I just picked up a 1996 regular cab ranger as a daily driver. The bench seat is totally trashed, and I've been unsuccessful finding one locally. I was wondering what other options might be available. I've browsed the forums and saw many entries upgrading to new seats and consoles.

As luck would have it I have my daughters old Escort ZX2 that was totaled in an accident. I was going to use the bucket seats out of it, but the problem is the seats bolt down in different locations and the tracks are different. How do you folks who've swapped out seats deal with this issue. In my truck, the seat has a right side and left side track and mounting holes in the floor to match. Did you build new tracks, mounts, etc?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, LF

sounds like a custom mounting job for those to fit, you can go to a junk yard and pic up some buckets from a ranger/mustang/explorer/mountaineer I believe all of those will fit

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He has a regular cab, so those will not work...at least not as an easy bolt on.

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Sold:2004 XLT 4x2 Ext. Cab. 3.0 Mods: 3" spindle, AAL, shackle, 32x11.5 on 15x8s, billet grille, clear corners, flow 40 dumped, line-x, CB/PA, traction bars, lil sound system, auto up down windows
Sold:2005 XLT 4x4 Ext. Cab. 4.0 Mods: ProComp lights w/ HID swap on tabs, 32x11.5 on 15x8s, CB/PA, black out heads/corners, lil sound system, cranked t-bars, flow 40 dumped, line-x, shell, bed rug, 06+ tails, metal tail gate handle since plastic one shattered, OHC, Mustang Dome.

Correct! I only have four mounting points on the floor of my cab. They are on each side near the door sills. This is a base model truck with a/c. No pwr options, or 60/40 split seat.

I was hoping someone else had swapped seats in the same type truck that could give me ideas on how to mount a set of buckets. Might just have to rebuild the original bench seat frame and springs, then recover.

Damn, I was under the impression all of those seats would bolt right up to my regular cab. OP, I'm in your boat with the worn stock bench. I'll be watching this thread.

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Yeah, I thought the same thing until I pulled the seat and realized how it mounts.

Can't you weld the seats to the mounting brackets?

Yes, I guess I could if I wanted to sit with a constant "gansta lean". Actually no, that will not work. I only have two seat tracks that are the right configuration for my truck. One for the driver’s side, and one for the passenger side.

The latest idea that I’m looking at is to build a frame from 1/2" square tubing that will mount to the two existing seat tracks. Then using 1 1/2 flat steel, make mounting points to that frame for the ZX2 seats. I'll remove the ZX2 seat tracks from the seat frames and then bolt the ZX2 seats to the newly constructed frame. This would allow for a console/armrest between the seats. All will move as one unit that way.

If it works out, I’ll post pics for those with the same dilemma.

this might be an expensive option,but I know sparco makes sliders/mounting brackets for rangers and they might work with little modification: http://www.racing-seats-usa.com/sp.html
and so does Cobreau: http://www.racing-seats-usa.com/raci...-brackets.html

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So what I gather is that the regular cab bench has only one mount per side. One on the driver side and one on the passenger side. The extended cab would have two mounts per side. Is this correct? If so I think I will custom make the mounts needed and bolt them to the floor. The bench seat just isn't cutting it. Unless I can find a bench that has a center console. That's all I really want. I hate not having an arm rest.

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wrong. if there was only two mounts, the seat would spring foward in an accident and slam you into the steeringwheel. the difference between ext cab tracks and std cab tracks are that ext cab tracks are much longer

Alright, so even though I have a bench, I still have 4 mounts? (which makes sense now that I think about it, cause its a split bench)So why aren't buckets compatible?

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Obsolete,

You are correct. However, after removing all the mud and dirt that was under my floor mat, I discovered mounting holes for the other tracks. I am assuming that this truck also came with a split bench seat, but a 60/40 out of an extended cab will not work. The tracks are different. So, looks like the only bolt in swap would have to be from a regular cab only.

Today I mocked up the frame work to support two bucket seats out of a 2001 Ford Escort ZX2. I used the bench seat tracks and fabbed a frame out of 1" angle iron and 1.5" inch flat bar. Now I need to find an OEM or after market console to go between the seats.

That's what I plan to do when it warms up. I guess I can throw just about any seats in there. Thanks for the info, and take some pics of your progress.

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"the difference between ext cab tracks and std cab tracks are that ext cab tracks are much longer"

The seats that where in our extended cab when we got it where very long. over 4 inches past the bolt holes on the back side.

We where told by several people that the reg cab tracks are the LONG ones and the extended cab seats had the short ones. (so people going into back seat do not trip over them.

We purchaced others seats from a extended cab and they where 4 1/4 inch shorter than the reg cab ones we compaired them against.

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White 2001 Ford Ranger Edge - step side- ext cab - 3.0 V-6 2-WD 88k

I have determined that most mechanical / electrical challanges are directly connected to the nut that connects the steering wheel to the drivers seat.