Interior swap

[rfcr]

Hello All,

As I'm sitting here waiting on parts I have a question that I'm you smart guys know the answer too. I'm thinking of swaping out my front and rear seats in my 46 Plymouth P-15 Deluxe. What year and model would be the best to use. I don't want to rehab the old seats and might even consider an upgrade if I can find something from the local pull a part. Thanks.

[Plymouthy Adams]

you did not mention your model if bz cp, club coupe or sedan 2 door or four door..did you want bench only or would buckets suffice....there is no way you can get an 'bullet answer' here...as taste also has a lot to do with it how would anyone know what you may or may not like...the best answer is that a tape measure and trip to a local yard will get you plenty of ideas and exact measurement that would serve you in making a choice...some here have used seats from 70's cars that are today as hard to come by as some of the original stuff is. 

[greg g]

I just saw a dodge coupe to night that had some sort of seats with the seat belts integral with the seats. They weren't buckets but had fold down armrests.  No idea what they came out of.  Measure them for width, ad go to a pick an pull ad see what you can see.

[JerseyHarold]

I just saw a dodge coupe to night that had some sort of seats with the seat belts integral with the seats. They weren't buckets but had fold down armrests.  No idea what they came out of.  Measure them for width, ad go to a pick an pull ad see what you can see.

Back seat from a van, perhaps?

[Eneto-55]

I saw an ad some months back about some foreign car, possibly BMW, where they claimed that they did extensive studies on various types of foam & other support methods, and came up with a seating system that was supposed to be designed to avoid fatigue and pain at your pressure points.  If I was planning to replace the stock seats, that's the kind of deal I'd look for, I think.  However, anything from a modern passenger car is going to be really low.  Maybe that's why they have to do all of that sort of special designing, because they are trying to cram all of that comfort into a very small height space.  So maybe a minivan would be a better match, or a high-end SUV.

Edited July 18, 2014 by Eneto-55

[greg g]

Don't think it came from a van.  As the shoulder belts were integrated with the seat backs.  I remember similar set up in GM convertibles in the late 80's or so.   

[rfcr]

Hello All,

Again some great ideas. My 46 is a sedan with 4 doors, suicide style with bench seats front and back. I'm thinking buckets in the front and a bench in the back with arm rests and seat belts for all. I don't know about imports but I will rule them out. Is it possible to get buckets with the center console for coffee and storage? I would like to keep things as MOPAR if possible. I figure the cost of seats from a pull a part would be at least the same as redoing the seats I have now. What make, model and year(s) should I look for. Thanks.

[Plymouthy Adams]

there are those that claimed the Aspen/Volare seats were nice front and rear..finding them may be a trick..I put a set aside here at the house just in case..so if they would fit, odds are the later Valiant would also...

[Andydodge]

O/k...this is my 1940 Dodge...these front seats will not be available in the USA however this might give you an idea of what to get, also the rear seat pictured here is the stock rear seat with upholstery to match the front seats........the centre armrest in the rear seat is original Oz 1940 Dodge......the centre console is mid 60's Valiant.........andyd

[Oldguy48]

Here's  couple of pics of my P15 interior.  The seats are out of a 1995 Pontiac Bonneville.  The rear seat was narrowed to fit, and reassembled by the upholstery shop.  The front buckets were installed after removal of the original seat belt components.  Both the front and rear seats have a wooden pedestal under them to get the height correct.  The pedestals were carpet covered by the upholstery shop, so no exposed wood shows.  The driver's seat is a power seat.  I was looking for suitable seats when the Bonneville had a major engine failure....so I removed the seats prior sending the Bonnie to the crusher.

 

Wayne

[rfcr]

Wayne,

Your seats look what I'm looking for. I'm guess your running a 12 volt system for the seats? I have a question about thr trim around the doors, what did you use to tack the trim on? I removed my old thick felt and have not found anything to replace it?

