Bench to Bucket Conversion (1 Viewer)

[edwjmcgrath]

I FINALLY completed the bench to bucket seat conversion on my 78 non-US 40.
Parts came from everywhere. Covers from Cruiser Outfitters. Seat bottom cushion from SOR.
Donor seats, brackets, and rails from several people. I learned to inspect and trial fit donor parts BEFORE you strip and powdercoat them....one of the donor vehicles must have been in a wreck-seat rails were twisted beyond repair and I didn’t notice it til I fitted them. And good hog ring pliers are a must. Don’t skimp.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Beautiful!!

 

[MJ33]

I FINALLY completed the bench to bucket seat conversion on my 78 non-US 40.
Parts came from everywhere. Covers from Cruiser Outfitters. Seat bottom cushion from SOR.
Donor seats, brackets, and rails from several people. I learned to inspect and trial fit donor parts BEFORE you strip and powdercoat them....one of the donor vehicles must have been in a wreck-seat rails were twisted beyond repair and I didn’t notice it til I fitted them. And good hog ring pliers are a must. Don’t skimp.



View attachment 2062826View attachment 2062827

I FINALLY completed the bench to bucket seat conversion on my 78 non-US 40.
Parts came from everywhere. Covers from Cruiser Outfitters. Seat bottom cushion from SOR.
Donor seats, brackets, and rails from several people. I learned to inspect and trial fit donor parts BEFORE you strip and powdercoat them....one of the donor vehicles must have been in a wreck-seat rails were twisted beyond repair and I didn’t notice it til I fitted them. And good hog ring pliers are a must. Don’t skimp.



View attachment 2062826View attachment 2062827

What kind of seats and rails did you use we want to make ours more comfortable safer as well

 

[edwjmcgrath]

I purchased all OEM FJ40 seats, rails, brackets from US FJ40’s. The non-US version came with bench seats when the US version came with buckets. That made it pretty easy. I didn’t have to fabricate anything and the fit is perfect. Most of the holes on the brackets lined up perfectly. I had to make about 6 new holes for the bracket mounts.

 

[4Cruisers]

Did your FJ40 have the tool box under the drivers seat?

 

[edwjmcgrath]

Did your FJ40 have the tool box under the drivers seat?

No “box”, just bag and jack.

 

[cuteo100]

Did you have to mod the brackets at all? Would you post pictures of them? Thanks.

 

[edwjmcgrath]

I made no mods to the brackets. Most of the holes for the brackets lined up perfectly. I had to drill about 6 holes.
No one part of the job was very difficult. I just ran into a few gotchas. One of the donor seats I bought was wrapped up nicely but rodents had nested in there and ate the cushion. I mentioned the bent rails on one seat. I had a back issue part way through and by the time I was healthy enough to lift seats again, I forgot how some things went together. There are a couple of tricks to putting the covers on to put the crease in the back of the seats and the seat bottoms. The second seat cover took about 1/10th the time as the first one.

 

[cuteo100]

Thank you for those pictures. My rig is an early truck (67) and I am thinking of using the later FJ40 bucket seats and brackets.

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

That looks pretty dang sexy.

 

[edwjmcgrath]

Thank you for those pictures. My rig is an early truck (67) and I am thinking of using the later FJ40 bucket seats and brackets.

I make no guarantees that your project will be as easy. I was basically going from 78 Non US to US, so the tub design and most of the holes were a good match.