1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

Jeep seats ----

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by kamel, Sep 16, 2013.

  1. Sep 16, 2013
    kamel

    kamel Senior Curmudgeon

    Erlanger, Kentucky
    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2003
    Messages:
    891
    I'm looking to put in new seats in the '66 cj5. I've got the factory mounts...

    Seems as if most vendors have only black seats available. I stumbled across "garage pro" that has them in other colors.... has anyone had any experience with garage pro seats?

    thanks
     
  2. Sep 16, 2013
    PeteL

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

    Hills of NH
    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2003
    Messages:
    9,754
    "Seems as if most vendors have only black seats available"

    Smittybilt and Bestop both show brown or gray as options, as well as black.
     
  3. Sep 17, 2013
    Middlefork Miner

    Middlefork Miner Member

    N. Highlands Ca
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2013
    Messages:
    187
    I bought ONE last month & just got it installed Sunday on a slide rail. I put a 1/2 inch spacer in the front because the seat seemed to sit a little too "upright" for my liking...The price was right though. I can't comment on the longevity for wear or UV exposure & that's why I only bought one.

    "Quote" (Smittybilt and Bestop both show brown or gray as options, as well as black.)
    Not for the low back...at least as far as I could find.:?
     
  4. Sep 17, 2013
    PeteL

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

    Hills of NH
    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2003
    Messages:
    9,754
  5. Sep 17, 2013
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2012
    Messages:
    3,784

    Have them recovered and rebuilt.....................pick your own colors......do a search on this site or look here.............best of both worlds.http://www.earlycj5.net/forums/showthread.php?104598-
     
  6. Sep 17, 2013
    Steve's 70-5

    Steve's 70-5 Active Member

    Louisville, Ky
    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2009
    Messages:
    1,381
    I bought some Bestop Spice seats, Spice and Tan are only a couple shades apart in color. The years listed for the seats where not right for a early CJ. The drivers seat will bolt right up, will have to do some fab work on the passenger seat
     
  7. Sep 18, 2013
    Middlefork Miner

    Middlefork Miner Member

    N. Highlands Ca
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2013
    Messages:
    187
    I'd probably have gone that route but the only seats I had were deep buckets from the previous owner...I gave them to djbutler last weekend. I had seen the "spice" smittys but wanted grey.
     
  8. Sep 18, 2013
    Bob-The-CJ

    Bob-The-CJ Member

    Italy, Texas
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2012
    Messages:
    386
    I have spice Bestop low back seats and I agree they are not right at all. Not only will the passenger seat not bolt up both seats are about 1.5-2 inches to high which means I end up looking straight at the frame of the windshield when driving. I have to bend down and look under if I am at a stop light, even if I am not the first car in line.

    For the longest time I was thinking of cutting the seats and putting the rail in a sort of channel. Now days I am thinking it would be easier and probably cheaper in the long run to just replace them seat like the garage pro's
     
  9. Sep 18, 2013
    sieg

    sieg Sponsor

    bartonville IL
    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2010
    Messages:
    214
    x2 smitty built look good but too high
     
  10. Sep 18, 2013
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2012
    Messages:
    3,784

    No easy solution to aftermarket Jeep seats................been through the Circus of looking , trying , setting in many at 4-wheel drive shops & wrecking yards many times.........What I did find is that not one aftermarket seat fits all..plus the suspension or lack of suspension systems in these seats leave something to be desired when comfort is a major concern............The Corbeau & Mastercraft's are probably at the top of the list in both comfort and Price..........but do not fit the early CJ's 1970 and earlier with a fuel tank under the seat very well due to there overall size...........I do think that the early seventy's style factory low back CJ seats offer a good platform in size and suspension to start from for the early CJ's...........For those that set high or higher than they would like to in there Jeeps and there site view looks out at the top of the frame.............a 69-75 Jeep curved top windshield frame offers another 2 " of site view at the top...........fits right on your early CJ body's moves the windshield wiper motors from the top to the bottom and does not effect your soft or hard top mounting.............not a bad fix for a larger view.
     
