ZJ buckets into an MJ?

[johnj92131]

Saw a 94 Grand Cherokee Limited in the JY today with gray leather power seats.  The passenger seat was perfect but the drivers seat has some cracked leather.  Back seat also looks to be leather and the color is very nice.  So I am wondering if the ZJ buckets can be put in the MJ without cutting/welding the floor?

When I search the DIY section, I see how to make the ZJ or WJ seats tilt forward, but not anything about using the ZJ seats in the MJ.  Can someone point me to a good source?

 

Thanks,

 

[jimoshel]

Keep the MJ base and swap the upper frame and cushions.

[johnj92131]

Keep the MJ base and swap the upper frame and cushions.

Thanks Jim.  I will try that.  The junk yard I was at today had both the 94 Grand Cherokee Limited with the leather seats and an 89 MJ with bucket seats.  So I will be doing some test fitting at the yard before I buy them.  Also a quick Google search points me to some Cherokee forums...there the claim is that seat brackets changed about 1995 and that the GC seats will bolt only to 95 and later Cherokee seat brackets...Not at all to 94 and prior X J seat brackets.  So we will see what we see and report back.

 

Guess I will wind up buying the MJ buckets just for spares (the seat covers are terrible) and a couple of other items someone will want.  The cargo lamp switch - lamp is gone, the class 3 trailer hitch (yes, found one), and the center console. 

[dasbulliwagen]

Ive seen it done elsewhere, but couldnt tell you right now how or if it was a bolt in job.

[ParadiseMJ]

MJ and XJ or ZJ floor brackets are not created equal.  The MJ has a unique floor topography so just taking out either XJ or ZJ seats and bolting them in to the MJ will require some work.  You'll need to remove the MJ floor brackets (drill or grind off) and KEEP them to bolt to the ZJ seats.  I have XJ 2-door buckets, that fold forward, but i had to swap floor brackets and use a couple pieces of flat stock bolted to the bottom of the seat runners.

 

Remember that the ZJ seats will not fold forward and will make getting behind your seats a pain in the arse.

[johnj92131]

MJ and XJ or ZJ floor brackets are not created equal.  The MJ has a unique floor topography so just taking out either XJ or ZJ seats and bolting them in to the MJ will require some work.  You'll need to remove the MJ floor brackets (drill or grind off) and KEEP them to bolt to the ZJ seats.  I have XJ 2-door buckets, that fold forward, but i had to swap floor brackets and use a couple pieces of flat stock bolted to the bottom of the seat runners.

 

Remember that the ZJ seats will not fold forward and will make getting behind your seats a pain in the arse.

 

Thank You for the additional information.

 

Shelbyluvv has a how to make ZJ/WJ seats fold forward right here:  http://comancheclub.com/topic/15375-making-zj-or-wj-seats-tilt-forward/?hl=seats

 

His build has how to mount ZJ/WJ seats in an MJ.  Problem for me is welding.

 

I have the MJ seat brackets, so my problem will be attaching the ZJ seats to the MJ brackets, since I don't weld.

[ParadiseMJ]

I did not weld mine.  I drilled holes and bolted. 

 

I've welded other things, at best a rank amateur with a borrowed welder, but I'm good at bolting.

 

I had seen that write-up (or one like it) but as luck would have it I found the 2 door XJ seats in good shape at the JY.  Kind of a rare find though.

[shelbyluvv]

Sadly the XJ floor brackets are still only sheet metal screwed down to the MJ's floor pan. I will burn them in after I clean the rust off the floors.

[johnj92131]

Sadly the XJ floor brackets are still only sheet metal screwed down to the MJ's floor pan. I will burn them in after I clean the rust off the floors.

 

So the good news is that they have lasted for years with just sheet metal screws holding them to the MJ floor pan?  Did I get that right?

And please correct me if I am wrong, these are 95/6/7+ XJ seat brackets with the sheet metal "bridge" taken from an XJ by just drilling out the spot welds??  I think I could do that with my battery powered drill.

One more thing, you are still using the ZJ seats in one of your MJ's, right.

[shelbyluvv]

That is correct John they are just screwed down with some sheet metal screws and the stock front studs used to locate them and bolt them down as well. They are indeed 96-01 XJ floor brackets. I would also take some kind of grinder with a cut off wheel. They are stitch welded in a couple places. Only like an inch or so but mine were welded down. I am not only still using those seats in my MJ but I also installed a pair in my white Dodge that we put the long bed SnugTop in.

 

Remember that fiasco? LOL!

[jbain]

I used seats from an 04 Grand in mine.... I used 98 XJ sliders bolted to the bottom of the seats, then I cut the raised floorpan section from the same 98 and welded it into my floorboard.  I decided to add the floorpan from a 98 so I could make any seat swaps in the future a bolt only modification.  Chase my build thread back... there are lots of pics.

[johnj92131]

Remember that fiasco? LOL!

 

Yea, that was fun, but the price was right for both of us!!   Are you back in North Carolina now for good or just for now?

[johnj92131]

I used seats from an 04 Grand in mine.... I used 98 XJ sliders bolted to the bottom of the seats, then I cut the raised floorpan section from the same 98 and welded it into my floorboard.  I decided to add the floorpan from a 98 so I could make any seat swaps in the future a bolt only modification.  Chase my build thread back... there are lots of pics.

 

Will take a good look at your build, Thank You for posting the link.

[shelbyluvv]

I'm actually in Georgia. I'm not sure where I am going after this hitch.

[Dadinator]

Dakota seats in mine.  Sit much higher, But I love them.

I could lower them some, but I like them where they are.

 

 

[Dadinator]

Just took a little fab work...