I've had some bucket seats out of an '86 MR2, which I pulled out of a car in a salvage yard. They are quite comfortable and the driver side has a lot of adjustability. So I've decided to use them. They don't look period but with a good cover they will probably be ok.

This is meant to be a general guide. If you would like specific dimensions to install the MR2 seats shoot me a pm and I'll see what I can do.

Here is a comparison with the stock bench seat. It looks like they will work with the stock fuel tank. Since I have removed mine, I can't cay for sure.



I started by placing two lenghts of 1" square .065 wall tubing across the cab floor, as long as would fit in the cab to avoid limiting seat placement. These pieces of tubing are sitting on some pieces of 16 gauge steel so that the bracket will not be touching the floor once installed. I will install a few strips of adhesive backed 1/16" thick rubber in these areas when the bracket is finished to that the floor can offer some additional support without metal to metal contact. The seats will be over the feet on the bracket so much of the weight of the seats and occupants should be propperly supported. The pieces on the end are to hold the long pieces in place. They will be removed. I then made the feet out of 12 gauge steel and began tacking them in place.



I didn't want to rely on the flat 12 gauge being strong enough so I made some gussets and tacked them in place.



I then cut off the end pieces and bolted the long pieces down. I made the final cross braces, tacked them in place and finished welding the whole bracket.



Now the pieces that the seats actually fasten to need to be made. And here they are all welded... and then painted! They are not completely welded yet - just in case I find that I want to adjust the position - but they aren't coming off easily. I will completely weld them once I've decided how I like the current position. Driver side to the right and passenger side to the left.
I had thought about removing the brackets for the MR2 and, in fact, started to remove them - they are riveted to the sliders. It would have simplified the installation. However, mounting the seats just as they would be in the MR2 and keeping the brackets opens up the door for aftermarket seats which will bolt in and, as indicated from my brief research of the seats, several other Toyota model seats should bolt right up as well. I don't plan to change them but it is always good to have some easy options. I think this validates the extra time required making these parts. So I replaced the rivets I had removed with some grade 8 hardware and continued.



You may be able to see in the picture that the driver seat will becloser to the center than the passenger seat. I did this to center the seat with the steering wheel. A friend mentioned doing this and I agreed so hopefully it is a good choice. The position feels good. Hopefully it will be confirmed after a long ride. It also forces me to sit closer to the shifter but I'll still need to find or make a shifter that fits me and the truck better. I liked to slide over to the door with the bench seat for some reason.

And here they are installed!



Once I've determined that the positioning is good, I'll trim the excess length off of the long tubes and fill in the ends to smooth the ends of the tubes like I did with the trans crossmember. That should clean it up well. The seat is a little higher than the stock seat. I did this to get my line of sight in the middle of the windshield. I heard that is how it should be plus it adds a little leg room. Now it doesn't feel as cramped, though it doesn't look like it. It's tricky for me to get in there. Hopefully I don't get in some situation where someone a little bigger has to drive.

The area between the seats will be filled with a console some day.


Lawrenceville, GA

Looks good Charlie, I put a Dodge bench seat in my 62 and it sets a little high too. That big old stock steering wheel gets in the way. One of these days I'm going to try a tilt colume from a later model F150 just to a little more room.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

That's a good idea.  Do you know if a tilt column will or can work with the stock steering gear box?


Lawrenceville, GA

I put a set of Jeep Laredo buckets in my TBird. I attached a set of Mercury Comet sliders to them and they work fine.

55Birdman  Hickory NC

I put buckets in my Uni also. I "think" they are from a late 80s Tempo GLS, power driver's seat which I hooked up. I'll get a pic & post it one of these short days. I wish they didn't stick up into the back window though. May go for a pair of early Mustang buckets one of these days to replace them. One issue I ran into with a taller seat, they hit the back window before they go back as far as I would like. I like your Bracket Charlie, very nice.........

1964 F 100 LWB Roller 5.0 & T-5

2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ

2009 Harley FXSTB Night Train



"I still have a Y block - it's just not in anything yet."

These seats are tall too.  The top of the headrest is about at the top of the rear window.  I don't really like it but anything with a decent headrest will be about the same.  The seats are a little higher than the stock seat so that it's a better fit for me.  This adds more leg room, too.  They feel good.  I think they will look better once they are re-covered.  I like the look of the mustang seats but I wanted something a little more modern.  Plus these are just so comfortable and adjustable.


Lawrenceville, GA

Charlie, I have not looked real close at the tilt colume install, just a thought. I would suspect that the stock shaft will have to be cut off near the box and some type u joint or rag joint installed. I know that the guys that have converted to the toyota PS box are using joints and later columes or aftermarket ones.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL