FJ40 Seat upgrades, where to begin? (2 Viewers)

[BJEC69]

Hey everyone, new to this forum, more used to the bass boat forum so I hope I’m posting in the right place.

I have inherited a 1969 fj40 , I was under the assumption the 69 and older had bench seats but this one has some beat up seats I would like to replace with procar 90 series.

However the factory seat mounts don’t seem to match anything I’ve seen and o think I am going to need yo have a seat frame installed. I see that bill Faulkner sells a frame kit, I’ve also seen the BTB one that’s sold out currently.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what route to go,

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Looks like you have seats from an old Mercedes-Benz! Best of luck with your project!

 

[2AorGTFO]

Kit arrived, I’m gonna learn how to weld this week. Let’s see how this goes.

 

[newmexicokid]

That’s the kit I used. Ended up modifying it to lower the seating position With the corbeau seats Which lead to relocating the fuel tank. It’s never just one thing.

 

[2AorGTFO]

That’s the kit I used. Ended up modifying it to lower the seating position With the corbeau seats Which lead to relocating the fuel tank. It’s never just one thing.

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My FJ has a firebird tilt steering column in it for some reason so hopefully I don’t need to lower anything. Thanks for the pic tho, those are great for fitting it up

 

[cruiserpilot]

My FJ has a firebird tilt steering column in it for some reason so hopefully I don’t need to lower anything. Thanks for the pic tho, those are great for fitting it up

I had Firebird steering column in my truck way back. It’s got really nice turning ratio. Eliminates
a lot of arm work. The truck seems to have gone through a lot. 5 speed! Got to assume the steering
has been upgraded to power. Hence the steering column swap. It was a bugger to match
the GM wiring back in the day so if you go back just mark the wiring.

 

[2AorGTFO]

I had Firebird steering column in my truck way back. It’s got really nice turning ratio. Eliminates
a lot of arm work. The truck seems to have gone through a lot. 5 speed! Got to assume the steering
has been upgraded to power. Hence the steering column swap. It was a bugger to match
the GM wiring back in the day so if you go back just mark the wiring.

Noted thank you, I think it was almost 20 years back my dad picked it up, it has oldmanemu shocks and springs, the 5 speed he said was an Australian one??? Not sure. Figuring it out slowly.

 

[cruiserpilot]

Noted thank you, I think it was almost 20 years back my dad picked it up, it has oldmanemu shocks and springs, the 5 speed he said was an Australian one??? Not sure. Figuring it out slowly.

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Nice! All the 5 speeds are Toyota
If you are in California and need help with this tech stuff see Valley Hybrids. There are many threads in SEARCH feature.
Lot of crossover into 60 forum, so if you have tech trouble in this forum look there.

 

[newmexicokid]

My FJ has a firebird tilt steering column in it for some reason so hopefully I don’t need to lower anything. Thanks for the pic tho, those are great for fitting it up

I have a GM tilt column in mine. The problem is I’m 6’4” and it put my eyes in the upper quarter of the windshield. I wanted to sit lower and then of course further back. Then you have to consider the B pillar in your line of sight on your side. It’s never just one thing.

 

[2AorGTFO]

I learned that I suck at welding, however the frame is tacked in, I’ll have my brother in law weld it since he’s qualified. This frame does sit you about an inch and a half higher than atleast what I had in here previously. I had to cut the prices adapters down and bolt the flat directly to the flat bar I welded on just to get the height corrected.

 

[2AorGTFO]

Not bad, seats sit a little high even after cutting down the new frame about an inch. I’m gonna drive it around for a while and see if I can deal. If it’s bothering me I’ll probably have a fab shop cut and couple the frame down another inch in the back and crush the gas tank a little bit.

 

[corcel]

I have those same corbeau seats and they do sit a bit high - I am 6'4" and I'm using the standard brackets with the corbeau brackets. I definitely feel raised, but it isn't too bad and I feel like I have decent visibility. The seat goes all the way back until it touches the wheel well.

 

[ryanwk628]

From back in 2010.

FJ40 Aftermarket Seat Frame

This is a complete kit for a seat frame to fit your FJ40. Please see other posts for peoples comments. Kit includes bent tubes, all intersecting tubes are a telescoped fit. Tabs for mounting two seats a tuffy box and 10 tabs for seat belts. You will need a little skill and a welding...

forum.ih8mud.com

I have that seat frame for some BMW E36 seats I adapted and would not hesitate to buy it again.

