Power Bucket Seat in an A Body?

-
Mike69cuda

Mike69cuda

Mopar Moron
FABO Gold Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2018
Messages
3,480
Reaction score
3,269
Location
Kansas City
Has anyone put a power seat in an a body? I want to keep my original seats and install a power seat mechanism from a pick & pull donor. Any suggestions?

Getting too old to be uncomfortable....
 
I ordered a power seat frame assembly online and installed it under my Barracuda seat frame. Now I have plenty of tilt on the upright part of the seat and tilt on the seat itself. Tons of front to back movement. The factory "pull lever" mechanism still works too!! It was so long ago I can't tell you who I bought it from but with the internet it shouldn't be a problem.
I bought something like this but it was generic not Mopar and not nearly as expensive.
2001-2003 Dodge Durango Seat Adjuster, Driver, Power 5066168AA | Mopar Auto Parts Direct
 
Last edited:
I was going to use Chrysler concorde leather power seats in my swinger. Then I found out how they all had a tendancy to break the plastic guides on the seat tracks. Mine were broken. Got another set of tracks and they are broken too. Its a shame because they are really comfortable seats.
If you can find an old dodge conquest, they had amazing bucket seats. Not sure if they were power or not.
 
87-98 Mustang has has a Power forward, back and up and down. The track assembly bolts to the seat like Mopars do and as I recall have a flat-ish floor mount. Control was with a singe little "joy stick" that bolted to the front of the seat.

I have one, I should dig it out of the barn and see, but that would be weeks from now until I could get it.

upload_2020-10-8_12-34-31.png
 
not to be a bummer, but why bother?
i mean, how many people drive your old mopar?

only time i ever need to adjust my seat is when someone else borrows my car

so, it might make sense to buy a more comfy seat, but power adjusted?
i dont know man
 
diymirage said:
not to be a bummer, but why bother?
i mean, how many people drive your old mopar?

only time i ever need to adjust my seat is when someone else borrows my car

so, it might make sense to buy a more comfy seat, but power adjusted?
i dont know man
Click to expand...

Why do we do anything on hot rods? A few reasons:
Because its there
Because we need a project
Because somebody told us we couldn’t
 
Mike69cuda said:
Has anyone put a power seat in an a body? I want to keep my original seats and install a power seat mechanism from a pick & pull donor. Any suggestions?

Getting too old to be uncomfortable....
Click to expand...
i initially put power, 8 way Dodge Stealth buckets in my Dart before I tore it all down. Surprised that the holes for the bolts for the brackets lined up, but you would have to cut the hump for the bench seat out and make that part flat. Unless you had buckets to start with. I eventually upgraded to much light, much more comfortable Dodge Challenger leather heated and powered seats, the brackets in no way fit the factory mounting points so I will be making them fit. The only down side is, they are much taller, mainly due to 7 inch bracket under the seat, they clear but are too high for my liking. Since there is plenty of room, I'm dropping the seat down and cutting the bracket. I don't need under seat storage.

just for reference, the Stealth seats weighed 83 pounds on the scale each, the challenger seats were 46 pounds, each.
 
MoparMike1974 said:
I was going to use Chrysler concorde leather power seats in my swinger. Then I found out how they all had a tendancy to break the plastic guides on the seat tracks. Mine were broken. Got another set of tracks and they are broken too. Its a shame because they are really comfortable seats.
If you can find an old dodge conquest, they had amazing bucket seats. Not sure if they were power or not.
Click to expand...
One possible cure for this problem is to have stronger plastic 3-D printed copies of the originals made. The price may vary depending on the type of plastic used.
 
I went with power driver's seat for my back. I need the seat portion to tilt and the back to tilt a lot!!
 
I am putting a Driver’s side power rack from a 68 Chrysler I parted out years ago in my 65 Dart wagon to sedan delivery conversion. i am using stock 66 A Body buckets and they were a virtual bolt-in on the rack. The rack bolted right into where stock buckets would go if buckets were offered on a wagon. The rack doesn’t tilt so I’ll use the stock A Body tilt feature to adjust the tilt in the seat. Why? Why not? I’ve had the power rack for at least 35 years so time to use it.
 
I used 2010 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Seats in mine. They are a tad high in the back, due to the frame being raised in the back. I'm going to cut them flat and they should work, great. Sorry all the pics I have.

The power is just two wires (12v and ground)

IMG_20200628_004909926.jpg


IMG_20200628_004905332.jpg


IMG_20200627_184005747.jpg


IMG_20200628_143415183.jpg
 
Is there a consensus? Looking for recommendations... For silly enough reasons I too want to put late model power buckets into my 72 Duster... Any photos of the bracket rework needed for Sebring or Challenger seats? Anyone try Kia Sorento or other cheap and easily available import seats? (I know... blasphemy but they are comfortable...)
 
Here's a tip if you're going to the wrecker to find power seats. If you have any battery powered tools, ratchet or drill, take the battery with you.
When I got my Sebring seats the guy used the battery from his ratchet to raise and move the seats so we could access the bolts.
 
BobW said:
Here's a tip if you're going to the wrecker to find power seats. If you have any battery powered tools, ratchet or drill, take the battery with you.
When I got my Sebring seats the guy used the battery from his ratchet to raise and move the seats so we could access the bolts.
Click to expand...
That's a good one. When I went there the guy that runs the yard gave me a battery that I had to haul 75 yards just to move the seat!! The battery had no handle!!:mad::mob::poke::realcrazy:
 
Power seat from a 5th Ave is basically a 6 way power setup (like the super expensive 1969-74 era) with different front mounts.

They can be straightened out.
 
YY1 said:
Power seat from a 5th Ave is basically a 6 way power setup (like the super expensive 1969-74 era) with different front mounts.

They can be straightened out.
Click to expand...

Years to look for???
 
80's

I saw one in a u-pull 2 weeks ago.

Got the power trunk release, cruise control stuff, carb springs and some body bolts.

I usually see about 3-4 per year in my 5-6 yard circuit.

They sold a lot of them and they live a long time.
 
I'll add-

Great source for 15x7 steelies, and 9.2:1 LA roller engines with 302 heads as well as disk brake swap parts and wiring/under dash parts that interchange all the way back to the 60's and A body size 8.25 rear axles.
 
Treblig said:
I ordered a power seat frame assembly online and installed it under my Barracuda seat frame. Now I have plenty of tilt on the upright part of the seat and tilt on the seat itself. Tons of front to back movement. The factory "pull lever" mechanism still works too!! It was so long ago I can't tell you who I bought it from but with the internet it shouldn't be a problem.
I bought something like this but it was generic not Mopar and not nearly as expensive.
2001-2003 Dodge Durango Seat Adjuster, Driver, Power 5066168AA | Mopar Auto Parts Direct
Click to expand...

I know this is an old thread but the only aftermarket third party mechanism I could find was $600!! Are you sure you can't remember who you bought your's from?
 
I still haven’t got to mine yet. Planning on hitting the pick & pull this summer, so I may have an update!
 
6PakBee said:
I know this is an old thread but the only aftermarket third party mechanism I could find was $600!! Are you sure you can't remember who you bought your's from?
Click to expand...
Not sure if this is the same as mine but I did buy it from ebay. It was many years ago so I can no longer looking it up in my past purchases:

seat lift kit | eBay

Just make sure you get one that's close to the correct width?
 
6PakBee said:
I know this is an old thread but the only aftermarket third party mechanism I could find was $600!! Are you sure you can't remember who you bought your's from?
Click to expand...
Just go to a junkyard with some measurements and find ya one for 20 bucks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top