swapping from bench to bucket seats

jabo

New Member
May 18, 2011
4
0
0
Hi everyone, new to this site. I have a 80 malibu with a bench seat in it & i wanted to switch to buckets. My question is what would be a good donor vehicle & what all do i have to do to accomplish this. Thanks! :-k
 

vickysbu

Amateur Racer
Jan 14, 2011
163
0
0
Low End
Any g-body equipped with buckets will be a good donor for a direct fit but you will need the brackets that are welded to the floor pans.
 

StreetBu

MalibuRacing Junkie
Mar 21, 2004
4,158
3
38
Upstate NY
Actually any g-body that has buckets or a split bench seat have the same floor mounts. The split benchs' came in many of the Regal's and Cutlass' you should get the seat tracks from a g-body bucket seat car then you bolt almost any GM bucket seat to the track with no mods. Dont do the stack of washers and drill a hole trick. You wont be happy and most likely the seats wont be straight and level either. JMO
 

Mike

Pro Stocker
May 27, 2003
1,709
0
36
New York
Give Mike from Mikes Montes a call if you want to buy new brackets. Its much easier than cutting out an old set.
 

StreetBu

MalibuRacing Junkie
Mar 21, 2004
4,158
3
38
Upstate NY
There were 11 spot welds on each bracket holding them to the floor. If you do get used ones, do yourself a favor & buy a spot weld cutter. You'll thank me later LOL
 

shvrolay

Dragway Regular
StreetBu said:
...........................................................If you do get used ones, do yourself a favor & buy a spot weld cutter. You'll thank me later LOL

X2.
Makes the job a whole lot easier!
 

jabo

New Member
Thread starter
May 18, 2011
4
0
0
so just get the brackets & the seats will bolt right in. Am i going to have to weld the brackets to my floor board?
 

StreetBu

MalibuRacing Junkie
Mar 21, 2004
4,158
3
38
Upstate NY
Yes you will have to weld them in.
 

DOUG213XRJ

MalibuRacing Junkie
Sep 18, 2006
4,671
1
38
West, MI
Hey Jabo, I used four bench seat frames on a few of my Malibu`s. As for bucket seats, I think almost any GM bucket seat will bolt up to the stock Malibu/G-body seat tracks. My 78 El Camino came factory with bucket seat, I found a better looking bucket seats at a yard sale from a S10 Blazer. The Blazer seats bolted right up the the El Camino seat track`s. Im sure you could use bench seat mounting stands from another G-body. When you cut them out leave some floor with them so you can screw the mounting stands to the floor if you dont have access to a welder. Well I hope these tips and tricks will have you in a set of bucket seats soon. Doug
 

jabo

New Member
Thread starter
May 18, 2011
4
0
0
So i can use the mounting points where the bench seat already bolts & just make mounting points by the tunnel for both sides?
 

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