Has anyone put a 72 5-Piece bench seat in a 78?

[SliderJack]

I thought I had read that someone had done the swap (or at least on a bench seat) but I couldn't find any threads on it.


I'm finding that the passenger bench seat doesn't fit over the 78 fuel tank. Obviously the 72 fuel tank was a bit different, with mounting straps and the fuel filler was in a different location.

 

[SliderJack]

I'm rebuilding a 78 (build link in my signature). I apologize in advance to the purists, obviously this isn't a restore. The poor girl was in pretty rough shape when I got her, so at least I'm working towards getting another truck back on the road.

One of the things I really liked about the early model FJs was the box under the driver seat and I thought having a bench seat would be nice with my wife. So when I found a 5-piece bench seat on craigslist, I drove up to Minneapolis to buy it and a hard top.

The seats were in pretty rough shape. Hopefully most parts are there, but they definitely need to be redone.

When I got the seats the middle back on the passenger bench was already somewhat disconnected. I read last night from someone else, with a 72, that the back doesn't lean/pivot forward and is in a fixed position? That was news to me. I always thought the cool thing about these seats is that I could use the middle back as an arm rest and separator to form kind-of separate bucket seats--although they aren't shaped like a bucket. Anyway I might want to change that so it does lean forward.

Also in the middle back is a fuel separator (shown in the pic below)? What was this meant to do? And if I end up using the 78 fuel tank, should I just use the separator that is in the 78 near the fuel filler?

I need to figure out yet where all the fuel and evap lines run on my rig and what they do.

Anyone have a pic of the rear mounting point near the fuel filler of this or another bench seat?

 

[bikersmurf]

My 77 Fj45 had a similar bench... It fit over the fuel tank and cover, but it may have been a little different. I believe the center back folded down on it, but I never actually drove it.

If the 72 won't fit over the 78 fuel tank, you could remove the cover, or run a tank in the back. I like the rear Con Fer / Man A Free rear tank I've got... Mark's Off Road sells a modern equivalent.

The 72 tank itself was slightly larger... But, as you've already learned, had straps rather than the full cover. I'd likely use the 78 fuel vapor separator... But the 72 one would take up less cab space.

 

[bikersmurf]

http://mforum.ih8mud.com/sale-parts/589337-1971-1972-fj40-bench-seat.html


This is a 64... But there are very good pics, and a good read.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj25-owners-group/297786-destins-1964-fj40-fst-restore-thread.html

 

[DSRTRDR]

When I got the seats the middle back on the passenger bench was already somewhat disconnected. I read last night from someone else, with a 72, that the back doesn't lean/pivot forward and is in a fixed position? That was news to me.

from the factory, the middle back piece is fixed and cannot be folded over - the passenger back folds, like the driver seat

Also in the middle back is a fuel separator (shown in the pic below)? What was this meant to do?

it acts to condense fuel vapor and return the gas to the tank - later models had it by the filler neck

Anyone have a pic of the rear mounting point near the fuel filler of this or another bench seat?

I can take a pic next week - the rear mounting points are on the slightly raised portion of the floor - depending on exact position, you might need to reinforce the bed of a later model truck under the mounting points, and where the seat belts bolt to the floor

 

[SliderJack]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info!

I drilled out the broken bolt/stud that actually connects the center back and creates a pivot for the passenger back. There was also a bolt on near the bottom of the center back that would cause it to be fixed and not lean forward. However, if I replace the stud/bolt with a pivot for both the passenger back and center back, the center back should be able to pivot/lean forward.

Each of the backs have a nearly identical support brace and pivot hinge bolt. The center back even has a stopper that hits the brace. Basically it's nearly there. The passenger back has an additional stopper on the center back support that if was added to the center back, it would make it very sturdy. An additional spring, cam an maybe a strap to keep it locked forward might be a nice addition.

 

[SliderJack]

If someone had done this before, it would be nice to know what they had to do, but we'll figure it out! Worst case I'll have to make new legs for the bench but I think just raising it if necessary should work out.

Let me change gears and talk about the driver's seat. For those with early models, I assume when you sit on your driver's seat, the front seat it centered with the steering wheel, right? My task is figure out where to mount the toolbox under the seat and thus the seat. I think I've read that the transmission tunnel is different and I think they two are going to overlap.

First, looks like the seat hangs over the toolbox towards the center. Agreed? And the second pic is roughly where I have the toolbox located. Look good? Anyone have pics or measurements?

 

[SliderJack]

I'm trying to find a good placement for the bench seat. It seems like the the rear mount near ends up as shown in the pic. Is the back floor solid there in earlier models?

