Bench seat in a '79?

[My wife said no FJ!]

Anyone ever put a Bench seat in a '79?

Been toying with a few ideas lately, not sure which way I am going to go, but basically I am thinking of either finding a '71 (dual master 3 on the tree) and splicing it with a '79 tub...or finding a newer cruiser and retro fitting a column shifter with one of Marks adapters for a 4 on the tree.

My guess is that it would be easier to start with a '71 and splice the cowl with a '79 tub. The hump and floor would be tricky though.

Just thinking out loud...thoughts anyone???

 

[Living in the Past]

Bench seats were available in other market in the 79 and later years. Not sure why you would want a 79 tub. A 78 tub would work a whole lot easier. Is it because of the gas tank. I've been checking junkyards for thirty-five years and can say I've never seen a 40 that look like it burned up because of the gas tank. Splicing a 79 to an earlier tub looks like a lot of work plus depending on which frame you use will just add to it. I've collected a few 78 cowls over the year out of junkyards mainly because it's the lastest cowl that will match right up to the early tubs. The one exception is the early soft tops. The door hinges are in the wrong place. The later tubs I've seen all had the cut out for the column shifter. But the three speed was available in other markets long after it was changed to the four speed here. If your looking register as early a year as possible and still have a brake booster I would limit myself to 71. With an adapter you can use a mini truck booster and not have to cut the tub on a pre 71.

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

I have seen those overseas rigs with the higher backed bench seat, and this is what got me thinking. Gas tank is a little bit of a concern, (I like the clean floor of the '79 +) but I have no problems going with a '78 tub, as I know someone locally that has a parts '78 sitting out behind their barn.

I do not want to make things more complicated than they need to be, and had originally thought of splicing a '62 FJ40 with a '78 40.

Basically I want a mechanically simple vehicle, early F, column shifter (going to the '78 4 speed with one of Mark's kits), bench seat, '78 brakes, and a few other minor changes.

I'll be getting that '62 40 parts rig this summer for my '64, and thought it would fun to combine what is left over off the '62 with that '78 behind the barn to make a simple, usable DD.

Just thinking out loud, so all comments are welcomed