[reflog]

I recently picked up a center seat out of a Dodge/Plymouth van. I was told that a lot of guys use this bench seat for the 3 Wdw application. One problem. My battery and CD player are mounted behind the seat area. This bench seat does not tilt forward on the back. I am thinking of making it a tilt seat back.

Has anyone else devised a way to do this without revamping the whole pivot area???

[DanTwoLakes]

Why don't you just find a rear seat out of a Chrysler mini van, they do tilt forward.

[reflog]

Originally Posted by DanTwoLakes

Why don't you just find a rear seat out of a Chrysler mini van, they do tilt forward.

Looked for a Chrysler van seat but couldn't find one that had a bench. The rear seat would be to wide. Needs to be the center seat. All the newer Chrysler vans have slider doors on both sides. That means buckets, not the bench seat I need.

[Centerline]

You're going to have to make a seat mount anyway so why not make one that pivots at the front with a pin in the back that can be removed so the entire seat can pivot forward. Another solution might be to design sliders that allow the seat to move forward enough for access to the battery and CD player.

I have a Chrysler mini van center seat in my deuce 3 window but my battery is in the trunk so I don't need it to pivot. One other solution would be to move your battery to the trunk and mount your CD player under the seat. Just a suggestion.

By the way, that seat fits in a 3 window perfectly.

Centerline
HotRodsAndHemis.com

"Remember, if you didn't put it together with your own hands, its not really yours." - Tim Allen

[matt167]

Dodge and plymouth center seats were offered with the center bench into the '00's, even with the double doors. Just not the 'Grand' versions. The Chrysler T&C is at the 'Grand' level at the base trim I belive, so no center bench in those, unless it is a '95- down... The rear seat does fold forward, however is much wider, but I wonder if the seat hinges and frame for the rear seat could be adapted to the middle seat, Any thoughts on that Dan?

[reflog]

Thanks for the idea. I didn't think about the pin/pivot method. It is a thought. The problem, as I see it, would be that the entire seat would move up and forward. As you know, there isn't a lot of room in the 32 for the seat to move so tilting it forward probably wouldn't give me enough access to get at the battery or the CD player. If you put the battery in the trunk you must be hauling a trailer. Is that correct? Otherwise the battery would take up a lot of room in the trunk area.

What I was going to attempt is to re-fashion the side brackets to make them pivot. I think it can be done without to much cutting but at that point I would not have any type of lock mechanism to hold the seat back in place. If I ever got into an accident the seat would fly forward and me into the steering column.

I did look for a Chrysler van seat but there was none available in my area. That was why I went with the Dodge/Plymouth. I'll see how this works. I may have to change at a later date. I was just wondering if anyone had used the Dodge/Plymouth seat before and was successful at getting it to work for them.

Steve

Originally Posted by Centerline

You're going to have to make a seat mount anyway so why not make one that pivots at the front with a pin in the back that can be removed so the entire seat can pivot forward. Another solution might be to design sliders that allow the seat to move forward enough for access to the battery and CD player.

I have a Chrysler mini van center seat in my deuce 3 window but my battery is in the trunk so I don't need it to pivot. One other solution would be to move your battery to the trunk and mount your CD player under the seat. Just a suggestion.

By the way, that seat fits in a 3 window perfectly.

Centerline
HotRodsAndHemis.com

"Remember, if you didn't put it together with your own hands, its not really yours." - Tim Allen

[DanTwoLakes]

Originally Posted by matt167

Dodge and plymouth center seats were offered with the center bench into the '00's, even with the double doors. Just not the 'Grand' versions. The Chrysler T&C is at the 'Grand' level at the base trim I belive, so no center bench in those, unless it is a '95- down... The rear seat does fold forward, however is much wider, but I wonder if the seat hinges and frame for the rear seat could be adapted to the middle seat, Any thoughts on that Dan?

I would think that the hardware from a rear seat could be easily adapted to a center seat, but I don't know that for sure.

Hey Golfer: ( I did pick up on that word spelled backward is reflog) Why not just make access to your battery and CD player from the trunk? It wouldn't have to be in the trunk, just a door of some kind to access them from the trunk.

