Swapping bucket seat bases/backs?

[LDechaine]

Hey all. I did a search and got lots of good seat info, but not the answer to my question. My truck is equipped with the factory bucket seats which are in excellent shape except for a little foam deformation on the driver's side left bolster (from getting in and out). I was wondering if it is possibly to take both bucket seats off of their bases and out, and swap the seat backs (to keep arm rests correct) and put them back in.



Basically the driver's side seat bottom would be on the passenger's side and vice-versa and everything else would stay the same. I just didn't know if there was a difference in the way the reclining mechanism works (I realize the handles are on opposite sides) that would prevent this change.



I figure since I'm almost always in the truck alone and the passenger's seat bottom is like absolute new, this would be a good change.



Thanks in advance for replies!!



-Loren

 

[KOG]

I think this will work on the trucks. I know it will work on the similar buckets in the minivans.

 

[LDechaine]

Thanks for the reply KOG! I am comtemplating trying this in the next few days, in preparation for my trip up to the Pacific NW.

 

[dpuckett]

When you get the seats apart, you will see that they break down into 2 parts- back and bottom. The foam bottoms will interchange easily. It may be a little off center, but if yours is like mine, it'll still be a big improvement.



Daniel

 

[tugboatphil]

Loren,

Also, if I am reading you correctly, once the seat bases are switched, the lifting mechanism for the passenger seat will now be on the driver's side... no?

I took mine out and bolted the seat down after the hinge cracked. I'm not sure, but think you'd have to switch that around.

I put in some 2nd Gen cloth seats and love them for long trips.

 

[LDechaine]

Phil,

My plan is to take the seats themselves off of their respective bases and then do the swapping. The driver's side seat bottom will be bolted to the lift/tilt mechanism on the passenger's side of the truck with the passenger's side seat back. The passenger's side seat bottom will be bolted to the standard base on the the driver's side with the driver's side seat back.

I have always actually liked the buckets in the 1st gen trucks, when in good shape. I had a '97 that had 58k on it when it was totalled (lady in Caddy ran a light). It had the power cloth split bench with fold-down armrest. I'm not very tall 5'9" and those seat bottoms always seemed "long" to me compared to the 1st gen. I should sit in another 2nd gen and see how they feel at some point and think about that conversion if I like them. It's hard to remember exactly how they felt.

-Loren