Installing Buckets in a 69 (1 Viewer)

[6T9cruzr]

New to site, and have searched to no avail. Apologies if this has been asked before.
I have A 69 fj40. Several years ago I installed Corbeau Buckets using the original bench seat frame. Seats and tuffy console installed, but the seats have always sat too high. The driver seat sets on the original tool storage box, which doesn’t instill total confidence on rough terrain. The bench bracket also makes the passenger side seat too high. Does anyone know of a bracket system to replace the OEM bench frame that sets over the top of the fuel tank, and/or can you recommend seats? I can’t find a single seat OEM that has brackets for a 69.

 

[Living in the Past]

Floor in your 69 is close enough to the 73-78 FJ40 buckets to mount. Did that thirty-five years ago to my 68. New holes and minor mod to the driver's outside front mount to keep the under the seat tool box useable. But I use the factory console and didn't install a aftermarket console like the Tuffy.

 

[6T9cruzr]

Thanks. Not familiar with later model brackets. Am i understanding correctly that the later models have a bracket that can be set over the toolbox? How do you access the box if that is the case?

 

[Living in the Past]

I used a hard top corner brace for the rear hatch/ambulance doors that moved the outer seat bracket outside the tool box area. Kind of a tight fit getting the lid off and excessing the inside but the stock seat is a pain also since the bottom of the seat hit the steering wheel right away making excess to the tool tight and have to hold it open while trying to get access the tool box. Removing the seat is also a pain. I like the 73-78 buckets. Think you will find using any other buckets seats will require custom brackets to keep the tool box.

 

[Xpnsv72fj]

I'm in the middle of doing this to my 72 right now, I didn't care about my tool box so I removed it. You can go with the later model brackets but I don't think they will fit with the tool box install I could be wrong. Or you can go with a custom made bracket kit like I did. I will post up some pictures of my setup in a few. I'll be running pro car seats in mine if I ever get it back together.

Ps I have a full set of later model brackets if you decide to go that route.

Josh

 

[Xpnsv72fj]

 

[6T9cruzr]

I'm in the middle of doing this to my 72 right now, I didn't care about my tool box so I removed it. You can go with the later model brackets but I don't think they will fit with the tool box install I could be wrong. Or you can go with a custom made bracket kit like I did. I will post up some pictures of my setup in a few. I'll be running pro car seats in mine if I ever get it back together.

Ps I have a full set of later model brackets if you decide to go that route.

Josh

Weird question, but where is the gas tank on later models? 69 sits under passenger seat.

 

[handcannon]

I don't know the year, but the gas tank stayed under the passenger seat until sometime in the late 70's. Although, the tank did change somewhat over the years. After being under the passenger seat it went to under the body.

Don

 

[Xpnsv72fj]

Yes, the tank was under the seat all the way up to the 80’s I believe. I’m running a aux tank in mine so I have removed the gas tank and door as I won’t have a tank in the cab. However the kit I got will work with the tank in the car. I can take more pictures if you need me to. I’m waiting for my seats to come in so I can mock everything up.

Josh

 

[ryanwk628]

View attachment 1636141

I have that bracket in my 1970. It is solid, but still hits a bit high. I may modify it to split it and drop the driver side seat an inch and a half. If I had to do it again it would have shortened that bracket just past the driver's right hip and used it for the pass seat and tuffy, then done a special driver only bracket to keep the BMW sliders on my buckets. I may modify or redo it when I pull the trigger on an aqualu 3/4 tub. I also thought about going to an aux tank to get the seat lower.

 

[Xpnsv72fj]

I have that bracket in my 1970. It is solid, but still hits a bit high. I may modify it to split it and drop the driver side seat an inch and a half. If I had to do it again it would have shortened that bracket just past the driver's right hip and used it for the pass seat and tuffy, then done a special driver only bracket to keep the BMW sliders on my buckets. I may modify or redo it when I pull the trigger on an aqualu 3/4 tub. I also thought about going to an aux tank to get the seat lower.

Interesting as I thought it was sitting up a little high myself. I was thinking about trimming a little off each of the legs before welding everything together.

Do you have any pics of your setup?

Sorry for the Highjack

Josh

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

I have that bracket in my 1970. It is solid, but still hits a bit high. I may modify it to split it and drop the driver side seat an inch and a half. If I had to do it again it would have shortened that bracket just past the driver's right hip and used it for the pass seat and tuffy, then done a special driver only bracket to keep the BMW sliders on my buckets. I may modify or redo it when I pull the trigger on an aqualu 3/4 tub. I also thought about going to an aux tank to get the seat lower.

I am actually looking to gut the bottom of my passenger seat soon to lower it, right now it sits about 4” higher than my drivers seat. I fanned up both of my brackets and made the passenger seat bracket as tight as possible to the top of the fuel tank, nevertheless with to power controls on the bottom of the BMW seats it still sits too high.

@Xpnsv72fj Josh, test fit those seats and brackets with the body parts assembled, the top, doors, windshield frame, all of it you can. It will pay off in the end. My drivers seat is spot on, it was the struggle with the fuel tank that shot me down on the passenger side.

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

 

[ryanwk628]

Do you have any pics of your setup?

Sorry for the Highjack

Josh

Just what is in my build thread.

Also in there you can see why I've ditched the factory tool box, there was not much of it left. To mount an aftermarket seat to it you would have some challenges beyond seat height. You'd almost need a boat seat that folds all the way down, especially if you added a roll bar there

 

[peesalot]

On my 70 FJ40 the pass seat sits high just like the one in pic above, not quite that high but taller than driver by a fair bit. So much so that the pass seat is maxed at 5'10" or so or its a sore head. I would like to ditch the slider or modify it and drop the seat but its not worth it without ditching the tank and getting the seats nice and low.

 

[Living in the Past]

The problem is most modern seats people use were from vehicles that the seats were mounted just a little above the floor pan not above a gas tank. That's why I like the 73-78 FJ40 bucket seats. Forgot to mention besides hard top bracket to mount the seat bracket outside the tool box had to notch the other side of the tool box for the seat bracket that used for the inside of both seats. I like have the tool box because it a secure place to keep tool out of sight from honest people. When I did this thirty-five years ago had to worry about stealing tools. Today the 40 is what they're after.

 

[6T9cruzr]

Josh, I assume you fabricated your seat bracket. Nice job.

 

[6T9cruzr]

Yes, the tank was under the seat all the way up to the 80’s I believe. I’m running a aux tank in mine so I have removed the gas tank and door as I won’t have a tank in the cab. However the kit I got will work with the tank in the car. I can take more pictures if you need me to. I’m waiting for my seats to come in so I can mock everything up.

Josh

Where did you find the kit?