gen 1 explorer bench seat

[MountainMonkey]

anyone know if theres a bench seat from possibly a ranger or some other vehicle that will bolt right into the front of a gen1 explorer? i'm in need of a new bucket seat for the drivers side but i would like a bench in there if possible.

 

[YBCold]

i think someone else on the forum had one or made one. i know atleast this question has been asked before. but i dont have a link

 

[Willard]

Some base model explorers had them. Look for one in a Junkyard.

 

[fangotango306]

i like this idea.

 

[MountainMonkey]

what would the trim of the x be that has the front bench seat? wondering cause the closest junk yard to where i live is almost 2 hours away so i would like to call before i go.

anyone know if any aerostar vans had a front bench seat? i know the mounts wouldnt line up but at least it would fit betwean the doors of my xplorer. or maybe even the second row seat out of a van might work?

 

[fangotango306]

i think most aero stars had the buckets with the center console...... a gen 1 ranger bench would fit between the doors if your not worried about the mounts.

 

[Willard]

Like I said it was base model explorers, which would be the XL model. I'm not certain they all had bench seats, but they could have. It's not extremely common to find them in explorers.

 

[SuRrEaLNJ]

yes first gens had bench seats, munk had one when I got it. If you get a bench u need to remove the bracket that the front of the buckets bolt to, drill out the welds and remove it and there will be another set of holes for a bench to mount under that

 

[MountainMonkey]

so if i get a gen one ranger bench would it be a bad idea to just totaly remove my seats/mounts and console then just weld the bench right to the floor? or should i drill out the holes and bolt it down. i cant think of any problems with just welding it but i aint no mechanic.

 

[SuRrEaLNJ]

the shape of the brackets will be different then the shape of the floor. the bench seats arent designed to bolt to the hump that the front of your explorer seats bolt to

 

[cybergasm]

FWIW my '91 XLT also had the Front Bench, also think the first gens got em when they were ordered without center consoles.

 

[MountainMonkey]

alright then, goen to the junk yard tomorrow to find a bench from a ranger and its getten welded to the floor. i'll try to take pics along the way incase anyone else wants to see or do it themself. might even try and rig up some sort of slider for it so i can move it back and forward but that might be more trouble then its worth.

 

[Spdrcer34]

The Explorer never got a TRUE Full Bench Seat. The XL had a 60/40 split bench, as standard equipment. Although MOST got upgraded to Bucket Seats with a console.

Ryan

 

[MountainMonkey]

so the front of these base model explorers is similar to the rear bench of the xlt's where the backrest of the middle and passenger side folds down together and the drivers side was on its own?

 

[Ahteixeira4x4]

I like this idea. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

 

[MountainMonkey]

so my project is either going to be on hold for awhile or get kicked into high gear... on account that i lost my lisence for exsesive speeding. so for all out there with a super charged grand prix.... foot to the floor=big fines and 90 days of no driving misery lol

 

[MountainMonkey]

and to top it off the only bench seat i found was from an older ranger and it was cut up a bit and i dont want to have to re-cover what i get..... and i found out that the 5.5" space from the center to the center of the bolts on an explorers rear shackles is bigger then any other truck i looked at... and i looked at everything from dodge 1500's to ford f-350 duelys

 

[SavaX]

My 91 Ex has a 60/40 bench with no center console...I hate it. It feels like the foam is blown out so I'm kind of hanging off the edge of my seat when I drive. I wanna switch to buckets but I'm not sure the wife will let me spend the $$$.

 

[MountainMonkey]

i would totaly trade you my buckets for your bench but i dont think the shipping cost would make it a cost worthy idea.