Thasnks, Steve

[Oldguy48]

Steve,

  You are correct....the car has a 12V electrical system.  Only the driver's seat is powered.  The tack strip on my car was in pretty good shape, so the upholstery shop reused it. The upholstery shop did the new headliner, windlace, door panels, & carpet so I cannot take credit for any of that. I'm guessing any good upholstery shop should be able to supply you with that tack strip.  I believe it was common to many vehicles of that vintage.  No problems so far though.  Good luck with your project.

 

Wayne

[steveplym]

The front seats in my '47 Dodge are out of a 99-02 Chevy Silverado.  They have integral seat belts and fold down arm rests.

 

They are full power too with lumbar.  I've been checking on seat options lately and looks like the Chrysler sebring convertibles had

integral seat belts in their front seats too.  Many GM trucks and suv's in the 2000's had front seats with the integral seat belts and I'm pretty sure some of the back seats had integral seat belts too. 

 

These seats fit my car pretty nice, are comfortable, and leave enough space for a small center console if so desired. 

 

[Dave72dt]

My wife's 98 Sebring convertible has shoulder belts built into the seat, center console and may be comparable in width.  PT Cruiser convert would be even narrower if needed and may have the built in shoulder belts as well.

[handlebar lou]

The Silverado seats are great. I put them In my 46 Dodge 3 window. However, they were a little tricky for me to align. Since mine was a 2 door I used a speedway seat bracket so I could move the seat forward for access in back.

[rfcr]

I'm wondering if anyone has converted a bench seat to buckets with  center console for a 1946 P-15. What year and make would fit with little or no fabricating.

[Don Coatney]

Have you taken any measurements?

[Smokeybear]

I'm wondering if anyone has converted a bench seat to buckets with  center console for a 1946 P-15. What year and make would fit with little or no fabricating.

I got a set of seats and console from a Chrysler Pacifica. They work well in my 48 business coupe.

 

[Plymouthy Adams]

2004 Dodge with full console as part of the floor shifter also.....Going in my 48 P15 Bz Cp...

 

as Don said...there are many out there to chose from...pick your style, color and take a tape measure...any of them will require some florr modification and proper bracking..I recommend that you get the forward seat mount and cut if from the donor vehicle..

Edited December 17, 2014 by Plymouthy Adams

[rfcr]

Thanks Smokeybear, the seats in your BC are what I want in my Deluxe. The car is out getting a new paint job.

[rfcr]

Plymouthy Adams, thanks for the picture. I like it but not the floor shift. Is there any mods needed? I'm looking for something easy to install like smokeybear stated.

[Smokeybear]

One thing I do recommend for anyone looking to get buckets or change seats to anything other than stock. Take into account the seat height from the floor. A lot of car seats will sit too low and some truck seats sit too high. I chose these seats because the pacifica is a small suv and the seats sit at the correct height. Plus they are 6 way power seats and they are as comfortable as any seat I've ever sat in. These had a memory unit but I bypassed it and made some switches that went directly to the motors in the seat.

[rfcr]

Smokeybear, Good advise. I plan on making some pull apart visits for availability and cost so when the car is finished with the paint I can go get the seats. I'll measure twice and buy once. LOL

[Plymouthy Adams]

there is no short cut that I can think of for installing any set of buckets into the older cars..number one..you only have one anti-pull through backing plate on each side of the car and none in the middle...the modern buckets are most likely flat and set on a pedestal that is integral to the cars body if these are relatively late model seats you are gong after or you can go for van seats that may have the pedestal ready to adapt to a relatively flat floor.  Also lots of modern buckets have the seat belt inner latch built into/on the seat itself..this again will rquire good mounting practices to be sure you are safely secured in case of an accident.  I would also recommend that you fit three point harness but then..that is your call..how modern you wish to be and to what level of safety you are trying to achieve in your upgrade..look closely at the donor and how it is fastened and try to minic this on your upgrade..your own well being is riding on your workmanship..the florshift is part of the overall upgrade as I have the NV3500 5 speed installed

Edited December 17, 2014 by Plymouthy Adams

[steveplym]

We discussed this a few months ago too. 

 

Here's a link for some additional info. 

 

http://p15-d24.com/topic/36494-interior-swap/?hl=seats