor man's air bag". I have installed Westin sliders welded to the frame (last week) and that was a consideration when I mounted my seats, using the front mounting holes and letting them sit behind the B post to improve side impact safety.

The problem with any placement of a seat other than where it was originally designed, is how the seatbelt now comes across the body. Another option is a seat from a vehicle such as a late model extended cab Ford E250 or E350 (remove the jump seat). The seats for the driver/passenger have contained seat belts inside the seat, eliminating dependance on the alignment with the B post.

I used seats from a FJ100 because I had them (accumulating dust in a storage) and although I did not previously discuss it I did want to reinforce what was previously stated, seats from the 80 series are far less comfortable (at that time, I also had a set of them as well).

I have no idea if they will work but if I was going to start from scratch (nothing available) and replace my front seats, I would try a set from an extended cab truck, I know the F250, F350 and some Chevy Silverados' and I would think most convertables have seats that are constructed to safety standards that are more robust.

Another issue to consider with newer seats includes air bags mounted in the seats for side impact (some late model FJ100's have them). Using them with an aftermarket sensor would still require some expertise getting it/them installed but could also improve your safety in the 60.

Randy