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Bestop seat mounting

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by w3srl, Apr 21, 2012.

  1. Apr 21, 2012
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
    Messages:
    4,275
    I scored a set of low-back Bestop Trailmax seats on CL a while ago and just got around to getting them mounted up. A little drilling, a little cussing and they went in just fine. :D

    Now I have an issue that I'm sure somebody has come across before. The new seats sit at least 1" higher than the stock ones did, and that is a problem. I'm only 5'8" and I feel like I'm sitting way to high, and I really have to reach to get the clutch pedal on the floor, even with the seat pulled up some. A 6-footer would be really uncomfortable in this thing, I'm sure.

    I originally mounted them just the way the factory one were, with the driver's side having the sliders in between. The OEM seats had 1" aluminum spacers front and rear on the driver's side, so I cheated and put them on the rear bolts only on both seats; this got them tilted forward a bit and made them more comfortable but they are still too high.

    Has anyone gone this route before and come up with a solution, short of hacking up the factory seat risers?

    If I can't come up with a fix, I think I'm seriously going to look into having the factory seats redone, because these ones just aren't going to cut it.
     
    w3srl, Apr 21, 2012
    #1
  2. Apr 21, 2012
    SIDSCJ

    SIDSCJ Jeep addict

    14th State
    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2004
    Messages:
    1,190
    I put a set of high back buckets out of a CJ-7 in my '56.
    They too sit up pretty high. I used factory early 5 seat hardware too, only added a flat bar underneath to get the hole mounting spacing right.
    With a metal hardtop, you have to plan for the big bumps or else duck............
    There's no way to lower mine, other than cut up/build new mounting brackets, and with the underseat tank it's easier to use the original parts. At about the same height as you, I have no trouble with pedal reach though.
    Be interested in a side shot of your seat angle to see how "tall" you really are;)
     
    SIDSCJ, Apr 21, 2012
    #2
  3. Apr 21, 2012
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2002
    Messages:
    12,529
    Pretty easy to build new brackets from 1" square tube a d some flat stock. What I had to do in the '59-5 to get the seats low enough. There's about 1/2" between the fuel tank and the seat mount. Works well, never contact, and still adjustable. I used the stock brackets in the daughter's '70 and it sits way too high. And this is with very low Toyota seats. Will probably need to make mounts like I did with the '59.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    nickmil, Apr 21, 2012
    #3
  4. Apr 21, 2012
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
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    4,275
    Coupla garage pics, hard to see. Weather is too nasty to roll it outside for a better shot.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    w3srl, Apr 21, 2012
    #4
  5. Apr 21, 2012
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
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    4,275
    Yeah, I kinda came to that conclusion Nick. I just hate like hell to cut up a pristine set of intermediate seat mount brackets. Like so many parts on an intermediate, the seat mounts seem to be made of unobtainium these days.

    I'm thinking it might be about a wash, getting the original seats recovered or finding another set of brackets.
     
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2012
    w3srl, Apr 21, 2012
    #5
  6. Apr 22, 2012
    HeavyIron

    HeavyIron Member 2024 Sponsor

    So Cal or East...
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    Oct 1, 2007
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    574
    I would fabricate a set of seat mounts before cutting up originals.
     
    HeavyIron, Apr 22, 2012
    #6
  7. Apr 22, 2012
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2002
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    12,529
    X2. I could cut and lower the brackets in the daughters Jeep but can't bring myself to cut perfectly good stock brackets.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    nickmil, Apr 22, 2012
    #7
  8. Apr 22, 2012
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Aug 10, 2003
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    23,596
    You could remove the adjuster rails - that would lower the seat by about 3/4".
     
    timgr, Apr 22, 2012
    #8
  9. Apr 22, 2012
    OleBlue

    OleBlue Sponsor

    Tennessee
    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2010
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    1,001
    ​
    That's what I did when installing my smittybilts. I removed the seized up adjusters. I'm 5' 10" and it is comfortable. The back is up against the wheel well
     
    OleBlue, Apr 22, 2012
    #9
  10. Apr 24, 2012
    zila

    zila I throw poop

    Rock Springs,...
    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2003
    Messages:
    1,201
    I had issues when installing Corbeau seats in my 75 CJ5. The new seats were deeper and thicker than the old ones. I ended up dpoing a wheel well notch to solve my issue.. I used the old brackets but fabbed new mounts.. I also eliminated the spacers. Still was a pain. I measured the old seats against the new and there was definitly a difference.
     
    zila, Apr 24, 2012
    #10
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