New Seats, What Do You Think?

[minendrews68]

I've been trying to come up with seats that I could put into my '68 Camaro, and afford. Finally come up with these. After cutting the attaching brackets off, I came up with these "Z" shaped brackets. The silver metal that the "Z" brackets are bolted to is the jig I made to make sure the bolt holes aligned with the factory bolt holes in the Camaro. Simple to do and after welding the "Z" brackets to the existing slider, I've already got one mounted without any alignment problems. The driver's side is power and everything works! It has forward, backward, up/down, and recline position. This seat also has a power lumbar. Right now the drivers side is at the upholsterer getting the side resewn where the airbag went off.
Take a look and let me know what you guys and gals think.
Here's a couple of pics, more to come when I'm finished.



https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/IMG_0580-1.jpg~original (http://s170.photobucket.com/user/wilsonreef/media/IMG_0580.jpg.html)




https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/IMG_0582-1.jpg~original (http://s170.photobucket.com/user/wilsonreef/media/IMG_0582.jpg.html)




https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/IMG_0584-1.jpg~original (http://s170.photobucket.com/user/wilsonreef/media/IMG_0584.jpg.html)




https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/IMG_0585-1.jpg~original (http://s170.photobucket.com/user/wilsonreef/media/IMG_0585.jpg.html)




I also have the seat belts and retractors from the donor car that are locked up. Trying to find out how to unlock these so I can use them too. (or send them to someone who can do this for me) Anyone have any ideas I'm all ears!

Thanks,
Carl

[icemanrd19]

i like it. Hows the height?

[raustinss]

Carl
I did some homework with my 2006 GTO seats and seat belts I had issues with them being locked up. After hitting the web I was told the easiest way is to slowly pull the belt out of the retractor .....but you have to be holding it the same way it sat in the donor car. Once i did this the same way they were in the GTO they slid out just like they should , Hope this helps

[ccmc]

What are they out of?

[minendrews68]

Iceman,
The height from the top of the headrest to the headliner is a little over 4". I'm 5'7", so I've got plenty of head room.

[minendrews68]

Ryan,
I'm going to try that in the morning. Your saying to hold the assembly and then slowly pull the belt out? It sure doesn't seem like it's going anywhere, but I'm certainly up for trying.

[minendrews68]

cmcc,
I almost hate to say what they're out of, I know a lot of people are going to give me a fit, but they're out of a 2014 Mustang GT. They are leather, and were affordable. I know it's Ford parts in a Chevrolet, but, there are a lot of guys that use a Ford 9" rear end so I guess I'm good.

My wife has a '06 Mustang GT, and I measured her seats when I saw these. I also bought the rear seats out of the 2014 and found that the new seats are about 4" narrower on each side than the original '68 seats. The Mustang has a plastic filler on each side to fill this gap, or they would've fit perfectly. I talked to the upholsterer and he can take my original rear seats and redo them to look like the fronts in leather for around $1000.

[fishface]

Doesn't matter what they came out of, they look good and you did a great job mounting them. I have a friend with a Mustang qnd they are comfortable seats. Is the drivers side power??

[raustinss]

it worked with the gto seat belt retractors ....hold the exact same way they sit in the mustang should come out for you

[minendrews68]

Doesn't matter what they came out of, they look good and you did a great job mounting them. I have a friend with a Mustang qnd they are comfortable seats. Is the drivers side power??

Yes, the drivers side is power up/down, forward/backward, and recline. Power Lumbar also, and it all works!
Thanks for the compliment..

[minendrews68]

it worked with the gto seat belt retractors ....hold the exact same way they sit in the mustang should come out for you

Ryan,
I've tried with all my might, I can't get it to budge! Even tried holding at different angles and positions. It feels like something inside is coming up against something solid. I may try to take it apart, just don't want to without knowing it may swarm on me.

[raustinss]

Do you have a diagram of how they bolt in the car. Or are you guessing. Reason I ask is that I thought I knew how the rear retractors bolted in bolted in which I did but then I had to tilt them to the correct angle. I thought. I'd never get them out but with some patience I got it. Again this was on a GM car

[minendrews68]

I don't have a diagram, might run back by the salvage yard in the morning and see if I can tell how they were mounted though. Thanks for the help.

[raustinss]

Np...let us know how you make out

[Windycity1]

Look great!

[Brambles]

I like em, look great....

