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junkyard seats

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by johnsotd, Jun 17, 2014.

  1. johnsotd

    johnsotd Member

    In order to save a nickel I'm thinking of replacing my seats ('62 CJ5) with seats from donor vehicle.
    Any ideas which car or truck may have suitable replacements?
    Thanks in advance,\.
    Tommy
     
  2. ncline

    ncline New Member

    I pulled mine out of a late 90's ford ranger.
     
  3. PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

  4. duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    I ran Subaru seats for a couple of decades. About the same width as the Jeep seats and had flip forward backs. The trick to any of these will be maintaining access to the tool box. Also, if you still have the stock fuel tank, they can't be very high.
     
  5. Daryl

    Daryl Sponsor

    Chevy Aveo seats have the thinnest sections down at the back and bottom of the seat. You can mount them farther back then any other seats that I have found. I am always looking when in the wrecking yard for any parts that can be repurposed into a Jeep.
     
  6. 68BuickV6

    68BuickV6 Well-Known Member

    Personally I'd save to have the originals redone if they are in good condition.

    I'm doing that after searching for decent looking replacements and not finding anything comfortable and originalish looking.
     
  7. johnsotd

    johnsotd Member

    Does it matter if they were originally power seats or do they have to be manual?
     
  8. 68BuickV6

    68BuickV6 Well-Known Member

    You can use whatever you'd like, but you'd have to wire up the power seats to use the power function.
     
  9. nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Most of the time power seats have a thicker base due to the motor, track design, etc. I don't know on the Aveo seats. Good tip Daryl! I will be checking those out.
     
  10. givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    The last time I was at the junkyard there was a set of porsche 944 seats that looked perfect for the jeep. Mazda miata is another good option. Do you want high back or low?
     
  11. Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    The Porsche 944 seats are usually covered in leather, which wouldn't be too happy in a CJ. About 30 years ago, I had Porsche 914 seats in my 5a. They are about the thinnest factory seats made. I hated the high-back look, and swapped them for some '65 Mustang seats that worked quite well.
    -Donny
     
  12. PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Yeah, high backs never look right to me. Jeeps are all about being totally open, in my book.
     
  13. nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    I agree low backs look best on non-rollbar Jeeps.
    Definitely what was planned for the '57 restoration. However, all my trail Jeeps have high backs. The extra support is invaluable on the trail. Saving my back and kidneys is well worth it.
    All depends on the intended use and personal needs/taste. If you have a rollbar or rollcage the seats do not really change the overall look of the Jeep anyway.
     
  14. middle.road

    middle.road Leaf Spring Challenged

    We just got done with a junket to Pull-a-Part. If you are going for vinyl that might be bit tricky. The few that we saw we wore out.
    Mini vans are another possible source. And they are dirt cheap. spotted a windstar that had a very nice pair of leather fronts and rears to chose from.
    If you go with fabric covering - scotchguard the devil out of them.
    If you go leather there's plenty of ways of treating those also. (think horse saddles...)
    We're going for comfort since we're not doing a spot-on restoration. We grabbed a pair of buckets from an '02 Catera.
    It'll be an additional 1" on the backside and the bottoms will be requiring a bit of fabrication, however that is what my Better Half wants, so we'll see...

    _Dan
     
  15. Warkmeister

    Warkmeister Member

    Keep an eye put for lots with a "primo" section. I picked up seats in perfect but dirty condition out of a 2010 Galant. They have great support, are leather, and are manual....that last one was the key....keeps the base small. I built a simple frame to connect to the original seatbelt bolts, floor, and tunnel. Simple build, works great, and I can keep my underseat tank and still see out the windshield. I'm 6'2". No fender notching either, although I can do that later with how I set up the frame and sliders.

    hopefully one of these pics worked.
     
  16. Warkmeister

    Warkmeister Member

    Keep an eye put for lots with a "primo" section. I picked up seats in perfect but dirty condition out of a 2010 Galant. They have great support, are leather, and are manual....that last one was the key....keeps the base small. I built a simple frame to connect to the original seatbelt bolts, floor, and tunnel. Simple build, works great, and I can keep my underseat tank and still see out the windshield. I'm 6'2". No fender notching either, although I can do that later with how I set up the frame and sliders.

    hopefully one of these pics worked.[​IMG][/IMG]
     
  17. Warkmeister

    Warkmeister Member

  18. jpc

    jpc Sponsor

    here is what I found a month ago, been waiting 4 years for them.
    came out of a commando. I forget the year but they are the same as the ones I messed up.

    [​IMG]
     
    joelsprayberry likes this.
  19. w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    The ones JPC posted look to be almost identical in construction to the stock seats in an intermediate CJ. After a couple of rounds with aftermarket (Smittybuilt) and junkyard seats I ended up spending the $$$ to have a local shop recover my trashed originals. The factory seats look like they belong there and they are among the most comfortable Jeep seats I've ever felt. The intermediate and later seats are MUCH improved over the ECJ seats.

    IIRC I think it cost $400 to have the front seats redone at a mom & pop upholstery shop, and it was worth every dime. They came out beautifully!
     
  20. colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    Those aren't just intermediate seats....they look exactly like the stock seats in my 1970. (even the same color)
    My dad's 69 has the same seats too.