Got the family M38A1 back. Front 2-leaf boingers chatter, hop, skip, bump.

I’d like something to keep my neck from getting broken in the event I’m rear ended. But it seems it might be hard to find something high that will look right.

 

These Smittybilts are similar with a high back: https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/smittybilt-standard-bucket-front-seat-black-vinyl-44901/_/R-DSBP-44901 Not sure if they are thin enough to work in an early CJ-5.

I also recall some other forum members using these Bestop seats with some success: https://www.bestop.com/products/tra...1995-wrangler-yj-1997-2006-wrangler-tj-front/

The biggest issues with putting seats in an early CJ-5 are too thick of bottoms putting your eyes above the windshield header, or too thick of a back putting those of us with larger bellies into the steering wheel. There isn't a lot of room to spare.

 

There you have it. Personally, I have never felt that hi-backs looked "right" in a Jeep. But I'm willing to accept that Jeeps are not "safe" vehicles.

 

All gets back to your intended use-to a point. I will not ride in a Jeep without seat belts and those are obviously worthless without rollover protection. I suspect way more "Jeep" accidents happen on-road versus off, especially getting rear ended. At least off road, you control your own destiny rather than the whims of some idiot texting on their phone. The high back seats are definitely a safety precaution. If you decide to replace the seats, look into the suspension variety. They do make off-roading a lot more comfortable. Corbeau's Baja RS's have worked well in my 3B and were reasonably priced. However I'm not sure how the stock seat brackets would work with them.

 

Thanks gents. I can adapt any seats, but I am 6’ so height and thickness are an issue. I think I have some takeout TJ seats I could experiment with.

 

Mahindra Roxor seats are a good seat

 

I am putting in the Corbeau Trailcat seats. The backs are taller and the bottoms are narrower than the Baja RS that John is using. I went with these because the bottom bolster is lower for
entry and egress. The high bolsters are nice though once you are seated, so it is sort of a trade-off. I have lowered the seat mounting brackets about 2-1/2' to 3" and using sliders. Both
seats will be at the same level. I am a long legged 6'-1" and no gut. Sitting in it mocked up, I can see under the top mounted windshield fine except for the high street lights. I think this
is unavoidable with this windshield. I agree that the high back seats do look odd in a Jeep, but it is not a restoration and I think it will grow on me. I am still in the mock-up phase as far as side to side
placement of the seats and how far out to cut the wheelhouse notch. I will most likely end up with not much room between the seats and it will put the steering wheel centered on the driver. This
configuration will require less removal of the wheelhouse. I will remove the tool box hinges and make some tabs that slide under the back lip with a locking hasp at the front. Tool box access by
removing the lid.

 

My '71 came with some 80's vintage S10 seats. They were cloth, but I recovered them in vinyl with a kit from one of the truck restoration sellers. They are pretty thin, decently comfortable, and in the black vinyl they look vintage:



Sadly they are usually covered by these ugly seat covers because if the Jeep is going somewhere, so are the muddy dogs:


Finding a decent set of those seats today would probably be a challenge.

 

You might consider making a front entry for the tool box. Maybe not as convenient as the original top lid, but it works reasonably well and is completely out of the way of the seat mounting. I fabed up a new box for the B but I think a glove box door or one of the wagon/pickup underseat lids would be pretty easy to fit and look sort of stock. At the time of the photo, I was still using mid 70's vintage Subaru seats. They fit but didn't stay together very well in a Jeep. To think they were almost new when installed-------

 

That is really nice! A slide out tray would be slick. I did consider doing something like that and even bought some molding for the raw cut edge. I was just going to leave it open and hadn't given a lot
of thought to adding a door. There is only 4-1/2" to play with and it may make it difficult to reach the far ends of the toolbox as opposed to removing the top. A few small tool bags and anything
else would fit without having a tilting seat and give more visibility to what you need to access.

 

Not highback, but I ran ‘65/‘66 Mustang bucket seats for many years in my CJ. Thin back and cushion allowed good legroom and they were comfortable. I also had a set of Porsche 914 highbacks in for a while. I made a backrest frame for these. Very thin seat that made for a lot more legroom. Both of these seats are old and likely harder to find today.
Also, glad to see you still have your 8” Firestone rims! I love the look of those.
-Donny

 

That would be nice for the empty space under the drivers seat after I move my gas tank.

 

Ended up with plastic buggy buckets.

It got an OD while it was down for 10 years. I thought I remembered back in the day it had plenty of power in 3rd and just ran out of RPM...now it doesn't want much to hold 3rd in OD or direct. Has a Chinee carb... John Compton of border parts said 2nd OD is a good splitter gear. 2800-3200 is the sweet power spot. Gotta replace the cheap chinee tach.

Back when the engine blew I couldn't find a V6. Now I have a spare one and the one in the CJ-6 I got back from my buddy who passed. It's for sale, btw...

Need to get the vacuum gauge out and do some tuning...

 

I wanna just paint the 6 like my grandpa's and sell grandpa's, haha! Power and legroom.