Hi Back Seats For 74 Cj5

Hello all, I'm the new owner of a 1974 CJ5 and I'm looking at the rugged ridge hi back seats # 13401.15. I want to keep the original steering wheel and I'm wondering if the clearance between the seat and wheel is close to the same as the original seats. I know they won't just drop in but I'm not afraid to do some mods to get them to work. Anybody try them?

 

I know this isn't exactly what you're asking for, but if you do get some new seats, I would consider making new brackets from scratch and selling the originals. Throwing them on ebay would help someone out and bring you some money.

 

Well there are many differences between your 74 and my 78, but I installed 79 Chevy van Hi back bucket seats. they fit well and leg room doesn't seem to be hindered. I keep saying I'm going to do the wheel well notch mod but it hasn't happened yet.

 

Let me point out that almost everything changes for 1976. Seat brackets, seat mechanisms, seat design (fold and tumble gone), floors, dash, steering column, pedals, steering wheel diameter. '76 on uses a GM column, and Jeep introduced an optional tilt wheel at some point.

No personal experience with those seats; I suggest you look at old posts about the Smittybilt seats. They are affordable, but I recall the main complaint is the thickness of the bottom cushion. I did put some kind of Bostrom (?) high-backs in my previous '75 CJ-6. These were captains chairs, and the same as what (the place I worked) used in the Jeepster race cars. Nice seats, but I was young and thin, and average height (have not gotten any taller). No fold and tumble, so I gave up easy use of the toolbox and easy entry to the rear seat.

 

I had a Rugged Ridge high back seat in my Xj. It was TALL. I'm pretty short at 5' 8" but the RR's almost had my head in the roof. I currently run Smittybilts in my 76 and they work well but I'm not on a slider in that Jeep just the seat right on the bracket. Perfect fit in that instance.

 

Here is my 73 with stock seat bracket for the drivers side. I modified the passengers. The seat sat higher.

 

If you are fabing your own mounts I would look at seats out of smaller cars. They are usually thinner where they need to be and have good support. I picked up a set of dark grey ones out of a Cobalt for my YJ project for $40 for the pair. The bonus for me is that the bolted right on the YJ sliders.

 

Ford ranger seats fit well ,as well.

 

I've had the Smitty Built seats in my 47 2a, but had to modify the drivers side rear wheel well and they were the mid height version. If your installing new seats into your five, just remember they were not stock and are going to need a push here and a shove there, but I think size wise they will work out. You may have to modify you stock seat bracket or just build a new one to work . The passenger side may end up to be a different height later on and you may find its bugging the crap out of you because it is, so plan on doing both sides. We call it project creep and its addicting and costly. Good luck and welcome to the site.

 

Thanks everyone for all the info. I managed to score a pair of seats from a yj at the local jeep boneyard. Drivers side bolted in and the passenger side will work with some minor fab work. Great site too!