I have a 69 malibu that had a bench seat, that has since been removed.Bought a set of 68 buckets and plan on putting them in this weekend.

In Ground-up they sell a bench to bucket convertor, which from the picture basically looks like two sheet metal straps with bolts on each end, and one end bent up higher than the other. Has anyone used these and where do they go, across from front bolt to front bolt on the same seat,front to back under the track?

Or what I suspect, one on each seat on the inside track from front to back?I didn't check out the floor pan yet but are they all the same with bolt holes for bench or bucket?Thats probably a dumb question cause if it was you wouldn't need those straps.Also are the two outside holes usable on the outside track and I just drill and shim the inside?

Any info on this would be appercatied

Thanks Harry

I'm doing this on my 67, GM did not put the extra set of holes and mounts for a set of buckets in a bench seat car, might have cost 12 extra cents at time of assembly!!!

I bought a set of those adapters for my seats. I'm not using GM seats, got a set of seats from Scat, nice stuff. I'm still waiting for parts for them before I set them in and spot weld that bracket to the floor.



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www.muncie4speed.com (http://www.muncie4speed.com)
Gold 67
1967 Malibu, 2nd owner.
1971 Malibu, been in the family since new.
There is nothing like rowing through the gears at 7500. Stick cars are so much fun they should be a controlled substance!

AC,

The strips you purchased are for the inside track. The raised end is for the front bolt.
The outer rear should fit one of the rear factory bolt holes. The outer front is a little tricky... There is another bracket that probably no one sells. So you may have to fab one up or drill a hole and shim with washers. Be sure you try and reinforce any drilled holes with washers on both sides of the holes for strength. Hate to slam on the brakes and the seat tears out of the floor.

If someone you know would let you look under their seat you may get a look at these brackets.

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FastSS396Man
Brian

Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manflqtr3.jpg), Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manflqtr2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manrrqtr3.jpg),
Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manint1.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manint2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396mantrunk2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manfrchassis.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manexh.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manengine1.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manrchas1.jpg)
69' SS396 Chevelle
L78 396/375hp
M-21 Close Ratio
Cortez Silver
10 year Resto
It's brand new again!
02' Harley FatBoy, Diamond Ice Pearl.

Hey AC, i just did that same conversion on my 70. Had a bench and i put two buckets in. I got the brackets and they worked beautifuly. Techinically i guess the techinique is that you are supposed to weld them to your floor boards. Since i am welderless i simple drilled some holes in the brackets and lined them up on my floor boards. Drilled corresponding holes in the floor and bolted them down with nice big washers on both ends. They worked like a charm.

You might get more responses in Interiors for this than Engine and Drivetrain.



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TC# 1458
1971 El Camino
SB350/TH350
12 bolt posi
"If the car doesn't kill you, I will"

Im currently doing a swap for my '72. Why in the world don't they make the small brackets for the front anyway? I had to chop them out of a car in the junkyard with hammer and screwdriver!

It wouldn't take rocket science to make these. I just don't understand these repro parts makers. This is a part that an average Joe Schmoe could make and sell. (good idea!)

I'll be using the repro inners as I'd still be in the junkyard trying to chop those out! LOL

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Bob (Pa.)

1963 Impala 283
1966 Chevelle SS 409
1969 Malibu 307
1972 Malibu 307
1969 C10 stepside 350
1971 Cheyenne 20 3/4 ton
Somebody stop me... :)

Looking for Chevelle or Impala parts? Click here:
Chevelle parts for sale (http://www.angelfire.com/trek/mr409/items4sale.html)

Harry,
I've got 69 bucket seats in my 68, but they are covered with two tone, black, and grey velor http://www.chevelles.com/forum/frown.gif , and have SS-396 embroudered in the front ones. The back seat matches, otherwise, pretty nice shape, the foam is like new. If you'd concider a trade, shoot me an e-mail, I'd meet you half way, and I can take pictures tonight if you're interested.
P.S. What color are yours ?

