I have a 1989 Toyota 4X4 standard cab that I picked up 2 years ago. It has some jacked up buckets seats from an unknown car so I want to put in a refurbished Toyota OEM bench seat instead.

The truck doesn't get much use so I prefer a bench seat in it over buckets.

I just picked up a good bench seat for cheap from a newer 4x2 with the smaller shifter notch.



I want it use it in my 4x4 which normally uses a bench seat with a deeper shifter notch.



My questions is... Has anyone successfully swapped in a 4x2 Bench Seat in their 4x4 and NOT have any issues with the transfer case shifter not having enough clearance because of the seat?

 

I actually believe that the bench in my 88 Pickup was more comfortable than the SR5 buckets in my 87 4Runner. Unfortunately a bench in the 4Runner would be impractical. Anyway, If I recall correctly, the distance the seat slides forward and back is larger than the difference in the two bench seats. So I would be willing to guess that you'd be fine so long as you kept your seat all the way back.

 

So I guess another question would be, would the bench seat go forward enough to be able to secure the rear bolts with a socket wrench?

 

Oh yeah, good point. I can't answer that.

 

My 88 has a bench seat in it. I just got the truck, so I'm not sure if that's stock, but there's no issue with clearance. (not really sure if this helps)

 

It does not help, there are two different style bench seats, as seen in the original post above. One is for a 2wd truck which does not have much of a cut out for the transfer case shifter (because it does not have one), and one for a 4x4 truck which has enough cut out for a transfer case shifter. The only way your application would be relevant is if you had a 4x4 truck, with a 2wd bench seat in it.

As to the OP, you can cut out foam from the seat if it does not fit. When people install dual cases into their trucks, that adds another transfer case shift lever even further back. Often times, they have to take the cover off and remove / cut out foam from the seat then reinstall the cover.

My advice for now would be to go try it, cant imagine it would take very long / a lot of effort to figure this out. If and when you do try it, please post up here and show us the results.

 

I'm about to reupolster them, but cutting the foam won't help much as there is also a metal frame support in the front middle of the seat.





This is the front bottom of the seat

 

I had a 2wd Taco bench in my 83 4x4 when I bought it, The Bench was tight on the tranny tunnel though, but it is a first gen so space doesn't exist. I swapped it out for a set of buckets and regret the hell out of it. The bench was way more comfortable and i can barely get in it with buckets.

 

Yes it will work if the seat is all the way back. I have a bench out of a auto with no cut out at all in my 91 and both shifters clear with seat back all the way

 

Cool. Is that with or without a body lift?

 

Without