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55 Cj5 Original Seats

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Dan H, Aug 6, 2021.

  1. Aug 6, 2021
    Dan H

    Dan H New Member

    Michigan
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    I'm looking for seats for my 1955. Some car seats had been bolted to the original frame bottoms so I do have that part. The backs are missing but it would be simple enough to fabricate, however I don't have any pictures or diagrams of what they should even look like. In particular the driver's would hinge at an angle which I have never seen an image of. Also it sounds like original seats are better for taller drivers/more comfortable in general but I've had a hard time finding an image of how those are assembled on an early seat. Specifically in terms of springs/padding/upholstery. Thanks for any help! DSC039292.jpg DSC039272.jpg
     
  2. Aug 6, 2021
    PeteL

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

    Hills of NH
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    Um, no.

    Original CJ5 seats are one piece and do not hinge. The drivers side is fixed, passenger side tilts forward.

    Upholstery is attached to the frame and covers it completely. Springs were coils, also unitary with the frame and covered with batting.

    Originals are generally hard to find. When my OEM seats wore out I used Smittybilt shorties as a close substitute, and I like them a lot.

    Welcome to ECJ5
     
  3. Aug 7, 2021
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Hi Dan H - I would point out that 1955 was the first year of production and things could be different for the early production examples. After that, the CJ settled down to relatively few changes over the next decade or so. In the 60s, molded bucket seats replaced the earlier flat seats. AFAIK, the passenger side seat was always of the 'fold and tumble' type through 1975. That is, the back folded down and the seat hinged forward at its front to access the back for back-seat passengers or whatever. This also gave access to the toolbox.

    Looks to me like your drivers-side seat frame is from some other vehicle. The driver's side never folded AFAIK. (I would be very hesitant to say "never" or "always" wrt Jeeps, esp. the first year.)

    Factory seats and seat brackets in good condition are very very scarce. Most Jeeps are kept on the road for a long time, and there are not enough factory replacements to go around now. I would expect to pay quite a lot for the seats and brackets, and to have to look nation-wide for suitable replacements. However, seats from any pre-76 CJ-5 or CJ-6 should pretty much bolt in. In '72 the driver's seating position changed, and you'd have to modify the brackets from those years to move the driver's seat inboard.

    Jeep4060seats (874 x 638).jpg

    Jeep always offered both "buckets" and a bench seat (2/3-1/3 type) for the CJs. The bench did not change much, and your '55 original seats should be of the same design as this early-70s bench seat. For "buckets," the driver's seat will be narrowed to the same width as the passenger seat. Not really "buckets" since there were no side bolsters like you have on bucket seats, but that's the standard seat. Details, like the latch, will be different. The molded seats from the '60s forward have actual side bolsters.

    If you found the bench seat from a later Jeep, that would be mostly period-correct for your Jeep. (NB - this part would add an additional scarcity factor to your search). Pete could speak more to this, but I'd think you could use M38A1 seats, give them new padding and cover in vinyl and be pretty close to original.

    Once repaired, what do you want from your Jeep?

    Welcome from Boston!
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2021
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  4. Aug 7, 2021
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    FYI these are what the '55 seat frames look like-

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
     
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  5. Aug 7, 2021
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

    Republic of Texas
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    My 58 passenger seat is not a fold and tumble. It is like the pic just above. The wagons had a fold and tumble passenger and I believe sometime in the later 60’s they went with the fold but not for certain. Note the diagram above says 74-75.
     
  6. Aug 7, 2021
    PeteL

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

    Hills of NH
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    Not in my experience of the earliest years. Rigid one piece, tipping/removable at the bottom front, like Howard's pics.
     
  7. Aug 7, 2021
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Same here, my '60 seats were one piece, passenger seat only tilting.
     
