Bucket Seat Swap with 90s Corolla Seats
 

I've read that just about any 80s or 90s Japaneese seats will work in trucks that came with a bench. I picked up a set of pristine 1994 Corolla seats that matched my interrior and only cost 40 bucks. It ended up being a lot more work than I thought it would be. I figured I would post some pictures of what I did in case you are considering seats out of a corolla.

the front 2 brackets looked similar to the trucks and 4runners. I assumed they were just at a different angle and had a locating pin. They were quite a bit different on spacing and I couldn't use any factory mounting points.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...0680fdbade.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...338f8ff449.jpg
I had to cut off the pin and bend the brackets down which was easy enough.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...49f16e993a.jpg

but then the holes would not come close to lining up. They are about an inch or more wider on each side. I drilled new holes and stuck a 10mm bolt through to use like a stud. I under drilled the holes so it would hold the bolts for me and I wouldn't need to put a wrench on the back side.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...75a39b3ae8.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...9f751176b4.jpg

the next problem was the back outside bracket. I thought I could just drill a new hole and put a through bolt. It ended up too far out to the edge of the cab and I couldn't drill a hole. I had to drill out the spot weld and rivet. I put a 6mm bolt in the old rivet hole then rotated the bracket around to use the factory rear outside hole.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...ddd75dc227.jpg
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the inside bracket will not work at all because the hole is horizontal. I just hacked it off. Eventually I'll take a steel piece of flat, bolt it where the rivets are now, then bend it up and bolt it to the hump in the floor.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...7f3f023cd9.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...fdb8bc60b3.jpg

here is a before and after picture. The new seats are very comfy but there is some wobble in them with only 3 bolts.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...70218cec92.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...72a7043113.jpg

It seems like good cheap sr5 bucket seats are hard to come by. If you can get a deal on good seats, I'd say go for it. Worst that could go wrong is that you may have to bend up some new brackets.

Also, I'm 6'2" and these seats are a hair taller than the bench. I have to scoot my rear end foreword and slouch a little now. But the back support is more than worth the inconvenience.

I got the inside brackets made. It was fast and easy.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...ab1dc320f3.jpg
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I drilled out the two rivets and the spot weld in the bottom. There was also a bead of weld on both sides of the track. I put bolts through the rivet holes into a 1/8th inch thich by 3 inch wide plate. I cut it 3 1/2 inches long. Also I had to take those bolts out and cut them down some since they got in they way of the slide.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...46be2fac15.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...05c8d45ae2.jpg
I bent the plate up to match the hump in the truck then drilled a hole through the plate and through the two layers of floor. I pushed the seat down as far as it would go while I drilled it. That gave me another inch or two of head room. Then I put the bolt in from the under side. There was plenty of room since this was above the drive shaft.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...660106158c.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...baa27b06d0.jpg
I got my center console in. It is almost the right color. The interrior is a tiny bit darker grey. I had to run my seatbelts inside the plastic trim piece on the seats. The console barely fit and is very snug. I'm not going to bother bolting it in because its definitely not going anywhere. I may have to do something different in a year or two when I do a 4x4 conversion. I dont think a transfer case shifter will fit too well. But it will work well until the time comes.

looks good.
thanks for the inspiration in this. i have a set of 91 corolla seats that i need to get mounted in my cab.

Please get these Brackets welded when you can. While it may seem sturdy enough for everyday use the forces exerted during a crash are MUCHO MAS! Also a reinforcing plate where you had to drill new holes is probably a good Idea. I'm all for making things custom work have bolted things together to make sure everything fit but dont forget to go back, your life or a passengers may be the one you save

As an example since its numbers I know off the top of my head an average male (180lbs) exerts a force of 5,000 lbs per sq/ft when falling from a height of 10ft therefore all personal arresting gear/ fall protection is tested to 15,000 lbs per sq/ft. While you could hang from a good rope and it seems strong enough I wouldn't go trusting it in an situation where my life depends on it.

I plan on getting it welded up as soon as possible. I also need to paint the steel plates I put in.