Passenger Seat Mounting

[linckeil]

At some in the mid-1960's, the passenger seat mount changed. The earlier version is the style with the hinges bolted to the floor (white jeep pictured). The later style has hinges welded to a cross bar that sits notably higher (red jeep pictured).

I have experience only with the earlier version. Is one style preferred over the other? If so, why? I'm guessing the change was made for a reason.

 

[Jw60]

As far as i know the change happened when the seat changed from horsehair and coils to foam and wavy springs.

 

[PeteL]

Maybe because early seats were a one-piece rigid frame. Later they were 'fold and tumble.'

 

[Keys5a]

The “early” coil spring/horsehair) seats with the small cast hinges bolted to the top of the toolbox. These were also “fold & tumble” and were used up through the ‘65 model year. With the introduction of the Dauntless V6 in ‘66, the seats changed to molded foam, and a new mounting bracket was introduced that mounted on the door opening with the hinges on a horizontal bar. A couple years later, a short brace was added at the door side to steady the horizontal bar.
My preference is the early style because I think the coil spring seats actually perform as additional “suspension”.
The flat-fender Jeeps used the rigid frames PeteL mentions.

 

[PeteL]

The flat-fender Jeeps used the rigid frames PeteL mentions.

The “early” coil spring/horsehair) seats with the small cast hinges bolted to the top of the toolbox. These were also “fold & tumble”

Beg to differ, with respect. Both my '56 CJ5's had OEM rigid one-piece seat frames. No folding or tumbling. Coil spring and horse hair.

Also, on this site we've seen members seeking such original rigid seats or frames for their CJ5's.

 

[linckeil]

It’s funny the topic of “fold and tumble” should come up.

All my experience is with the earlier style where the hinges mount to the top of the toolbox, and all these seats have been rigid frames that did not fold.

I recently picked up a 1961 cj5 parts jeep and it does have the toolbox mounted hinges as expected. However, the seat does fold. For this reason, I figured the seat was out of some other vehicle. But in looking at the seat more closely, it may be original to the jeep. Either that or someone took their time many years ago and did a really nice job with the conversion.

Here are some pictures. Is this an early factory “fold and tumble” seat?

Also interesting to see the Chrysler emblem on the underside of the seat covering (last picture).

 

[colojeepguy]

Both my '56 CJ5's had OEM rigid one-piece seat frames. No folding or tumbling

How do you access the toolbox? Take the whole seat out?

 

[Jw60]

How do you access the toolbox? Take the whole seat out?

I left the toolbox out. Had a passenger side tank for a little while.
It's like the recirculation valve that has no recirculation inlet. There but Not all that functional.

 

[linckeil]

How do you access the toolbox? Take the whole seat out?

the rigid seats would swing forward enough on the hinges to open the toolbox. easy enough to slip the seat out of the hinges and remove it entirely if you needed more access.

 

[PeteL]

How do you access the toolbox? Take the whole seat out?

When the rigid seat hinges forward, access is no problem.

The fold-and-tumble was to ease passengers getting into the rear seat, I suspect. I don't know why they couldn't just climb over the tailgate in the normal way...

 

[Keys5a]

When the rigid seat hinges forward, access is no problem.

The fold-and-tumble was to ease passengers getting into the rear seat, I suspect. I don't know why they couldn't just climb over the tailgate in the normal way...

Beg to differ, with respect. Both my '56 CJ5's had OEM rigid one-piece seat frames. No folding or tumbling. Coil spring and horse hair.

Also, on this site we've seen members seeking such original rigid seats or frames for their CJ5's.

Pete, You are correct. The first couple years of the CJ5 did have rigid frames. I forgot about those! These might have changed to folding frames in 1957 when there were many “upgrades”, including 12V electrics. I had a ‘57 with folding frames which I assumed were original. The backrest on those seats was more curved than the later mid-‘60s seats.
My couple sets of 1/3- 2/3 (‘64 &’65 Tux) bench seats have the folding passenger seat, but no latches to hold them in place. I have one (I believe) later folding seat with the same latch as the windshield hood catch mounted at the rear base as shown in linckeil’s photo, but with no plastic covers. I believe the latching/folding seats were used in the mid-to-later 60’s. Mine have no plastic covers as seen in linckeil’s example, nor the cable pull for the latch, which lead me to believe his seat is even later/newer, as possibly 1971? That may explain the Chrysler logo? But these were typically molded foam seats.
I have not documented coil spring/horsehair seats after the 1965 model year, and advertising literature features molded foam from 1966 and up for the next couple years.

 

[PeteL]

molded foam from 1966 and up for the next couple years.

Which the f-ing mice much prefer to the horse hair. They've been tunneling into my 'new' Smittybilts.