Bench seat to bucket

[Panic throttle]

I have a 89' mj base and a 96 xj. I'm trying to trade the bench seat for the newer buckets any help, pics, advice, any thing welcome.

 

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[DirtyComanche]

You can take the brackets off your bench seat and put them on a set of XJ buckets.  You just have to find the correct XJ seats (84-95, the straight railed versions fit much better) and drill the rivets out of the brackets on each and replace them with 1/4" bolts and nylocks/stovers.

 

I think there's a decent tutorial in the DIY forum.

[Panic throttle]

You can take the brackets off your bench seat and put them on a set of XJ buckets.  You just have to find the correct XJ seats (84-95, the straight railed versions fit much better) and drill the rivets out of the brackets on each and replace them with 1/4" bolts and nylocks/stovers.
 
I think there's a decent tutorial in the DIY forum.

Thank you so much I'm going to look now

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[Panic throttle]

Thank you so much I'm going to look now

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So I look at the dyi stuff and I now know I have 97 brackets that will not work any other suggestions or tips lots of obstacles

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[MidTenManche]

16 hours ago, Panic throttle said:

So I look at the dyi stuff and I now know I have 97 brackets that will not work any other suggestions or tips lots of obstacles

 

I have a garage full of XJ and MJ stuff from "trying" to source parts and getting the wrong ones. So I know how you feel.

No Seats Though.

[Pete M]

look into some of the complete 97+ swaps.  I known people have put the late model seats into an MJ.  you just need to adapt the XJ sliders to your MJ's floor brackets.

[Panic throttle]

I'm just going to have to go get some flat stock and start playing. It will just not be as easy as I had wanted it to be.

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[Pete M]

take lots of pics and start your own DIY thread  

[johnj92131]

7 hours ago, Panic throttle said:

I'm just going to have to go get some flat stock and start playing. It will just not be as easy as I had wanted it to be.

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I used MJ seat brackets to bolt onto the MJ floor.  Then 4 pieces of flat stock to match the wider 96+ seat tracks.  2 pieces front to back between the MJ brackets, then 2 pieces side to side to pickup the 97 XJ seat rails.  Kind of like the # sign

 

On the 97 seat brackets, I cut off the floor mounting points so the seat sliders were flat.  Then bolted the sliders to the 2 side to side pieces of flat stock above.

 

You can also use seats from the Grand Cherokee as well as the 96+ XJ.  I have the more comfortable Grand Cherokee seats installed.

 

I also found I had to raise the back of the seat base with spacers to get the seat to the proper comfort angle for me.  But in the end, very much worth doing.

[johnj92131]

Here is a You Tube video I just found:

 

 

[Panic throttle]

Here is a You Tube video I just found:
 
 

I looked at this it's great but I'm going to just work with the parts I have I'm going to post some pics of how I'm doing it here soon. I bought some steel flat bar and am separating the tracks and rails and just going to try to turn horse droppings in to ice cream

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[Pete M]

I see you have a second account.  would you like me to merge them?

[Panic throttle]

I see you have a second account.  would you like me to merge them?

Yes sir please and thank you

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[Pete M]

PM sent about the merger 

[garyweb3]

I've run into the same problem.I found some hard to find buckets out of a 2 door Cherokee and didn't realize that they were different till I got them home.Went back to the yard to check the year Cherokee and found out it was a 95.One year to new to be an easy swap.So I am very interested in your progress.Let us know how it goes.

[Panic throttle]

This is where I'm at right now(pics). I plan to separate all the brackets from the sliders. mount xj slides back to seat. Flat bar across xj brackets bolt through rivet holes. mj brackets dead center of flat bar. I will double check to make sure center will work by using vice grips to hold everything untill I'm happy. then bolt mj brackets to flat bar. Might get some time this weekend to play some more. Any comments or suggestions please share.

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[cshellaby]

I just picked up my MJ with the seats converted to buckets already. I'm actually looking to put a bench back in and can't locate one. Is yours available? If you want I can send you some pics of the set up for the seats in my truck, seems to just be seats out of an XJ.

[Pete M]

The link in my sig has a thread about the 90s Dakota bench installation.  way better than any MJ bench ever was!  at the very least, don't buy any bench that doesn't have headrests.  Early MJ benches didn't have them for some reason.   

[cshellaby]

Yeah, I've been looking at the Dakota seats too. It's an option, finding any MJ bench seems to be an ussue. Oh well, I've got nothing but time. Thanks for the tips.

[Pete M]

imho, MJ benches should only be used if originality is key.  They aren't exactly very comfortable.   

[cshellaby]

I like the look. It's just a project, definitely want bench though. As close to original as possible 

[carnuck]

imho, MJ benches should only be used if originality is key.  They aren't exactly very comfortable.   

 

My ‘86s bench was comfy to CO and back but none since then. Most sit too low for me at 6 feet tall so I plan a taller setup soon for mine. If I’m lucky I’ll find a low rust longbed soon so I can eventually make an extended cab.

Buckets are fine for my Jtruck.

 

 

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[rokinn]

My bench had the cheap vinyl seat covers and sagged on both sides to the point of discomfort everyone complains about.  I found a bench in the JY that had good fabric covers, which I got.  I also got the two seating springs from each side.  I zip tied the new springs overlaying directly onto the old one in my seat.  I think I used 100 ct bag of the mini zips at every conceivable point it might shift out of alignment.  I then used longer zip ties in an interlacing pattern so the convolutions in the double spring setup wouldn't allow for much separation between them.  I then covered that with a heavy fabric, put the foam back and the seat covers on.  The sag was reduced dramatically resulting in much better support.  Finding the second set of  springs for this is the challenge but I can imagine there are a few just sitting around left from those who have switched to buckets.  Just another possible option for those wanting to keep a bench.

 

I recently did a 2500 mile round trip towing a 1300 lb popup and a bed full of camping gear and extra water with my daughter and we both found the seat to be quite comfortable.  Not bad for my Junk Yard salvaged MJ if I say so myself.  I was able to cruise the interstate at between 70 & 80 on the flat quite easily and had nary a problem with it the entire trip.  

 

I also have tilt forward buckets to try but I am waiting until I can find MJ floor brackets so I don't have to take them from my bench.

[Pannicthrottle]

The first few things that were recommend were know mods that work. I didn't want to give up on my 1996 xj 4dr sport seats but they will not work with out major mods. I started looking for the right seats while trying to mod what I have. so far I have 25 dollars in steal that I bought to make the 96' brackets work. Today at a tow yard with a few Jeeps to pick from killer seats with the right brackets and the center console for 50$.

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[Pannicthrottle]

3hrs worth of work most time spent trying to find bolts.

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