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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: mung on January 05, 2015, 03:09:45 PM

Title: Driver's Seat
Post by: mung on January 05, 2015, 03:09:45 PM
So I don't continue to hijack another thread, I will start a new one.

While I would love to have Cliff's very nice driver's seat and make his wife happy about getting it out of the house, the shipping cost would be almost as much as the seat.

So....would it be possible to get a standard bucket seat say from a junk yard, and mount it on the current 4104 base?  What I mean is leaving the whole adjustment part at the bottom and mounting the bucket seat on top of it.

Anyone done anything like that?
Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: Lin on January 05, 2015, 04:13:20 PM
Both my driver's and companion seats were out of a Ford minivan.  They did not naturally fit the RV pedestals that we have, so I made some adapter plates.  I would guess that you could do the same it any seat you buy does not merely bolt in.

One interesting thing I found at the time was that the driver's seat was not really centered to the steering wheel, so the adapter plate corrected that too.
Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: mung on January 05, 2015, 04:15:44 PM
Cool, I think that is the way to go.  Not sure if mine is stock GMC or not, but it is Greyhound blue, so that might mean something.  It has a very strong base with lots of adjustment and a big shock on it.  I think with a more comfy seat and back on it, it would be every bit as good as anything else.
Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: RJ on January 05, 2015, 04:34:05 PM
Quote from: mung on January 05, 2015, 04:15:44 PM
It has a very strong base with lots of adjustment and a big shock on it. 

Vern -

That does not sound like an OEM 4106 seat to me.  OEM seats were made by National or American, and they had four adjustments: A round black knob on the left you pulled out to adjust the seat back rake; a bent rod lever on the right rear of the cushion to adjust the cushion's tilt; a lever at the front to adjust front/rear position; and a flat lever/button near the floor to adjust the overall seat height.  OEM seats also had a metal "scuff panel" on the rear of the back cushion, some of which included the manufacturer's name on them.  None had shocks of any type/style.

Isri & USSC are two of the current major suppliers of seats to the bus industry, either one are far more comfortable than the old OEMs.

Over the years some folk have used front seats out of an 80/90's vintage Chrysler, some have used the middle row seats out of a Toyota Sienna, some have installed air-ride seats out of a wrecked 18-wheeler's cab.  Lot's of options available to the creative (altho an air-ride seat w/ a stick shift coach is a PITA!)

FWIW & HTH. . .

;)

Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: mung on January 05, 2015, 04:53:41 PM
It appears to be a Bostrom Westcoaster.  It was the best of the best back in the day I guess.  So maybe, I want to refresh the bottom cushion and then put a tall back on it?

Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: viking42 on January 06, 2015, 04:39:01 AM
Took stock steel case driver chair with arm rests, fab a airbag from truck wreckers, with regulator, makes for much better ride
Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: bevans6 on January 06, 2015, 04:40:57 AM
When I installed my new Bostrom onto the existing MCI base the mounting holes lined up perfectly.  They are probably an industry standard, so you may get lucky if you go with a truck driver's seat.

Brian
Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: mung on January 06, 2015, 05:06:10 AM
I don't think I am going to do much better for base support than the existing base, especially with the manual.  What I need is a more comfy bottom and higher back.
Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: bottomacher on January 08, 2015, 06:56:43 AM
Weld or bolt a steel plate to the bus mount, get a nice electric bucket seat from a late model wrecked car, drill holes in the steel plate to match the seat tracks, wire it up and float down the road. Been doing it for years and years. Cheap and very comfortable.
Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: mung on January 08, 2015, 07:01:50 AM
My thoughts exactly.  Found 2 nice Mustang seats for $40 and picking them up tonight.  The driver's seat is all torn up, but the passenger seat looks brand new.
Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: chessie4905 on January 08, 2015, 07:13:11 AM
    Mustang? :o Ok, I guess if cost is important. I think I'd get one out of a Cadillac Escalade or equiv. Get one with heating and cooling.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2005-Cadillac-Escalade-Beige-Front-Bucket-Seats-/351277477072?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item51c9c4ecd0&vxp=mtr (http://www.ebay.com/itm/2005-Cadillac-Escalade-Beige-Front-Bucket-Seats-/351277477072?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item51c9c4ecd0&vxp=mtr)  

   BTW, down the road, sometime you'll have some serious issue with your coach. It will be directly attributable to installing a Ford item into a GM coach. Not worth the risk imho.
Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: uncle ned on January 08, 2015, 07:47:20 AM

vern 

do not worry about using ford parts in your 04.   Huggy has been pushed around for years by a little ford.

uncle ned
Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: mung on January 08, 2015, 08:26:45 AM
I happen to own a Mustang, so......

Sad thing is I have been a MOPAR guy most of my life and I am planning to buy a high performance car in about a year and a half.  I really wanted a Challenger, but after reading up on them, I can get so much more car from a Mustang GT than I can get from a Challenger for the same money. 
Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: B_K on January 08, 2015, 12:47:13 PM
Not to mention $40 for the Mustang seats is only 10% of the $400 STARTING bid price on the Cadillac/Escalade seats on Ebay!
;D  BK  ;D
Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: mung on January 08, 2015, 01:19:42 PM
Yep, I figure at that price I can take the ripped one apart and figure out the best way to mount it before messing around with the good one.
Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: mung on January 11, 2015, 01:51:32 PM
New seat in the bus.  The bonus is that since I got both seats, I am going to mount the second seat sideways next to the door as a navigator's seat.  I have a set of tan 4 point racing harnesses on the way to use for seat belts.   
Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: harleyman_1000 on January 11, 2015, 04:02:39 PM
 Do we legally need seat belts on our buses?
Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: mung on January 11, 2015, 04:46:40 PM
I think it depends on the state.  In Florida, I don't need them, but I want them.
Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: Lin on January 11, 2015, 05:15:57 PM
We have lap belts-- better than nothing.
Title: Re: Driver's Seat
Post by: mung on January 11, 2015, 05:51:07 PM
The racing harnesses are cheaper than other options and better.