[reflog]

Originally Posted by DanTwoLakes

I would think that the hardware from a rear seat could be easily adapted to a center seat, but I don't know that for sure.

Hey Golfer: ( I did pick up on that word spelled backward is reflog) Why not just make access to your battery and CD player from the trunk? It wouldn't have to be in the trunk, just a door of some kind to access them from the trunk.

Dan,

I just read your post. I used the "reflog" when I first started posting on the forum. No way for me to change it as far as I know. Would like to but haven't found a way to set up another name.

With respect to the idea of putting some type of door in the trunk area to access the CD player and battery I have to tell you that I am not that tall. I'd have to crawl into the trunk to gain access. I think I am OK now. I modified the seat that I have so that it tilts forward. My problem now is to determine the necessary height and mounting system. I was thinking about using 1" square tubing to build the supports. It may be a little heavier than I need.

Will try to post photo of seat later. I am having a little problem with my computer right now.

Steve

[reflog]

Dan,

Here's photo's of what I currently have accomplished. Now just need to figure out the mounting.

[Centerline]

Originally Posted by reflog

Dan,

Here's photo's of what I currently have accomplished. Now just need to figure out the mounting.

Looks very similar to mine. Same color too. Here's a pic of it when I was fitting it in the car.



Had it upholstered and here is what will be going back in.



Centerline
HotRodsAndHemis.com

"Speed has never killed anyone, suddenly becoming stationary… that’s what gets you." – Jeremy Clarkson

[reflog]

Originally Posted by Centerline

Looks very similar to mine. Same color too. Here's a pic of it when I was fitting it in the car.



Had it upholstered and here is what will be going back in.



Centerline
HotRodsAndHemis.com

"Speed has never killed anyone, suddenly becoming stationary… that’s what gets you." – Jeremy Clarkson

Jeremy,
It look great. It is close to mine in shape. Did you use square tube to make the mounts? I will have to have my re-upholstered in Camel (tan) color as the interior has to be light due to the exterior color. I am going to go back to the Root Beer color that was on the car when I bought it.

Steve

[DanTwoLakes]

Originally Posted by reflog

Dan,

Here's photo's of what I currently have accomplished. Now just need to figure out the mounting.

Looks good so far. Mounting should be easy, just get it up the right height for you and get it level. 1" square stock will work fine.

[Centerline]

Originally Posted by reflog

Jeremy,
It look great. It is close to mine in shape. Did you use square tube to make the mounts? I will have to have my re-upholstered in Camel (tan) color as the interior has to be light due to the exterior color. I am going to go back to the Root Beer color that was on the car when I bought it.

Steve

Yes I used 1" square stock. However, I didn't' make a slider so to speak. It is adjustable but requires the removal of two small bolts on each side then you can adjust the seat and replace the bolts. I guess it does slide but when adjusted the bolts hold the slide in place. Its fitted to me and there won't be anyone else driving it for the foreseeable future anyway.

Centerline
HotRodsAndHemis.com

Gun Control: The theory that a man found in a dark alley in a pool of his own blood, beaten, strangled, and dying is somehow morally superior to a man explaining to police how his attacker got that fatal bullet wound. - Anonymous

[reflog]

Here's what I found on-line. I believe it will work with a little re-fashioning. I don't need the full 12 inch travel so I will block some of the forward travel.

Originally Posted by Centerline

Yes I used 1" square stock. However, I didn't' make a slider so to speak. It is adjustable but requires the removal of two small bolts on each side then you can adjust the seat and replace the bolts. I guess it does slide but when adjusted the bolts hold the slide in place. Its fitted to me and there won't be anyone else driving it for the foreseeable future anyway.

Centerline
HotRodsAndHemis.com

Gun Control: The theory that a man found in a dark alley in a pool of his own blood, beaten, strangled, and dying is somehow morally superior to a man explaining to police how his attacker got that fatal bullet wound. - Anonymous

[DanTwoLakes]

Yes, all you have to do is put that between the seat itself and whatever you fashion for a mounting bracket to attach the seat to the floor of your car.