  11. Sep 18, 2013
    Steve's 70-5

    Steve's 70-5 Active Member

    Louisville, Ky
    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2009
    Messages:
    1,381

    How tall are you?
     
  12. Sep 18, 2013
    Bob-The-CJ

    Bob-The-CJ Member

    Italy, Texas
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2012
    Messages:
    386
    Not tall at all - I am 5'8", the seats just sit that high and there is not really any room below the frame to lower them.

    It is just the wrong seats, it has to be, they are way to thick
     
  13. Sep 19, 2013
    1960willyscj5

    1960willyscj5 Well-Known Member

    Mesa, Arizona
    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2006
    Messages:
    2,793
    I made under-the-rail mountings from angle-steel that had holes and slots down the length and attached to the stock seat mounting rails with u-bolts. That lowered the seat enough to be comfortable and also allowed me to center the seat on the steering wheel, which it was not before. The seats are after market or junk-yard-finds not the low backs that were originally there. PO installed them, just not very well. The angle-steel drops down in front and in back of the gastank. Just enough room for to get your hands and wrench in there to tighten things up.
     
  14. Sep 19, 2013
    Bob-The-CJ

    Bob-The-CJ Member

    Italy, Texas
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2012
    Messages:
    386
    Any chance you could get a picture or two of that? I was thinking of doing something like that myself. The seats I have are nice just sit to high
     
  15. Sep 20, 2013
    John Schiefer

    John Schiefer Fltfndr

    Clive, IA
    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2010
    Messages:
    191
    Pictures would be invaluable. I have exactly the same problem, 72 -75 CJ seats mounted on top of the CJ2A seat frames and I am way too high. Would really appreciate additional information.

    JHS
     
  16. Sep 20, 2013
    1960willyscj5

    1960willyscj5 Well-Known Member

    Mesa, Arizona
    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2006
    Messages:
    2,793
    I'll give it a try. Camera work is not my thing.
     
  17. Oct 16, 2013
    kamel

    kamel Senior Curmudgeon

    Erlanger, Kentucky
    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2003
    Messages:
    891
    Well, I got the seats -- they were Bestop and the part number was supposed to be for early cj5, BUT were a bear to install, and guess what, they sit way too high.

    So, I'm 300 dollars poorer and still don't have seats that I'd want to drive in....

    I have a set of 60/40 Tuxedo seats and I'm going to get them re-stuffed and re-covered.

    I could kick myself -- I installed a set of nice 60/40 seats in a 3B and then sold it -- first thing the buyer did was to take the seats out -- I wish I had bought them back from him.....

    I'm not sure of the difference between early cj seats and what Bestop sells, but there is something wrong there, 'cause the ones advertised for the early seats sit so much higher.
     
  18. Oct 16, 2013
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2002
    Messages:
    12,529
    The best fitting seats (other than factory) I've ever had were some from a late '70's early '80's Toyota Celica. Very Low base, reclining, vinyl, very comfortable, minimal mods (no welding) to fit. Down side is good luck finding any in decent shape. I had to replace mine when they finally rotted to pieces and the frames rusted apart from weather exposure. Was driving to work one day and suddenly sitting on the gas tank. I really miss those seats. Reclined too.


    Sent from my iPhone
     
  19. Oct 17, 2013
    Middlefork Miner

    Middlefork Miner Member

    N. Highlands Ca
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2013
    Messages:
    187
    My only complaint with them so far is that they have a kinda sand papery texture that seems to want to grab ANY old greasy dirt like crud & hang on to it. I'm also not sure how they'd fit in your jeep because my mounting bars had multiple PO installed holes drilled into them...I also have an early seventies windshield.
     
  20. Oct 17, 2013
    kamel

    kamel Senior Curmudgeon

    Erlanger, Kentucky
    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2003
    Messages:
    891
    What about Smittybilt low back jeep seats? Anyone with any experience on those??
     
New Posts