[minendrews68]

Thanks guys for the support. Ryan, I got it to work! The belt pulls out and retracts like it should. I'm not sure how to mount the part of the system that I believe bolts to the side pillar since my Camaro doesn't have this. Thought maybe I could bolt it to the top where the original shoulder harness bolted.

[minendrews68]

I got to looking at my drivers side seat belt and it has (I'm guessing) the ball bearings rolling around in it. The drivers side seat air bag deployed, so I'm guessing that's what set it off. does anyone know how to take this thing apart?

On another note, Does anyone have an idea on how, or where to mount the part of the seatbelt that usually mounts to the side pillar? Since the '68 doesn't have a side pillar I'm kinda stuck with where to mount this part. I thought maybe even in the roof brace, but if both side windows were rolled down, it would flop in the wind.

Carl

[funbnme]

When I had a 68 Camaro, I installed a set of 3 point seat belts. There is a spot at the edge of the roof where there is a support welded in where the original shoulder belt mounted (the one that hung up on the roof).

This might help.
http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=45446

This is the only picture I can find that somewhat shows you where the belt mounts. It's further back than you think it would be.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/miniExterior-1.jpg

[minendrews68]

When I had a 68 Camaro, I installed a set of 3 point seat belts. There is a spot at the edge of the roof where there is a support welded in where the original shoulder belt mounted (the one that hung up on the roof).

This might help.
http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=45446

This is the only picture I can find that somewhat shows you where the belt mounts. It's further back than you think it would be.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

I'm leaning toward the original setup, not sure yet though. I just don't like the belts hanging down and being able to see them through the window, especially if they're down. The original's were still 3 point, but you had the option of using the shoulder belt if you wanted to. It even stored along the roof line out of sight from the outside.

Decisions, decisions....

[minendrews68]

Just finished putting my carpet, and rear seats in yesterday. Here are a few more shots. You can see a little bit of silver (the insulation behind the rear seat) between the seat top and bottom. I need to adjust the top down a little. Other than that I am going to have to make some side filler panels since the Mustang seats are narrower than the originals. When I have them done I will post pictures of them also.

Here you go..


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/IMG_0589-1.jpg~original (http://s170.photobucket.com/user/wilsonreef/media/Camaro%20Interior/IMG_0589.jpg.html)



https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/IMG_0609-1.jpg~original (http://s170.photobucket.com/user/wilsonreef/media/Camaro%20Interior/IMG_0609.jpg.html)



https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://s170.photobucket.com/user/wilsonreef/media/Camaro%20Interior/IMG_0607.jpg.html)



https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/IMG_0602-1.jpg~original (http://s170.photobucket.com/user/wilsonreef/media/Camaro%20Interior/IMG_0602.jpg.html)



https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/IMG_0613-1.jpg~original (http://s170.photobucket.com/user/wilsonreef/media/Camaro%20Interior/IMG_0613.jpg.html)



https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/IMG_0606-1.jpg~original (http://s170.photobucket.com/user/wilsonreef/media/Camaro%20Interior/IMG_0606.jpg.html)



https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/IMG_0603-1.jpg~original (http://s170.photobucket.com/user/wilsonreef/media/Camaro%20Interior/IMG_0603.jpg.html)


All for now, What do you guys think?

Carl

[TheJDMan]

Looks great Carl! Now I need to get after my interior install.

[Motown 454]

Seats look nice in there, any pictures from outside level with the top of the door?

[Camaro68+69]

Carl,
I am doing the same seats in my 69 Camaro I got them out of a 2008 Mustang GT, Its pretty peculiar how much they look like the original Camaro seats. Do you have the dimensions of the jig you made, since I will have to do the same type of mounting bracket, Also how did you mount the rear seats? Do you have any other pics with the seats mounted? What type of filler panel are you using between the rear door panels & the rear seat ?

thanks
scott

[minendrews68]

I've had a couple of guys ask how I made the jig for mounting the Mustang seats in my Camaro. The following drawings are what I came up with. Hope it helps. If anyone needs anymore information let me know.

Pic1 shows placement of metal strap to transfer holes from original bolt holes to strap.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2017/02/ScanJIG3-1.jpg~original (http://s170.photobucket.com/user/wilsonreef/media/ScanJIG3.jpg.html)




Pic2: shows bolting the straps to the original seat bolt holes after drilling the 1/2" holes in the straps.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2017/02/ScanJIG-1.jpg~original (http://s170.photobucket.com/user/wilsonreef/media/ScanJIG.jpg.html)




Pic3 shows the other two straps (used to tie it all together)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2017/02/ScanJIG2-1.jpg~original (http://s170.photobucket.com/user/wilsonreef/media/ScanJIG2.jpg.html)

Hope this helps..