 

[Polecat]

I have those same corbeau seats and they do sit a bit high - I am 6'4" and I'm using the standard brackets with the corbeau brackets. I definitely feel raised, but it isn't too bad and I feel like I have decent visibility. The seat goes all the way back until it touches the wheel well.
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@corcel - those look great. If you don’t mind, which color did you go with? Tan or Spice? Also, can you say more about their height? I’ve just about landed on those, but I’m also tall, so your comment about how high they sit makes me a little nervous. After living with them, would you buy them again?

Does anyone know how height in the 73-78 style like corcel’s would compare to later 79-83 style?

 

[2AorGTFO]

I have those same corbeau seats and they do sit a bit high - I am 6'4" and I'm using the standard brackets with the corbeau brackets. I definitely feel raised, but it isn't too bad and I feel like I have decent visibility. The seat goes all the way back until it touches the wheel well.
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After finding out about the differences between seat mounting systems between the bench vs bucket I wish I had a 74 cruiser or such. I used the procar 90 series seats. I may have a shop cut down the frame another inch and groove the gas tank to make them fit but after cutting the frame down myself an inch before welding it I think this height will be fine for now.

However if I was 6’4” I would cut it down right now lol. Nice truck man. Thanks for the reply.

 

[corcel]

@corcel - those look great. If you don’t mind, which color did you go with? Tan or Spice? Also, can you say more about their height? I’ve just about landed on those, but I’m also tall, so your comment about how high they sit makes me a little nervous. After living with them, would you buy them again?

Does anyone know how height in the 73-78 style like corcel’s would compare to later 79-83 style?

@Polecat I went with the Tan - it is more of a caramel and I am pleased with the color. The seats sit further back than my oem ones did (this may have been due to how gummed up the rails were). So I have noticed an improvement in drivability. I'm pretty thin, so the steering wheel is not an issue for me, though I hear with others that it can get a little tight. When I have big boots on, it can also be a bit tight, but still drivable. I haven't driven in a city since I installed the new seats, so I don't know how it would be to look up at a stop light, but I'm sure I'd have to lean forward. Comfort-wise, people comment regularly at how comfortable they are, but keep in mind I haven't driven it for more than 30 minutes at a time. Install was easy and the brackets fit my year perfectly. Yes, I think I would purchase them again, I would say they are a step up from OEM in terms of support.

Depending on when you are looking to purchase, I can snap a photo of my eye level perspective on Saturday when I'm back out at our farm, where the 40 is.

 

[CondeCruiser]

I have that seat frame for some BMW E36 seats I adapted and would not hesitate to buy it again.

I really like them. This is my 2nd kit from Bill.

 

[Polecat]

@Polecat I went with the Tan - it is more of a caramel and I am pleased with the color. The seats sit further back than my oem ones did (this may have been due to how gummed up the rails were). So I have noticed an improvement in drivability. I'm pretty thin, so the steering wheel is not an issue for me, though I hear with others that it can get a little tight. When I have big boots on, it can also be a bit tight, but still drivable. I haven't driven in a city since I installed the new seats, so I don't know how it would be to look up at a stop light, but I'm sure I'd have to lean forward. Comfort-wise, people comment regularly at how comfortable they are, but keep in mind I haven't driven it for more than 30 minutes at a time. Install was easy and the brackets fit my year perfectly. Yes, I think I would purchase them again, I would say they are a step up from OEM in terms of support.

Depending on when you are looking to purchase, I can snap a photo of my eye level perspective on Saturday when I'm back out at our farm, where the 40 is.

Thank you. Very helpful. If it’s not too much trouble, a picture would be great.

 

[youpers]

I just installed my seat frame from Bill and I was a little concerned with the height of the seats but I haven't driven it yet, so if you guys say it isn't too weird I'll consider it done!

 

[2AorGTFO]

I just installed my seat frame from Bill and I was a little concerned with the height of the seats but I haven't driven it yet, so if you guys say it isn't too weird I'll consider it done!

If I was gonna do this again, I would cut the seat frame down until it touched the top of the gas tank. I might even put a groove into the gas tank for one of the bars to fit in. I don’t mind the seat height right now with an inch cut off of the frame that I bought from Bill. However, if I think it can be cut down more.

I think it all depends on the seat. I would drive fit it all up and drill a hole for a nut and bolt or self tapping screw. That way you can fit up the frame and check the height.

I will say the frame is very sturdy for four points, I thought it was gonna be a little bit flexible but there’s no give at all.

 

[corcel]

@Polecat here is a photo at 1x from heat height, positioned about 1 inch from my forehead.

Here is .5x zoom on iPhone

Hope this helps. There is a 9 foot beam about 20 feet in front that you can begin to see