Aftermarket seats; what works and what doesn't

[PureGTS]

  I've got a 68 that was originally a bench seat car. I sold it to one of my friends who put a monster tach through the previously perfect dash pad and replaced the bench with a (single) plastic race seat. The bench is long gone, as is the low mileage (read less than 20K) slant six. I've since welded up the cracks and the holes in the floor from the race seats (he never installed the second or any reinforcements) and now I'd like to install some after market bucket seats with more creature comforts, like reclining and a proper head rest, than the OEM's. I've been looking at high back simulated leather seats like the ones at Kragen and Summit that are black with side and hip bolsters as I have grand aspirations of going around corners at speeds above normal.
  Here's the questions: Are these seats worth their weight in Spam or are they going to die horribly on me? Has anyone used these seats in a long term test and what mod's have you made to a bench seat floor to secure them and avoid cracking? Bare in mind, I'm a big guy, 6' 2" 235, so I need reinforcing and head clearance is an issue. Any pic's would be helpful too.

[Crazy68Dart]

Here are the Summit seats.  These models are a few years old, but I think they have only changed for the better.  I made adapters for the seat sliders out of 1x1/8" stock.  I'll try to find some pics and post them.  The seats are pretty decent for the money.  One thing, they are pretty darn heavy.  But if you want a niceish seat, that is the penalty you pay.  The bolstering is very tight to get the door bars in.  I will be tackeling that soon.  They will be swing outs so I can remove them for street use.  I don't know how "wide" of a person you are, but the bolstering is pretty tight.  It is nice for a skinney guy like me, but not sure how a larger person would like them.  Anway, let me know how I can help.

[PureGTS]

That's the seats I have in mind, it is just how they are anchored and reinforced to the floor pan. Do these require a "Mounting kit" or is that included with the seats? Some folks sell them separately.
  It appears your seats are mounted between the Bucket seat risers in the floor. Is that correct?  My interior is pretty close to yours currently. I can't move forward without the seating issue being squared away. Dyna-mat and all still pending.

Long shot question: I don't suppose you would have the little rod that links the Driver's door lock cylinder to the mechanism would ya?

BTW: I don't have a cage in this car to hump over either. I expect the MRS to drive it so a cage would be bad. Also, I wear a 38 waist, the mass is a bit higher up.

[Crazy68Dart]

Here are the adapters I made.  I made them to fit the factory pad locations, the width of the stock, plus using large flat with lock washer to bolt into the pan.

The sliders come with the seats.  I used large hardware, and ended up having to grind the heads of the mounting bolts down a bit so everything would work.  I also tacked the bolt heads which makes installation way easier.

What rod?  I am sure I have it... you just want some pics?  I need mine... .

[moparrr07]

dont worry about reinforcing the floor, most of the seat brackets you get with seats of this style puts all the weight across the floor, not on the bolts, but i would build a 2 inch riser because those seats sit loww, plus if you bolt it strait to the carpet, they are hard to slide

[Duster440]

I patterned my installation after Crazy68's. You can see pics and details here:

 http://70duster440.com/interior.html

[upg]

Hey, Everyone

I just joined the board here and I just joined the the Dodge Charger board earlier in the month, I posted in the interior forum about this subject over on the Charger board http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,24202.30.html

[Evan]

Duster440 - that is a nice website and excellent work on the duster.     -Evan

[Duster440]

Thanks Evan. I'm getting very close to squirting some color on the thing - finally.

[PureGTS]

Crazy68Dart - The rod I'm missing isthe linkage rods between the Driver's door lock cylinder and the latch mechanism. When the doors were off being blocked out and the inards cleaned and lubed, this one little twinkie smokin' booger escaped and hasn't been seen since. The passenger side is already installed but it looks like a "P" shape from one angle, if memory serves. I'd hate to be forced to install electric locks just to have locking doors! Currently I can't even lock it up due to this missing little @%$#&(&^% ! (Pardon my French) I don't make it a habit of letting the locals know this, but it is only a matter of time.

[upg]

Posted some pictures on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/14869590@N07/