  8. Aug 7, 2021
    Dan H

    Dan H New Member

    Michigan
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    Thanks for the warm welcome! It certainly seems that my current frames are a bit cobbled at the least. The diagram and pictures are extremely helpful to understand what I'm looking at. Interesting that the pegs for the brackets on the passenger seat both point to the driver's side and mine actually both point in. It seems like they would be reasonable to fabricate with a tubing bender and some seat springs but not sure it would be worth the effort with the option of just using M38A1 style seats. I've seen companies selling all of those frames plus upholstery even with a vinyl option. I love the bench seat idea but even finding later jeep parts is quite difficult here. The oldest Jeep I've seen in our scrap yards is 80s.

    I would like to put the jeep together to fully function as they were originally. The only modernization is a dual master. It's the original function and look rather than having truly original parts. Other than that the plan is to use it for local errands and some offroading at the local parks/trips out west.
     
  9. Aug 7, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    For what it's worth, the original molded foam passenger seat in my '69 does not fold either. It tips up as a rigid assembley for tool box access.
     
  10. Aug 8, 2021
    PeteL

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

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    M38A1 seats are fine by me, but be aware they are smaller and less 'comfy.'
     
  11. Aug 8, 2021
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

    Republic of Texas
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    I hope you weren’t implying a less than warm welcome. I think most comments are trying to be helpful as to what is original.
     
  12. Aug 8, 2021
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Mmm. I suggest that's not an original seat. I would say all the molded bucket seats had the fold-and-tumble feature. It would be in the parts book, if you had one from that era.

    To the OP, unless you want to restore your Jeep exactly to factory original, I suggest you just start searching and take whatever suitable replacements you can find. You can buy the Smittybilt seats and only an enthusiast would know they aren't 'original.' The molded buckets will be more comfortable than the flat seats, and the bolsters will keep you from sliding off on corners or side-hill (that's the point of a bucket seat).

    Maybe you can use what you have to fab up some brackets that will work with the aftermarket seats. Original brackets either early or late will be bent tubing - the angle iron is clearly a mod by the previous owner to adapt the driver's seat frame from whatever (Utility Wagon? Maybe). The later molded driver's bucket uses adjusters, but I expect anyone of average height or taller will place it all the way back. Rearward movement is limited by the body.
     
  13. Aug 8, 2021
    fyrmn

    fyrmn Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Dan’s reply seemed genuine.
    Welcome Dan!
     
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  14. Aug 8, 2021
    Oldpappy

    Oldpappy A.C. Fults - Curmudgeon at large 2022 Sponsor

    East Tennessee
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    The passenger seats in the two 67 CJ5s are the stock seats and they are rigid seats, they pivot forward but they do not fold.
     
  15. Aug 9, 2021
    Dan H

    Dan H New Member

    Michigan
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    I did mean it, lots of friendly help. I sometimes have trouble imparting the intended tone with just text. Based on all the feedback I think I'll look into the M38A1 or new seats for the time being and consider remaking original style seats depending on how it works out. Quite a tricky decision to make without actually sitting on some!
     
  16. Aug 9, 2021
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

    Republic of Texas
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    The tricky part is there is just plain not much room for a large or long legged person. So if you fit into that category, like I do, the original factory spring seats don’t offer much chance to 'pad' them. An upholstery guy did that on mine at one point trying to be helpful but I had to have him take the extra back and butt padding out so I could clear the steering wheel, like I did before he 'modified' it. Here is a link where I briefly discuss and pics. 58 CJ5 'Willie' project
     
  17. Aug 23, 2021
    Mark T.

    Mark T. Member 2022 Sponsor

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    Where can a guy find these? Best pics I have seen for trying to fab something. Thanks for sharing!
     
  18. Aug 24, 2021
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

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  19. Aug 24, 2021
    Mark T.

    Mark T. Member 2022 Sponsor

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  20. Sep 23, 2021
    Peter60cj

    Peter60cj New Member

    Colorado
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    Does anyone have old seat springs and a few of the supports they sit between? My 1960 has the original seats with only a few broken springs and I’d love to just repay them. Several of the supports have been welded in the past but I guess I’ve snapped them! I’d love to help clean your garage and take them off your hands! Peter
     
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