Rear seat upgrade/improvement

lgdpt · Feb 10, 2019

I had a rear seat with a bent support arm and after fiddling with it trying to straighten it… I realized the metal was just too thin and I didn’t feel safe putting my kids in this.

Also I want to be able to fit a Bluetooth powered sound bar under this rear seat so I can leave my dash uncut with a stock radio.

The best sound bar out there in my opinion is made by JBL and it was too big to fit my existing stock seat. ( I had to make a funky bracket for it to bolt to but it won’t be noticeable once the cushions are back in place.)

I retained the back and arm rest support frames but everything below that is heavy duty metal (pic to compare).

Luckily I had all these pieces of scrap metal available and everything is very heavy duty now. I widened the angle iron that bolts to the floor of the bronco all the way out to the extreme width. So now I can bolt through the floor and also laterally into the wheel wells.

I still need to finish welding it in place (it’s just tacked up right now) and then it will be powder coated and my stock cushions will go back on.

lgdpt · Feb 10, 2019

Continued

More pucs

74 Bronco Billy · Feb 10, 2019

Looks heavy duty so far, Please post your final pics with Sound bar when done

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

Lunar-tic · Feb 11, 2019

Mind if I ask about your speaker specs? I need some speakers in the back, but haven't decided on a solution yet. Your idea looks clean and easy.

Thanks

Bill

pcf_mark · Feb 11, 2019

Really nice! I like the idea of putting the speakers underneath.

Did you consider adding headrests or seat belt mounts?

lgdpt · Feb 11, 2019

william.jones2 said:
Mind if I ask about your speaker specs? I need some speakers in the back, but haven't decided on a solution yet. Your idea looks clean and easy.

Thanks

Bill

(L x W x H) 31.5” x 6.12” x 5”

lgdpt · Feb 11, 2019

pcf_mark said:
Really nice! I like the idea of putting the speakers underneath.

Did you consider adding headrests or seat belt mounts?

I am adding seat belt mounts for sure. Head rests would be nice but I doubt I could make them look right. This will look stock except its stronger and wider underneath to fit the soundbar.

lgdpt · Feb 17, 2019

Almost done

Added seat belt mounts and finished welding it solid. I added some comparison shots with another stock seat I have.

lgdpt · Oct 23, 2019

Final assembly

Finally put it together

SteveL · Oct 23, 2019

Looks nice. One problem I ran into designing my rear seats if you get the bottom bench part of the seat much off the floor it puts the passengers head above the roll cage height.

lgdpt · Oct 23, 2019

SteveL said:
Looks nice. One problem I ran into designing my rear seats if you get the bottom bench part of the seat much off the floor it puts the passengers head above the roll cage height.

I worried about that too. I kept it the same height as stock.

nvrstuk · Oct 23, 2019

What I'm about to say might be considered "harsh" but you said you were concerned about the safety of your kids...

IF you are...

HIGH BACK SEATS for them... a must. Anything less and you are too worried about the looks of your Bronco and not about the safety of your kids.... bit harsh? yeah, maybe...

but high back buckets fit great between the wheel wells, look great and protect your kids necks and backs.

I only did it after I'd been rear-ended doing appr 8 mph while the other car was estimated to be doing 70mph. Without high back buckets my neck would be 2' long...

I put buckets in the rear for my kids after I was hit. My kids loved 'em, loved sleeping in them when camping (they had a tent)

...

just saying... put high back seats in the rear...

lgdpt · Oct 24, 2019

nvrstuk said:
What I'm about to say might be considered "harsh" but you said you were concerned about the safety of your kids...

IF you are...

HIGH BACK SEATS for them... a must. Anything less and you are too worried about the looks of your Bronco and not about the safety of your kids.... bit harsh? yeah, maybe...

but high back buckets fit great between the wheel wells, look great and protect your kids necks and backs.

I only did it after I'd been rear-ended doing appr 8 mph while the other car was estimated to be doing 70mph. Without high back buckets my neck would be 2' long...

I put buckets in the rear for my kids after I was hit. My kids loved 'em, loved sleeping in them when camping (they had a tent) ...

just saying... put high back seats in the rear...

I think you are right. I was making this to cruise around town in. So I wasn’t as concerned.... However, at a stop if rear ended... even at 40 mph, it would be really bad. I need to think about this more. Thank you

lgdpt · Oct 24, 2019

Maybe I can fab up some headrests that come off the rear roll bar... that might be easier than starting over with new seats.

76YETI · Oct 24, 2019

http://www.classiccityoffroad.com/40-inch-baja-bench-suspension-seat
add headrests......I believe CCOR does free shipping on these if I remember.

lgdpt · Oct 24, 2019

76YETI said:
http://www.classiccityoffroad.com/40-inch-baja-bench-suspension-seat
add headrests......I believe CCOR does free shipping on these if I remember.

That’s a great option… Thank you

nvrstuk · Oct 24, 2019

With distracted driving and people relying on their "almost self-driving" cars...rear ending another vehicle is even more common than the old days...

lgdpt · Oct 24, 2019

nvrstuk said:
With distracted driving and people relying on their "almost self-driving" cars...rear ending another vehicle is even more common than the old days...

I agree. thank you

sprdv1 · Oct 27, 2019

Great work on that for sure..

Rear seat upgrade/improvement

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