To recap: In early January, I pulled two gray cloth seats from a junkyard 2004 PT Cruiser. All it took was a 13 and 11mm box wrench, and one disconnect for the seatbelt sensor. They aren’t light, but they’re lighter than seats from a 2001 model, which had integrated side airbags.
These have built-in side armrests that fold up out of the way. They interfere with the placement of my Tuffy console, so I’ll be removing them. The female side of the seatbelt is integrated into the side of the seat, so that will need to come off as well.
The slider rails are held together with a plate in the back. They are longer than stock Scout bases, but the width of the rails is perfect. Originally, I thought I was going to have to build extender plates for each of the bases to reach the front mount points because I was sure I wouldn’t be able to get bolts to fit in between the slider rails. When I really looked it over, though, I realized I was going to have to drill a hole for a bolt between the rails anyway. I picked up some grade 8 stock and test fit everything to check the clearances, and it worked perfectly.
Here’s where the plastic comes off. a T50 Torx bit will remove the seatbelt anchor.
On the side, pry the cap off with a flathead screwdriver. A T45 bit will take off the armrest and a standoff that locks the arm into place. The driver’s side is backed with plastic, so the seat doesn’t look bad with the armrest gone. The passenger’s side doesn’t have it.
I’ve been using a spare set of bases to mock things up on, but they are both rusted at the bottoms enough that I wouldn’t put them back in service without welding in some serious support. I took a second look at the bases I had, with tracks welded to the top, and decided to try a little surgery with an angle grinder.
After some careful cutting I got the tracks off and ground the edges off to a smooth surface, then sanded all surface rust and scale off. Then I wiped everything down with acetone to clean off any oil or grease.
To attach the bases to the tracks, I used the stock bolts from the seat in the rear. There are two threaded bolt holes in the back. I used the one closest to the front, then marked the holes for the front bolts and drilled them. Then I used a set of 3/8″ x 1″ Grade 8 bolts threaded in from above to attach the front of the seats to the tracks. The seats slide cleanly.
The project got sidelined for a week while I waited for Eastwood to send me rust converter. I used a brush to put it on, but the next time I’m at Target I’m going to pick up a cheap spray bottle for application–it’s much easier that way. I hit everything I could see and let it sit for 48 hours.
Then all the bare metal got a coat of etching primer and two coats of Rustoleum satin black.
Then I attached the seats back on the bases and put the bases back into my Scout. Compared to 30-year-old Chrysler seats, 10-year-old Chrysler seats feel like they just rolled off the factory floor, even if they don’t exactly match the rest of the truck–but then, nothing matches on this truck.
Postscript: One other nice feature is the fact that the passenger seat folds completely forward. So transporting 10′ boards without resting them on the fabric cover of the console is easy.
Neal Klinman says:
I like following your posts
I wrote a while back about hoping to have a scout someday. Grew up with a 79 in Philly. Living very busily with 3 little kids in Boston now. Two old Odysseys; no rusty scout yet.
Anyway, I’ve often wondered about using Honda Element seats if someday I or someone else needed replacements. I don’t know about mounting compatibility, but I think they might be a good fit. The first generation Elements had, I have noticed, integrated shoulder seatbelts. I know that you have already installed shoulder belts with your roll bar, but maybe element seats would work too. Not sure if they had integrated airbags though.
Just sharing and storing up details for the future.
Good luck with yours.
Do you or any of your IH buddies know anyone with a scout in the boston area?
bill says:
Hi Neal,
I looked at some seats with integrated seatbelts (Chrysler Sebrig, some BMWs), but ultimately decided to stick with belts that were tied into the rollcage instead. The seats themselves bolt into the floor, which is sturdy enough, but I’m afraid all that mass moving forward might be more than the bolts could handle.
As for Scouts in the Boston area, I have no leads, but your best bet might be to keep an eye out West or South and be prepared to fly in and drive one home–or have it trailered to you. As you know, Scouts on the East coast are rare as hen’s teeth, and anything you find on this side of the country will have issues to start with. I’d recommend finding a good body and building up around that. Good luck!
Perry says:
Nice write up , i have a 75 sII with a ratted out bench, will this procedure work the same for an 02 pt cruiser by chance?
I take it all you did was remove the tracks on the scout bases, and after reconditioning them and a minor fab they’re good to go using the pt cruiser tracks?
bill says:
Perry–
I’m not 100% positive, but I believe it’ll work with 02 PT Cruiser seats. Your bench seat base won’t work, though–you need to get bucket bases and bolt them in first. Just make sure you don’t have seats with integrated airbags; that’s a whole lot of extra weight you don’t need to be hauling around.
Good luck!