VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans '39 pick up seat

Hi, we are restoring a '39 pick up and are having real trouble trying to find a seat for it, when we brought it, it had an old bus seat in it. Anyway does anyone know whether the seats in the '39's are the same as any other year so we can broaden our search?
Thanks
Maree & Richard

Parts book lists no major parts as being the same however it does indicate that the seat adjusting tracks fit from 1938-40.The cabs were much alike thru those years also.

I have a 38 and a 39 1/2 ton but I dont think the seat is adjustable in either. The seats (what remains of both) look the same and I think 37 will be the same.
It could also be that on the way to Aus the seat adjusters fell out.

Hi Tony / Chev Nut / Richard and Maree!

I have a '37 with a seat I believe is original and can tell you that the seat bottoms are NOT the same as for '38 and '39. The reason for this is that the gas cap is located directly under the passenger's seat, so Chevrolet used a two-piece lower cushion that year. When you fill the truck up, you open the passenger's door, lift up the passenger's side seat cushion, remove the cap and fill it up! Actually, Chevy introduced the low-roof style cab 1/2 way through '36, so they had to have two-piece lower cushions also.

When reading the following, consider that I've never seen my '37 all together, nor sat in the seat with it properly installed, but...

The bottom of the seat is fixed in a single position. I just checked my cab by moonlight, and it seems that the bottom of the seat back can be adjusted into one of 3 different positions (~1/2 inch apart). This adjustment appears to have the effect of changing the angle of the seat back, which is at least SOME adjustment.

Correct.My info shows adjustable seats in 1936-up going to four position in 1941 (from 3).Its possible that it was assumed that all the folks "down under" were the same height.May have been exported with out seats.

Wow - thanks for all of that, very interesting. I never realised that the '37 tank was under the seat! Anyway do you think we would be best to find some one with a '39 and take a pattern from their seat and my husband make it up - I believe the frames of the actual seat were made from timber? Thanks

on the subject of seats, anybody have a suggestion as to the best supplier for replacement seat material (stuffing, upholstery covering, etc.) for the '40 KC?..

Hi Richard and Maree.

Unfortunately (?) the seat frames on my '37 are built up from steel. They appear to be built very similar to much more modern seats (I've torn a lot of late 60's Camaros apart, or rather, they've torn themselves apart!). It might have been easier for you if they WERE wood.

It might be possible for you to build up a seat from parts off any other GM car of the era. The construction is steel "hat" sections for the base, steel springs, formed steel wire (rod) at the seat faces, burlap-like cloth foundation, and vinyl upholstry. You'll have to do some research to determine if my proposal is reasonable for your goals, or maybe Hampton Coach can lend a hand... they are pretty helpful and answer their E-mail within a few days. http://www.hamptoncoach.com Unfortunately for us here, they only have complete seats for '33 pickup (I don't know why...)

Depending on what you are trying to achieve, I'll bet you could actually get by by copying my seats. I'd be glad to sketch up some dimensions and send you lots of electronic photos.

If you want to get started, please verify the following dimensions:

Seat Back: 23" to 24" tall (my seats appear not to be parallel, I'll have to measure closer when the time comes for accuracy). It is 48" to 49" wide, and it tapers from the back at about 3.5" to 5.5" at the outsides (front) and 6.5 at the center (front).

Seat Bottoms: When placed together (as well as they will fit), they match the width of 48". The seat bottom fore-to-aft measurement is 23" (some of this dimension is overlapped by the back of seat cushion, the 3.5" dimension). The thickness tapers from 4.5" at the back to 6.0" at the front.

The above may be confusing, so if you can't follow it, let me know. I'll take some photos with a tape measure so you can check it out.

Now if someone will offer to do this for me for my '31 1/2 ton, we'll all be in business.

Knuckle Buster: Check out Hampton Coach, they have all the materials you need. A "complete" cab interior (seat covers, door panels, head liner, kick panels) for my '31 will cost about $550 or so (I don't have their response to my inquiry handy).

Good luck all, let me know if I can help

Lenn.

Thanks alot Lenn, its great to know that there are people out there willing to help. We are heading down south in a couple of weeks to a Chevy Auction with our fingers crossed that we might pick one up down there but will certainly be in touch if that dosent turn anything up. Do you have pic's of your truck anywhere on the web? Would love to see some. Maree

My 38 has (had would be more appropriate at this stage) wooden base frame not fixed which would lend to the need to lift for fuelling but at some stage an external fueling pipe was fitted. As for the back adjustment it is possible but would need to altered to lift the base.
I have not had a close look at the 39 seat arrangement only a quick glance.

lenn,

thanks for the tip to contact hampton coach...they look like a really professional outfit...

kepi

Hi again Richard and Maree. Your trip sounds like a lot of fun. Take lots of pictures!

I have a cheesy website http://www.serversidescript.com that has a picture of my '31, my '37's cab and chassis, and the garage mascot, "straycat". It's not much, but it's all mine (except straycat, he's his own but I still feed him).