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Topic: Sport Seats, and keep column shift??? (Read 2207 times) previous topic - next topic

Sport Seats, and keep column shift???

I have a base 87, and obviously prefer the look of the sport seats. I have an opportunity to buy some sport seats, but I want to keep the "center console" pod from the standard seats. Im 6'7", and the true center console would interfere with my legs.

Has anybody ever rigged this up?  I guess Im just going to have to take apart the standard seats first and weld the "pod" assembly to the drivers side sport seat frame...

Ideas?
87 Thunderbird LX
65mm tb, exploder intake, iron gt40 heads, 1.6 rr, a9l mass air swap, 9.5" Billet Dirty Dog TC, Built AOD, 4.10's, 31 spline TLoc, Superior Axles, full sn95 five lug swap.

Sport Seats, and keep column shift???

Reply #1 –
Quote from: mtgmike;343903
I guess Im just going to have to take apart the standard seats first and weld the "pod" assembly to the drivers side sport seat frame...Ideas?
^^^^^^^^^^
this

  I'm not 100% sure it will work because of the adjustable bolsters on the sport seats ,but I think removing and re- welding is the only solution
Fox-less at the moment

Sport Seats, and keep column shift???

Reply #2 –
Nope....It's very simple...unbolt the old seat from the track (4 bolts) then bolt on the new seats. Done deal. No welding or mods. Simple swap.

Of course,this is a "I'm 95% sure" kind of thing.........
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Sport Seats, and keep column shift???

Reply #3 –
No, he has the consolette, which is part of the seat itself, not the track. If he goes to Sport seats, he'll lose the consolette.

As for cutting it off/welding it, I have no earthly idea if that would work.

How about the Sport seats, and a custom little enclosure of sorts to mount the window/seat controls?
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Sport Seats, and keep column shift???

Reply #4 –
Well, it looks like i can gut the interior for a couple hundo, so Im going to grab all the tools I think Ill need and get as much as i can. Any special tools i might not think of other than an assortment of screwdrivers, sockets, and torx?
87 Thunderbird LX
65mm tb, exploder intake, iron gt40 heads, 1.6 rr, a9l mass air swap, 9.5" Billet Dirty Dog TC, Built AOD, 4.10's, 31 spline TLoc, Superior Axles, full sn95 five lug swap.

Sport Seats, and keep column shift???

Reply #5 –
I forgot about that. Thanks Beau. Maybe a full console is the way to go. Unless you throw your right leg over the tranny hump when you're driving.LOL. Perhaps cutting that section and welding IS the option......or build a bracket,attach the center consolette to it and attach it to the floor between the seats making it stationary.,thus leaving the Sport seats free to move for the side bolsters and all.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Sport Seats, and keep column shift???

Reply #6 –
Can't you just take the whole seat and install the Sport cushions and upholstery?  I would think the basic seat frame is the same.  But hey it's a guess on my part.
Armed Forces Car Club
Eastern Sierra Chapter, California
WEB:  armedforcescarclub.com

Sport Seats, and keep column shift???

Reply #7 –
Quote from: tbirdsps;343918
Can't you just take the whole seat and install the Sport cushions and upholstery?  I would think the basic seat frame is the same.  But hey it's a guess on my part.

Nope , the  seat frames are totally different . I think Vinnies idea of making a bracket to mount the consolette stationary is the best idea yet
Fox-less at the moment

Sport Seats, and keep column shift???

Reply #8 –
TbirdSPS.....I was thinking that as well,then I remembered that the Sport seats have the power lumbar and the adjustable side bolsters....

By the way,when you go pull the parts,you may need the harness for the lumbar.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Sport Seats, and keep column shift???

Reply #9 –
Thanks for the info guys.

How do I remove the back seat? I assume the lower part pops out like a stang, but what about the seat backs?
87 Thunderbird LX
65mm tb, exploder intake, iron gt40 heads, 1.6 rr, a9l mass air swap, 9.5" Billet Dirty Dog TC, Built AOD, 4.10's, 31 spline TLoc, Superior Axles, full sn95 five lug swap.

Sport Seats, and keep column shift???

Reply #10 –
Push in at the bottom and then pull the seat out. It connects to two hooks at the bottom. The top is held in by the bolts that hold the outer seat belts in. After those two bolts are removed, just lift the seat back from the hooks it rests on. Done.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Sport Seats, and keep column shift???

Reply #11 –
Wow this does present itself quite a fabrication challenge. I agree the best idea is to cut the consolette section from the driver's seat frame and fabricate brackets to hold the consolette stationary to the tranny hump. Under the center tunnel carpet is locations fore and aft for screwing down the factory full length console. Just curious which part of the factory full length console would interfere with your legs. I assume it's the sides of the front section of the factory console, although to me it doesn't seem tall enough to interfere. However if you tried sitting in a full length console equipped car and it's just enough to intefere then I get what you are saying.

I might also suggest hacking a full length console so that it stops in front just ahead of the window switch trimplate and ashtray. It seems the exposed area hacked from the front end could easily be covered with a small piece of fabricated trim to cap it off and look finished. At least the rear of a modified full-length console can be mounted to the factory locations on the rear of the tunnel while a couple of simple L brackets can be added to secure the front. Man ya'll gotta know I love a challenging fabrication project!

Sport Seats, and keep column shift???

Reply #12 –
I actually have to say I just now remembered you can have the center console without the floor shifter. My 87 bird back in the day was a consolette model, and one of the reasons I didnt buy another Mustang was the center console pushed against the side of my leg, but looking at pics of Tbird consoles, i see they seem really low, barely sticking up at all.

Im going to go check this thing out hopefully saturday morning, and if the console looks good, probably strip as much as I can. If its jacked up, im just snagging the seats, and the silver dash trim. Funny, the drivers side door panel looks fantastic, but the passenger is all jacked up.
87 Thunderbird LX
65mm tb, exploder intake, iron gt40 heads, 1.6 rr, a9l mass air swap, 9.5" Billet Dirty Dog TC, Built AOD, 4.10's, 31 spline TLoc, Superior Axles, full sn95 five lug swap.

Sport Seats, and keep column shift???

Reply #13 –
You can use the full length console and not have a floor shifter. There were trays in the place of the floor shifters on earlier years of aerobirds. I just sent a member here two of them,and I have on in the garage. It takes the place of the shifter panel on the console.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Sport Seats, and keep column shift???

Reply #14 –
You need to go this route... I actually like the center console with the tray a lot better then the consolette. it gives me a place to actually put stuff


Here's how the consolette is attached
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
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5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
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