Increasing Seat Height

[rittenrotton 4]

I have a 70 coupe and I really liked the original seats in my 1970 mustang but the only problem is that they don't recline. So I purchased a set of black fabric seats from a '05 mustang and they look pretty good but the only problem is that they sit about 2" lower than the factory seats. Does anyone know what is the safest way I can increase the seat height?

[RPM 1,190]

I knew a short girl who used to sit on a couple of phone books to see over the dash :)  Seriously though,  I've never heard of that problem and it just might be the answer to the many folks looking for more headroom. 

[Ridge Runner 1,112]

I have no problem increasing my seat width ..um ,that is probably somthing altogether different though:)

[mustangstofear 608]

Are you  using the 69-70 seat tracks ?

[rittenrotton 4]

mustangstofear, yes I am. I couldn't use the seat tracks that came with the seat as they were way too wide and didn't align with the seat track holes.

[mustangstofear 608]

Normally everyone tries to lower  their seats for more headroom, especially if they  still have the factory  steering  wheel and column. Is it  that much lower that  its  causing a  problem?

[rittenrotton 4]

Well, I'm only 5'6", so my visibility is a little impaired and my view out the windshield isn't as good as it was with the factory seats. I can deal with it as as but would like it better if I could raise the seat up an inch or so. 

[barnett468 418]

go to a real hardware store and buy 1" - 1 1/4" spacers. they look like a very thick fender washer and can be aluminum or steel. put them on the seat studs then install the seat.

[RPM 1,190]

1 hour ago, barnett468 said:

go to a real hardware store and buy 1" - 1 1/4" spacers. they look like a very thick fender washer and can be aluminum or steel. put them on the seat studs then install the seat.

I was thinking about that Mike, but how do you get by the limited inch or 1-1/4" of the stock bolt? Isn't the mounting bolt a press fit into the seat track?

[barnett468 418]

8 hours ago, RPM said:

I was thinking about that Mike, but how do you get by the limited inch or 1-1/4" of the stock bolt? Isn't the mounting bolt a press fit into the seat track?

The spacer needs to be around 3/4" shorter than the seat bolts so there is enough bolt protruding thru the bottom of the floor to get a nut on. I just looked at my spare 69 seat to see how long the bolt is and there re no tracks on it, lol. The 64 thru 68 seats have fairly long bolts. The spacer just sliders over the bolts. Yes the bolts may be tack welded to the track but I don't remember for sure but if so a small cut off tool etc will cut the weld so longer ones can be installed but they need to have a short head so I think I used carriage bolts before then ground two opposing sides down so they were narrow enough to fit in the track.

Another possible option is to use seat extenders. These also allow the seat to be repositioned further forward or rearward depending on how they are installed. Cost is around $80.00.

 

 

These are the spacers. You can also use machine shaft collars. Some real hardware stores have them in the small specialty item boxes.

Several of these will also be required to do the job properly

 

 

 

 

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[JET 445 43]

8 hours ago, barnett468 said:

The spacer needs to be around 3/4" shorter than the seat bolts so there is enough bolt protruding thru the bottom of the floor to get a nut on. I just looked at my spare 69 seat to see how long the bolt is and there re no tracks on it, lol. The 64 thru 68 seats have fairly long bolts. The spacer just sliders over the bolts. Yes the bolts may be tack welded to the track but I don't remember for sure but if so a small cut off tool etc will cut the weld so longer ones can be installed but they need to have a short head so I think I used carriage bolts before then ground two opposing sides down so they were narrow enough to fit in the track.

Another possible option is to use seat extenders. These also allow the seat to be repositioned further forward or rearward depending on how they are installed. Cost is around $80.00.

 

 

These are the spacers. You can also use machine shaft collars. Some real hardware stores have them in the small specialty item boxes.

Several of these will also be required to do the job properly

 

 

 

 

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't you mean cold tasty Fosters Lager

[rittenrotton 4]

Thanks barnett468,  I'm going to try your suggestion (especially after a few beers ha ha).Also, thanks to everyone else for your suggestions!

[barnett468 418]

8 hours ago, JET 445 said:

Don't you mean cold tasty Fosters Lager

 

Ahhhh, ha, ha . Hey RPM please ban this guy just because he's obviously one of those pesky aussies. 

[Rsanter 152]

For actually had a kit for people that were short and complained about the seat not being high enough.

the kit was a set of spacers that went between the seat tracks and the seat as well as longer bolts

 

bob

[1969_Mach1 333]

McMaster Car will have spacers you need to raise the seat.