My new driver's seat

Mex-Busnut · October 29, 2011, 07:19:11 PM

Dear Friends,

I have been looking hard for a new driver's seat that wouldn't send me to the poorhouse. The original one was a simple tubular frame, with particle-boards covered in foam rubber and upholstery cloth. I simply leaned on the backrest, and it busted in two! Plus the fact that I had a Cesarian (maybe it was just back surgery. I am a grampa and don't remember details.

) some years back, and my back is very sensitive to poor lumbar support.

My friend Checo, the owner of the body shop, took me to his favorite junkyard, and I ended up getting a driver's seat out of a 2008 Suburban. It is real dusty, but otherwise in excellent shape, all electric, built-in seat and shoulder belts, adjustable lumbar support. I think I made out like a bandit, as it set me back 800 pesos (Checo's cost), at today's conversion rate, U. S. $60.00. Now we are going to give it a good vacuuming and then a wash with upholstery shampoo.

challenger440 · October 29, 2011, 09:59:53 PM

That is the same seat I'm looking at. I like the idea of the built in shoulder harness. Look forward to hearing how it works for you. John M.

Uglydog56 · October 30, 2011, 12:14:10 AM

Dodge pickups have built in seat belts as well, although I think the Chevy seats are more comfortable.

bevans6 · October 30, 2011, 04:01:28 AM

I have the same seat in my bus, slightly earlier version. My sister was on the team that designed the seatbelts and air bag system in the GM trucks, she said that if the seat is well mounted the integral shoulder belt is extremely effective, more so than a chassis mounted belt.

Brian

Oonrahnjay · October 30, 2011, 06:44:06 AM

Quote from: bevans6 on October 30, 2011, 04:01:28 AM(snip) the integral shoulder belt is extremely effective, more so than a chassis mounted belt.
Brian

Yes, they would be. The designers can have much more control of the geometry of the belt and belt anchorages. I'm looking a similar seats.

uemjg · November 01, 2011, 01:10:45 PM

Has anyone mounted one of these to a stock floor of an MCI 8 bus?

bevans6 · November 01, 2011, 01:29:15 PM

I have an MCI 5C, so very similar. In my opinion the floor structure isn't strong enough for the seat mount to meet modern standards. You have to do the best you can... I put a pedestal into the stock location, built a frame on top of that, and welded the seat frame to that. It's as good as a stock seat with just a lap belt, better in a lot of cases, but not perfect by any means.

Brian

prevosman · November 02, 2011, 05:27:04 AM

I would rather eat bees than go without my ISRI air seat.

They are a pain in the butt because they often leak air, but that is usually just hoses or fittings, easy to fix. I would crawl around truck junk yards until I found one. It makes a long day in the driver's seat very comfortable and easy to do. I drove a S&S that did not have an air seat and was amazed at the difference.

bevans6 · November 02, 2011, 05:54:30 AM

An Elite 80 air seat may well be my retirement present to myself!

Brian

Mex-Busnut · November 02, 2011, 07:44:36 AM

Quote from: prevosman on November 02, 2011, 05:27:04 AM
I would rather eat bees than go without my ISRI air seat.

How about posting a picture of what you are talking about?

Thanks in advance!

bevans6 · November 02, 2011, 07:51:03 AM

google is your friend...

http://www.suburbanseats.com/c-ISRI_seating.aspx?catid=11
http://www.suburbanseats.com/productdetail.aspx?productid=41

Brian

Mex-Busnut · November 02, 2011, 09:08:49 AM

Brian:

As the Germans say, Donkey chin.