How can I put front bench seat

[meyek91974]

'99 Exp EddieB V6

How would I, or could I remove the entire center console and power bucket seats to have a fixed position - or a good looking front bench seat?

I dont care for the seat movements as I don't move them anyhow.
I dont care for a cd changer as it doesnt work and I dont have cd's anyhow.
I dont care for a cup holder, napkin dispenser, and computer to tell me how low on gas I am as I can look at the dash gas guage anyhow.
AND
I think it would be so much more spacious with a bench with all the open foot room and under seat storage having no motors & junk.

What bench seat would you recommend to size up to fit? From a Windstar or something??? How could I do this?

 

[colintrax]

I guess you could look at Rangers... but eww. Haha IMHO stick with the stock seats. You'll lose rear air, back seat cup holders, front seat cup holders, and center console storage.
Gonna have to replace the carpet as well.

 

[deweyville65]

I would think you would have to go with a Ranger, if they even have bench seats now. But I will tell you, I doubt you will be able to sit three people even with a bench seat.

 

[colintrax]

I would think you would have to go with a Ranger, if they even have bench seats now. But I will tell you, I doubt you will be able to sit three people even with a bench seat.

Seriously. Ever sit 3 wide in a ranger? It's "possible" lol
Not even comfortable in a Ram 1500. And that's significantly wider than a Ranger

 

[meyek91974]

thanks for the help and others keep it coming

I was thinking of this as I've had an F150 and love the open roominess.

The computer display bugs me as I know when to change my oil and how much gas I have; there's a sticker on the windshield every 3000miles oilchange and I have a dash gas guage.

I dont use the cd shuffler in the console as it's broken and I'm used to not fitting anything in the center console because of the huge shuffler so I use the glove box.

I dont use the napkin dispenser.

and the cup holders end up being a catch all for stuff I could just sit in the seat beside me as I get the stuff out when I get out anyways.

I don't move my seats up down left right swivel, whatever the heck they do.. I put it where I want it a year ago and havent moved it since. - well except to vaccuume, but I'd get rid of all those motors too so it'd have room under the new bench.

I am just intimidated by all the electrical stuff in all of that and I think: A)it'd be a LOT to remove doing it the "right" way and not a hack up way, and B)it'd be so MUCH simpler without all this extra useless stuff.

SIMPLI-FY

 

[colintrax]

It's going to not be so simple to remove all that stuff, they tend to last a long time. And since you don't use it, well why's it matter if it goes bad? Look to trade the computer for a cubby, more change room. Remove the cd changer. LOTS more room.

Remember, the explorer isn't the size of a f-150. So it won't be a big huge bench.

 

[Dave 1955]

I remember back in the day when most rides were a bench seat..had my honey right next to me. Kinda miss it.

 

[meyek91974]

me too Dave, and that's what I'm thinkin of

 

[1992fordgreen]

Well, you probably wouldnt hafta replaceyour carpeting. Just poke your own holes. I'm sure you can make it fit, evn find a bench seat with the same bolt pattern. If not, get out the drill and a drill bit and show the Explorer whats up. haha, JK. You might also need a "bend" in the bench seat frame from the transmission bellhousing...underneath the console.

All i can say after all that being said....poor Explorer...lol

 

[meyek91974]

I know... I hear you guys, but there's a new "incentive"

the misses found that I had the curiosity of how to put a bench seat; just to say, my incentive is that I liked my old F150 with a bench; BUT her idea is that it would get the arm rest out of the way to.... be closer. - I cant wait to see what happens while driving

SO, what similar size Fords had a front bench seat??? Aerostar, Ranger? This one I'll have to find.

oh, also, the back cup holder broke off years ago, I don't care about the back passengers' heat, I usually don't use the cup holders for much other than a clustering "catch-all" and the arm rest storage could be replaced with a $10 plastic cooler

Let's brainstorm

 

[Icebro223]

'99 Exp EddieB V6

How would I, or could I remove the entire center console and power bucket seats to have a fixed position - or a good looking front bench seat?

I dont care for the seat movements as I don't move them anyhow.
I dont care for a cd changer as it doesnt work and I dont have cd's anyhow.
I dont care for a cup holder, napkin dispenser, and computer to tell me how low on gas I am as I can look at the dash gas guage anyhow.
AND
I think it would be so much more spacious with a bench with all the open foot room and under seat storage having no motors & junk.

What bench seat would you recommend to size up to fit? From a Windstar or something??? How could I do this?

Kind of old thread. I'm new to this site. Just wanted to let you know that I have put 60/40 seat(so basically a bench seat) in my 97 explorer Eddie Bauer edition. How I did it was I took manual tracks from a 2nd gen explorer and put them on a 60/40 bench seat from I do believe 98 ranger? There's just four bolts that held the tracks on the seats on both the ranger and explorer so apparently even though the tracks on the ranger and explorer are different meaning they bolt onto the frame of the vehicles differently the actual bolts that hold the tracks onto the seats are the same so therefore tracks from rangers and explorers must be the same even though the tracks themselves are different. So if you want a bench seat go look in a ranger find one you like turn it over take the tracks off(held on by the four bolts) discard those tracks pick your 2nd gen explorer manual tracks and bolt em into the ranger seat. Also I used my factory seat belts. Now the problem I ran into was taking apart the center council. Apparently you need the computer to be hooked up for the headlights to work so I stripped the council all the way down to where I just had the screen and wires. From there it's personal opinion. I rednecked mine by zip tying it underneath the dash so I could still get my fuel economy stuff. I can take pictures if anyone wants to get a general idea of what to do.

 

[SupaSwope]

Some pictures would be cool, this is a great idea