buckets and center console

I am going to rip out the original bench seat and install my eBay bucket seats and console this weekend. I got the seats cleaned up last night. Shampoo'd and then steam cleaned them. They don't look too bad, but will need to be re-upholstered at some point. I'll start cleaning up the console tonight.

Anyway, from what I've read, the two outside holes for the bucket seat sliders should line up with the holes for the bench seat. And I will only need to drill the two inside holes for each seat. Is that correct? Any gotcha's I need to be aware of? What about the seat belts? I was just going to remove the center set and leave the others.

Okay, now for the console. I don't have the mounting brackets, so I'll need to fabricate some. I also don't know where to position the console for and aft. Anyone have pictures or some measurements of a factory installed console in a Dart? How about pics of the floor pan with the console brackets installed? How are the console brackets attached to the floor? Welded or bolted? A pic is worth 10,000 words, so post 'em if you've got 'em.


:worthles:

I'll go snap some pics of the Dart's installed console, and the mounting holes in the floor of the gutted Barracuda.

The console mounts are welded to the floor, two at the front (one on either side) and 2 at the rear under the "door" - from memory, the rear bracket is just 1 piece with 2 pilot holes in it.

The Barracuda floorpan has 6 holes per side, if I remember correctly. The inner two near the driveshaft hump, and then 2 on the bump for the seat mount, and then 2 just to the outside of that. Yes, a picture will clarify :mrgreen:

I was told there should be two dimples for the inside rails of bucket seats in the floor boards in an original bench seat Dart. Haven't looked yet.

Thanks Crazy73. Not sure why there would be 6 holes for one bucket. :scratch: Hopefully the pics will explain it.

Hey Tony, I've heard the two dimple thing too. I'll get some pics of my floor pan when I get the bench out. Oh, and not to hijack my own thread, but I really like the sport mirrors on your Dart. Were those offered as an option, or is it a custom install?

On the Duster there are 4 dimples that mark the spots to drill for the buckets. The original holes for the benches are just plugged.

What year dart? I have the interior ripped out of my 72 demon right now.
It is an original 727 console w/ buckets. Can get you some pics if my car is similiar to yours.

I took the bench out of my Duster NO the holes from the bench dont work for the buckets. Bucket seat cars also had extra plates welded to the floor to give the seat soemthing to hold to better. I was lucky my car was an original bucket seat car. I'd sugegst weldign soem form of plate down msyelf rather then a panic stop and your seat not staying put.

I took a bunch of pics of my demon console brackets. Send me your email address if you want them. I can't get pic's in here.

demonwiese, this is for the '71 Dart in my sig. You can email me at

got_dart@yahoo.com

I've searched around for console installation pics, and so far this is the best I've come up with.

http://www.geocities.com/f2m8/console.jpg

This gives me an idea of where to place it, but I'm still clueless on the mounting brackets.

Here's a pic of the console in my Barracuda, I don't know if the mounting is the same. I can pull it out tomarrow & get some better pics. There are more pics of it on my Webshots site. (at the end of page 4 & page 5)

http://community.webshots.com/user/78trailduster

http://home.cfl.rr.com/myoldmopars/photos/cars/cuda/console1.jpg

Thanks Cuda66. I raided your site and stole all the pics. :D Those will come in handy.

And thank you demonwiese for the detailed pics of the floor pan brackets. That's exactly what I needed. It should be easy enough to fab up some brackets now.

I got the seats mounted yesterday, and just like you guys said there were four dimples in the pan on each side. It was pretty obvious when I pulled the carpet back. You do not re-use the original bench seat mounting holes. I drilled a 1/4" hole, then came back and enlarged it to 1/2". I just used some large fender washers on the inside bolts. Whenever I get around to doing subframe connectors I'll weld on an angled plate to really tie them in. But for now this will do I hope.

I took a bunch of pics yesterday, but I can't find my USB cable that attaches the camera to the PC. I have a few pictures that I am sure would make you northern guys real jelous. A 34 year old floor pan with NO RUST! \:D/

PICTURES :wav:

The original bench
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Sep/20049202710706205212732.jpg

The extraction
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Sep/20049206973016501938343.jpg

The 'rust free' floor pan
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Sep/20049205419524292115842.jpg

Floor pan drilled for buckets
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Sep/20049206775776164255896.jpg

The new buckets
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Sep/20049207635869094696179.jpg

Buckets installed
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Sep/20049205482661861803099.jpg

The console
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Sep/20049207889710463072220.jpg

Wish I had a better place to host these than photoisland.

I picked up some 1-1/2" x 1/8" steel yesterday and have started figuring out how to bend it for the console brackets. I hope to get them welded in next weekend.

More pics. :D

Floor pan with brackets welded in.
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Sep/20049277622391757492357.jpg

Rear detail.
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Sep/20049276600252845965014.jpg

Front detail
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Sep/20049274912144952843245.jpg

Test fit
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Sep/20049275346437730358471.jpg
Hmmmm, that's obviously a mirror image. :D

All done.
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Sep/20049272437081694397264.jpg

I've got a B&M Megashifter on order. That's the next project. :scratch:

hEY, lOOKS LIKE IT TURNED OUT PRETTY GOOD! cONGRADS

Looks Great! :salut:

Thanks demonwiese, I really appreciate the pics you sent. I spent lots of time studying those. :read2:

Glad it helped. Got lucky with the timing having mine ripped apart!