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ACES member:#3722
68 Corvette (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/68vette.jpg)
68 SS-396 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/thad68velle.jpg)
68 SS-396 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/thad68velle2.jpg)
1st Car (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/thads68bu.jpg) 1984-86

Thad I sent you e-mail

It's funny that front brackets are being mentioned. When I converted my bench seats to buckets, I removed the buckets myself from the donor car. The car was an original bucket car with auto console, which I also removed. This car had NO bracket on the floor to mount the outer front leg. What I did, was measure ALL distances from the rocker seam inward and from the seat belt holes. I ordered new inner brackets because I would have been there all day chiseling out the old ones! When I installed the buckets in my car, I found that the outer REAR mounting postition was okay, but the front had to be moved a bit to keep the seat "square" with the steering wheel. Same with the passenger side. I did this with the inner mounts bolted to the seats. I then marked all the positions and removed the seats. I mounted the inner adaptor plates and for the front outer positions, drilled a hole in the floor. A bolt and nut, backed up by large washers, was used to mount the front outer leg on each seat. Even gave enough room for the seatbelt retractor. Biggest PITA was determining the exact mounting position for the shifter assembly. I took all kinds of measurements from the donor car for that! Took me longer to measure everything than to remove all the stuff! The position of the shifter assemby determines the position of the console, so it HAS to be correct! Before you bolt or weld everything down, sit in the bucket and see how it "feels". Make sure everything is square, then weld it or bolt it. Saves alot of aggravation in the long run!

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MalibuJerry350
TC Member #1279
Original owner '70 Chevelle.
576,000+ miles on car.
Hey, if it's got wheels, DRIVE IT!
My Chevelle: http://hometown.aol.com/erie614/myhomepage/index.html

Jerry, the '72 that I got my buckets out of had this small bracket on each side.

It's a small bracket with a stud welded to it. When installed, it moves the mounting location inward about 1" to 1-1/2" or so.

The part looks easy to make. I don't understand why the repro places aren't offering them? Why make the inners and not the outers?

I considered making them myself and selling them! You could probably make them for a few dollars.

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Bob (Pa.)

1963 Impala 283
1966 Chevelle SS 409
1969 Malibu 307
1972 Malibu 307
1969 C10 stepside 350
1971 Cheyenne 20 3/4 ton
Somebody stop me... :)

Looking for Chevelle or Impala parts? Click here:
Chevelle parts for sale (http://www.angelfire.com/trek/mr409/items4sale.html)

Bob, the '70 I acquired the seats and console from didn't have any bracket on the front leg at all. Maybe a GM modifcation late in the production year and common to the '71 and '72 models? I tore up the carpet to make sure I wasn't leaving anything behind and there weren't any other brackets, with the exception of the console rear mounting bracket. This was about 5 years ago.
It's funny, I didn't order buckets when I ordered the car because with bench seats my girlfriend, my wife now, could sit next to me! Awwwwwwwww. Ah, with age comes wizdom!! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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MalibuJerry350
TC Member #1279
Original owner '70 Chevelle.
576,000+ miles on car.
Hey, if it's got wheels, DRIVE IT!
My Chevelle: http://hometown.aol.com/erie614/myhomepage/index.html

Here is the imfamous bracket (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/tempbracket2.JPG) that everyone is talking about. Here's another shot (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/tempbracket3.JPG).

I even have a part # F 2 7. (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/tempbracket1.JPG)

Hope this helps, Cal

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TC Member # 1308

my trailer queen (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/trailerqueeny.jpg)
future racer (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/austin.jpg)
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cals caminos web site (http://72sselcamino1.tripod.com/calscaminos/)


[This message has been edited by 72sselcamino (edited 04-07-2002).]

could someone link me where i can buy all the brackets that i will need to convert my bench to buckets? are there any that wont require welding?

nevermind - i just bought a set of goodmarks. smile.gif