[minendrews68]

You will also need to remove the factory mounting brackets, then weld the "Z" brackets onto the seat frame as shown earlier in the thread.

[DippedInSauce]

Awesome custom mounting brackets for great looking seats! :headbang:

[1976CamaroGuy]

Seats look awesome Carl :)

[minendrews68]

Thanks guys,
Hey Dennis, when are you driving the Camaro up here for a quick look?

[minendrews68]

Oh, and Dennis, my kick panels and rear panel look pretty good too! You should see them......Oh wait you know all about them:seizure:

[1976CamaroGuy]

Thanks guys,
Hey Dennis, when are you driving the Camaro up here for a quick look?

Doing a DBW conversion right now, I do need to get over on your side of town sometimes and take a look

- - - Updated - - -


Oh, and Dennis, my kick panels and rear panel look pretty good too! You should see them......Oh wait you know all about them:seizure:

oh I know lol

[minendrews68]

Awesome custom mounting brackets for great looking seats! :headbang:

Thank you sir...

[Camaro68+69]

Carl

How did you Mount the rear seats??And the seat backs? Did you have to cut off the original seat mounts?? also did you have to fabricate a filler panel on the bottom of the rear seat??

thanks
Scott

[minendrews68]

I did have to cut the original seat mounts off of the buckets, and weld on a "Z" bracket I had made. The rear seats took some work to get them to work, but nothing too hard to do. I probably need to do a play by play on the rear seat as well. Yes, you have to fabricate a filler panel on each side of the back seat bottom. I made mine, but I'm talking to a guy here on the forum about making them out of fiberglass. The ones I made are out of high density foam and plywood. Which worked fine until after I covered them, I think the glue softened the foam and now the vinyl isn't sticking in some places. I will do a write up on that part too. Seems like several people are going the route with the Mustang seats. I think they look really nice and I've gotten a lot of compliments on them.

[32deucecoupe]

For the z brackets are all 4 corners the same height, do you have a pic of the completed base with brackets mounted.

Thanks, Jeff

[minendrews68]

For the z brackets are all 4 corners the same height, do you have a pic of the completed base with brackets mounted.

Thanks, Jeff

I made all the z brackets the same height. I'll see if I have a pic of the base. The brackets are welded to the seat base.

[minendrews68]

Jeff, Look at the first two pictures of the beginning of the thread. Imagine clamping the "Z" brackets to the base and welding all around. That's what I did. The silver piece bolted to the "Z" brackets are the template of the seat bolt holes. If you need any additional information let me know and I'll help where I can. Just be sure when you weld on the brackets to make sure they are the same distance from the front of the seat slider on both sides. Failure to do this would cause the seat to sit crooked.

[32deucecoupe]

10/4..after asking the question I realized all the information was there..I did stop by a local salvage yard today and picked up some 2010 fronts and rear, so now it's just the waiting game to be ready. Both fronts had the airbags blown so they made me a deal. Not bad from what I have seen online. Thanks for making a great thread..

[minendrews68]

10/4..after asking the question I realized all the information was there..I did stop by a local salvage yard today and picked up some 2010 fronts and rear, so now it's just the waiting game to be ready. Both fronts had the airbags blown so they made me a deal. Not bad from what I have seen online. Thanks for making a great thread..

One of my bucket seats side air bag was blown too. I had a local guy here sew it back together I think it cost around $75. When you get ready to start let me know if you have any questions.

[minendrews68]

I never posted completed pictures of interior after I got it finished. Here are a few of the buckets all tucked in..

https://i.hmjimg.com/images/2018/04/07/IMG_0998.md.jpg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/ZZX9D)


https://i.hmjimg.com/images/2019/07/17/IMG_1254.md.jpg[/url]

[Interceptor5588]

Looks great! You'll LOVE the modern seats.

[minendrews68]

Looks great! You'll LOVE the modern seats.

I already do..

[Wall]

Looks awesome! I love those seats and thought about trying to install some in my Firebird a while back but found a deal on some procars. When I bought my car (running and driving at the time) it had the stock seats and I hated them!