I have a 72 chevelle that I want to convert from bench to bucket seats. Do I have to use brackets to mount the seats or can I mount them directly in.

Get the brackets! The floor is only sheetmetal, and through-bolts will rip right out in an accident.

Do you have the buckets already?

What part of "Nort Dakota" you from? I want to do the opposite of you, and go back to the original bench. It's a real pain to find either one. I have found some cheap deals ... $20 plus shipping. The shipping part is the killer, as benches and buckets are HEAVY!

I agree with Wade... I did it too in my son's 72. Goodmark makes a set. If you need help, send an email to dadcamm@aol.com.

my buckets will be done tomorrow at the shop. they already have brackets under them. will i be able to put them in exactly where my bench mounts up?

Get the brackets! The floor is only sheetmetal, and through-bolts will rip right out in an accident.

Do you have the buckets already?

What part of "Nort Dakota" you from? I want to do the opposite of you, and go back to the original bench. It's a real pain to find either one. I have found some cheap deals ... $20 plus shipping. The shipping part is the killer, as benches and buckets are HEAVY!
I already have the brackets on the seats and the two outside holes match up. There are not any holes in the inside. I sat the seat inside and it seemed to sit straight I live 240 miles from Fargo and may be coming down there this summer. I need the bench right now for when it goes in the body shop.

I'm confused! Don't mix the actual bucket seat brackets that are WELDED to the floor pan with the bucket seat tracks - which get bolted to the welded brackets. There is only one bench seat bolt hole used when converting to buckets; the 'outboard' rear (closest to the rocker panel)
Drew

yes there is only one hole in the back and one in front. do you need a bracket for the inside to make it stronger and how do you mount that?

Here is one link that I used as reference... James Hinshaw of Hinshaw's Chevelle had some articles in a Hot Rod magazine I also used as reference.

On your search engine, type in installing bucket seats!
http://buickperformance.com/buckconsole.htm

I'm confused! Don't mix the actual bucket seat brackets that are WELDED to the floor pan with the bucket seat tracks - which get bolted to the welded brackets. There is only one bench seat bolt hole used when converting to buckets; the 'outboard' rear (closest to the rocker panel)
Drew

Like this, put the 2 new ones on the inside that you purchase.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/chas223/seatbrackets.jpg

We need a sticky for this one.

Get the four-piece kit from Goodmark. The other one is junk. Attach the kit pieces to the floorboard. Welding is prefered. This will give you 3 studs for mounting. The two inboard front and rear (next to the hump) and the front outboard (by the door). There are two threaded holes at the rear outside (by the door). It has been recommended here that you use the inboard hole (farthest from the door) because it will move the seat in a little (away from the door sill) and give you clearance needed for seatbelts. Test fit the brackets before welding them in. There is a left and a right. They look very similar but are not. One way and the seat will rock, the other way and it will sit and not rock. They should be level, side to side front and level side to side rear. Trust me, it makes a whole lot more sense when you have the brackets, lay them in the car and put a level on them.

Stock seats will have four "feet" with holes in them. Aftermarket seats use an adapter that has the same "feet with holes" and that mounts to the aftermarket seat. I used the Goodmark 4-piece kit (after returning the two-piece kit) and Corbeau brackets to mount Corbeau seats. I started with the rear threaded holes because those are factory and then lined-up everything else from there.

Dang!! Coulda saved me a bunch of typing if that pic was up 3 minutes sooner. Good job. Great picture.

Also another thing that may be an issue. Is your Chevelle an automatic or a stick. If your car is a stick and you want to put a console in you will have to change the shifter hump as well.