1970 Bench to Bucket Conversion Questions

Discussion in 'Interior City' started by Moring, Aug 19, 2020.

  1. Moring

    Moring Well-Known Member

    I'm pondering converting my 1970 base interior bench to bucket seats and center console. I've looked all over the forum for a one-stop thread that has all the info for this without luck, so hopefully this can become that.
    • Apart from the unique seat covers & padding, are all 68-72 A-body buckets the same, including the trim, headrests, etc.?
    • Along with the seats themselves, is all that's needed are the tracks themselves to attach to the floor? Are these standard A-body tracks, or Buick-specific? For example, if seats from an Olds with tracks on them turned up, would that account for everything required for a straight install?
    • Are the power seat tracks universal from other A-body cars?
    • Anything unique about bucket seatbelts vs. bench?
    • Re: the center console, what are the differences to note to ID the proper version for each year?
    • Any other oddball hardware to track down on the center consoles/shifter for a straight install?
    • Is the "delete" collar for the column (for lack of a better term) an easy to find part/OK to swap from another make/model?
    • Finally, anything else to be aware of?
    Thanks in advance. Hopefully this thread will be useful to members in the future.

    Matt
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2020
  2. Matt Knutson

    Matt Knutson Well-Known Member

  3. Moring

    Moring Well-Known Member

    Thanks Matt: I should've looked there for this info.
     
  4. nekkidhillbilly

    nekkidhillbilly jeffreyrigged youtube channel owner

    is yours the armrest seat?
     
  5. Moring

    Moring Well-Known Member

    No, it's the split bench without an armrest.
     
  6. nekkidhillbilly

    nekkidhillbilly jeffreyrigged youtube channel owner

    ok just wondering
     
  7. green buick

    green buick Well-Known Member

    what are the bolt size used for the bucket seats?
     
  8. Duane

    Duane Member

    Bucket seat tracks are different then bench seat tracks, and power, (driver side only), bucket seat units are different then bench seats, and so are the plates that get welded to the floor. So you need to decide what you are doing before you weld the braces to the floors.

    Also ALL bucket seat interiors are deluxe/custom interiors, therefore you need to have the lights under the dash, as well as in the rear sail panels, instead of the single dome light.

    This would also require the sail light harness installed instead of the single dome light harness.

    The front armrests are also the 16” variety, and would have chrome inserts.

    The rear shelf would also be a”mesh” type, and the car would get kick panel carpets, just to name a few things.

    Plus the seat covers and door panels are a different design, as are the GS door panel emblems.
    Duane
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2021
    Dano likes this.
  9. Duane

    Duane Member

    The steering column shift lever delete collar is reproduced, but I believe it is the Chevelle type and not the Buick style.

    I don’t know if anyone is “cutting” them down to the Buick style or not.

    You already have a link to my “seat exchange” charts, so other then that there are no other differences between a deluxe bucket and standard bench interior car, except for possibly the wood grain for the dash pieces.
    Duane
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2021
    Dano likes this.
  10. Duane

    Duane Member

    PS,
    The info above is for a 70 model year car, as that is what the OP was asking about.

    Some of the into above would be different for the 71-72 model years.
    Duane
     
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2021

Share This Page