'91 fj80 manual seats into '95 with power seats

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This appeals to me as well - I have a 96 with leather seats that won't move forward/backward properly. I know where I can get some old cloth seats out of a 91 but I just don't know if I can even install them and install the seat belts.

If it IS possible for me to bolt them in and put in seat belts, I definitely would do it and re-cover them with new leather.

Best of both worlds.

I'd like to know if this is do-able too.
 
Frank (Land Cruiser Heaven) can make anything in leather or cloth.

I have a set of cloth 91-92 front covers and 93-97 middle row cloth covers I had him make. I am dropping off my seats and covers to be rebuilt and covered on Monday. Should have them back middle of the week.

The cushions will all be rebuilt/replaced.

If you purchased leather for power seats they won't work with manual seats. But you could have him make you new front covers and sell the others on here. I'm sure someone would be interested in them. Maybe sell them with an autographed picture...

To me, this is the best of both worlds. Manual front seats and middle row seats with arm rests.
 
LS1FJ40 said:
Frank (Land Cruiser Heaven) can make anything in leather or cloth.

I have a set of cloth 91-92 front covers and 93-97 middle row cloth covers I had him make. I am dropping off my seats and covers to be rebuilt and covered on Monday. Should have them back middle of the week.

The cushions will all be rebuilt/replaced.

If you purchased leather for power seats they won't work with manual seats. But you could have him make you new front covers and sell the others on here. I'm sure someone would be interested in them. Maybe sell them with an autographed picture...

To me, this is the best of both worlds. Manual front seats and middle row seats with arm rests.
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Please post pics of the Land Cruiser Heaven cloth seats when you get them back ... very interested in getting a set myself.

@cruiserhound - did you find out if the '94 has a capture nut to attach the seat belt receiver from a '91 seat? I've got a 95 and have sourced some 91-92 cloth seats nearby.
 
I just did this in my 93 and ended up spending the money to get a set of front seats that don't even match the interior just so the seat belt would bolt back up to the seat. Looked as well on the 94 that I am parting out and it does not appear to have the bolt holes for floor mounted seat belts. Did not check my floor on the 93 but unless you somehow got a 93 that was using up the last of the 92 tubs I would imagine that you don't have the bolt holes for floor mounted seat belts I can verify this but currently do not want to pull the carpet up. Also all three rows in carpet seem to be more comfortable than the leather will be and moving the seats is much easier than when the motor goes out on the power ones which it will or the gear will strip.
 
Joshau said:
Please post pics of the Land Cruiser Heaven cloth seats when you get them back ... very interested in getting a set myself.

@cruiserhound - did you find out if the '94 has a capture nut to attach the seat belt receiver from a '91 seat? I've got a 95 and have sourced some 91-92 cloth seats nearby.
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I didn't check, been crazy busy lately. I should be able to check tomorrow....if I remember.
 
I just went from cloth manual to electric leather. They came in the HDJ81. Drove across the country with them. I am 6'5" and they were perfect. You gain about 2" in total which is quite significant. Im not sure if the Japanese cloth seats in the VX limited is different from the north American cloth seats, but I can not say that they are uncomfortable in any way. Its adjustable in the exact way the NA seats are. Im kind of regretting going the electrical route because manual just works.

1. The manual seats and electrical seats have the same bolt pattern
2. Floor mounted seat belts holes need to be added unless you get later model cloth seats.
3. The electrical are compatible between the two
4. If you refoam, it will fit on the manual seats then cover in leather
5. Be careful when ordering leather kits because the electric versions will have the holes on the side for the controls.

Im debating transferring the foam and leather to the manual seats. I just have so much stuff to do already.
 
goranvolvo said:
i was looking at salvage yard to si what is the best option for different seats and come up with land rover seats just need to confirm dimensions for fitment super comfy and best part right side has folding armrest
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Somewhere in here there are posts by folks who've put Rover seats in and were quite happy. Disco II's maybe?
 
cruiserhound said:
I didn't check, been crazy busy lately. I should be able to check tomorrow....if I remember.
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Just checked. It does not appear that there is a capture nut for the seatbelt receiver in a 1994.