I think figuring out that issue and raising the mounts maybe an inch should be sufficient to clear the fuel tank.

 

[DSRTRDR]

II assume when you sit on your driver's seat, the front seat it centered with the steering wheel, right?

you assume incorrectly - in OEM configuration, the driver seat is not centered with the steering wheel - the middle of the driver seat is to the left of the middle of the steering wheel

 

[bikersmurf]

I'm trying to find a good placement for the bench seat. It seems like the the rear mount near ends up as shown in the pic. Is the back floor solid there in earlier models?

My 74 was... And the 75 we pulled off also.

I've never seen a corner like that... Could be original but I suspect PO Hack.

 

[JohnnyC]

I tried to put the bench up front... wasn't a direct bolt in... had some fitting issues with the filler neck... holes didn't line-up ... just didn't look right to me... interested to see what you do to make it work... didn't spend all that much time on it... if you got time... anything is possible

 

[SliderJack]

you assume incorrectly - in OEM configuration, the driver seat is not centered with the steering wheel - the middle of the driver seat is to the left of the middle of the steering wheel

Awesome, that's why I asked. Great info! I'll try and find pics of placement of the toolbox, but if anyone has that measurement in my photo, it would be appreciated or a pic showing how close the front of the box is to the door! If I move the box towards the door it will reduce or maybe even eliminate the overlap with the trans tunnel.

My 74 was... And the 75 we pulled off also.

I've never seen a corner like that... Could be original but I suspect PO Hack.

Yeah, the PO certainly hacked the tub up a bit.

I tried to put the bench up front... wasn't a direct bolt in... had some fitting issues with the filler neck... holes didn't line-up ... just didn't look right to me... interested to see what you do to make it work... didn't spend all that much time on it... if you got time... anything is possible

Yeah, I'm committed to make it work, one way or the other. Probably not very well, but I'll make it work.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

you assume incorrectly - in OEM configuration, the driver seat is not centered with the steering wheel - the middle of the driver seat is to the left of the middle of the steering wheel

I found this to be the case when I installed my aftermarket seats. Kinda weird.

 

[SliderJack]

Sure wish I had a big dip or a large sandblaster to clean the seats up. But I guess I'll put football on the radio and get out the wire wheel.

 

[DSRTRDR]

Awesome, that's why I asked. Great info! I'll try and find pics of placement of the toolbox, but if anyone has that measurement in my photo, it would be appreciated or a pic showing how close the front of the box is to the door! If I move the box towards the door it will reduce or maybe even eliminate the overlap with the trans tunnel.

I can't measure right now (my truck is 1500 miles away), but I can stand a bottle of Schweppes Tonic water between the driver seat and the door at the flip hinge (definitely less than 3.25 inches, my favorite thermos bottle does NOT fit); that's where the distance is the widest, it gets narrower towards the front, where the tool box is only an inch from the door

I found this to be the case when I installed my aftermarket seats. Kinda weird.

my aftermarket driver seat is also not centered; I wouldn't have been able to keep the bench on the passenger side if I had insisted on a centered seat for myself

 

[SliderJack]

I've been dreading cleaning up the base of the bench seat because it had quite a bit of rust and dirt and I don't have a sand blaster but it turned out a lot easier than I thought. I flipped the seat over and tapped each spring retainer with a standard screw driver and was able to slide each spring out and separate the spring and base.

 

[bikersmurf]

Yeah, I'm committed to make it work, one way or the other. Probably not very well, but I'll make it work.

The tubs are almost the same... When you're finished, it should look original. Much like my hardtop which has vent windows and a hatch

 

[SliderJack]

Found a pic online of a 72 tub. I can see how close the toolbox under the drive seat is to the door. I also see where the seat would mount near the filler.

 

[DSRTRDR]

and you can see how the toolbox is not centered to the steering column, either

 

[SliderJack]

I'm going to box in the empty area near the filler neck shown in the 1st pic. This is boxed in, in early models. Not sure what it looks like for a stock 78.

I need to weld a new tab on bench leg on that side, but then both legs will be at the same height. Originally it looks like they mounted directly on that sill. However, to make room for the 78 fuel tank, I think I'll need to raise it up about an inch.

The 78 fuel tank has a large line on the top (vent) that attaches with a hose to the filler. That line is nearly directly inline with the rear frame on the bench. I might trim that line and install a 90 degree fitting and reroute that line out the side of the bench.

The other item on the bench that is first to make contact is a rear bracket that supports the frame between the bench and middle back. With raising the rear mounts about an inch, we should be fine.