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Why not put the belt on the seat, like Toyota did?
 
Is to
jaymar said:
Why not put the belt on the seat, like Toyota did?
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Is this possible? I wonder if its easy to remove the seat mounted buckle from the electric seat to a manuel seat?
 
ZeGerman said:
1. The manual seats and electrical seats have the same bolt pattern
2. Floor mounted seat belts holes need to be added unless you get later model cloth seats.
3. The electrical are compatible between the two
4. If you refoam, it will fit on the manual seats then cover in leather
5. Be careful when ordering leather kits because the electric versions will have the holes on the side for the controls.

Im debating transferring the foam and leather to the manual seats. I just have so much stuff to do already.
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@ZeGerman


Long shot here, but I wanted to confirm with you if you're saying here that the power seat back foam (which is still available) can be installed on and with the manual cloth seats since the manual seats back foam isn't available anymore. I can understand the points made above that the bottom is a bit more complicated than the seat back.

Part numbers for reference for a 1995:
Power seat back foam: 71551-60140
Manual seat back foam: 71551-60080

Sort of helpful but no answer: Power seat foam for manual cloth seats 95 fzj80 - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/power-seat-foam-for-manual-cloth-seats-95-fzj80.1254599/
 
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The seat back foams have different tie points, namely, the power seats have two rods and the manual seats just has one.

The distances are roughly, from the top of the seat to the rods:

Power seat: 8 1/2" and 13 1/2"
Manual seat: 12 1/2"

Perhaps some fabric loops could be made to "extend" the reach of the rod on the back of the manual cloth an inch or so to where a hog ring could grab it and the rod within the seat cushion. You wouldn't want to make up that inch with anything hard as it might dig into your back or the seat cushion. And even then the seat of the cloth would not "land" in the crease of the seat and you'd have another crease just a little bit above that'd be covered over.

Or is it just easier and cheaper to have an upholstery shop custom make some foam? I feel like limited parts availability warrants the creativity.

Any one have an opinion?

PXL_20231025_014656970.jpg


PXL_20231025_014518719.jpg


Edit: I ordered the power seat back cushion and will give it a shot.. For science.
 
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Hey all, its hurting my knees to drive my '97 for long distances and looking to easily increase leg room and it seems like this manual seat swap is the easiest path forward. Is it really just a drop-in swap to put `93 FJ80 seats into my `97 FJZ80, are any modifications, extra parts, etc required for the seat belts? Looking at you @TheLCProject especially since you're local :D
 
shizam said:
Hey all, its hurting my knees to drive my '97 for long distances and looking to easily increase leg room and it seems like this manual seat swap is the easiest path forward. Is it really just a drop-in swap to put `93 FJ80 seats into my `97 FJZ80, are any modifications, extra parts, etc required for the seat belts? Looking at you @TheLCProject especially since you're local :D
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If you can score some manual seats for cheap, go for it. Otherwise this is what many people, myself included, have done: 80 Series Electric Seat Bracket - https://landtankproducts.com/products/seat-bracket
 
@Devils Paw 80 I was excited to see that seat extension kit but then watched the install video and read a rant about them and it got me wondering is there an easier option. I'm not afraid of some grinding and drilling but I'd prefer something that involves a _little_ bit not a _lot_ bit :D. Got me wondering if there is more of a "drop in" solution and here I am.

Do you think that the extension brackets are easier than it looks in the video?
 
shizam said:
...Do you think that the extension brackets are easier than it looks in the video?
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Not really.

Cloth seats would also provide the benefit of abandoning the crappy leather seats that are prone to rips and stripped power gears. I would have gone that way myself if any were available locally. The bad news for my location is that it's small, so not much potential for used seats for sale. The good news is that if some did by chance come up, they'd probably be relatively cheap.

My leather seat backs are Ok, so I just bought some seat bottom leather covers of a color that's a decent match with the tan interior.
 
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