1987 Ranger seat swap

[slc10844]

I have a 87 x-cab Ranger that the driver's seat is worn and split. I found a 1997 Ranger reg cab that is being parted out. Both have 60/40 seats. Other than the 97 having high back seats, will they fit my 87 without a lot of modification?

 

[Sunk]

You'll probably have to swap tracks between the seats. If you find a 91-94 Explorer 4 dr, the seats will bolt right in to your extended cab, tracks and all.

 

[slc10844]

I didn't act fast enough and the seats were sold before I got there. How new can I go with Ranger seats that are a simple swap? I know there may be tracks to switch, just don't want to get into fabrication.

 

[Mark_88]

I think there is a sticky on this...but it boils down to measurements...most seats have metal on the bottom that can be drilled and tapped to accept the bolts that hold them to the tracks...as long as your tracks are in good shape the rest is easy.

The reason I say that is that I recently discovered (and posted) that my tracks were broken on the driver seat...actually cracked the metal base...but I found them in a 91 Explorer as mentioned above...they fit perfectly and were in mint condition.

Apparently Mustang seats from certain years are the same width and can be swapped with little modification...but I like the Explorer buckets and other Ranger high backs...don't care for the split bench or the regular bench...'

The seats in my 88 are actually very comfortable and in really good shape...but they are low backs and I hate the idea of getting rear ended because my neck will never be the same. I had seats out of a newer (90 or so) Ranger at one time but I managed to break them (don't ask...lol) and went with the low backs at the time...

 

[saskbill]

The ranger floorpan changed in 1993. Actually, this was just an extra sheetmetal hump spotwelded to the floor under the front of the seats - by transplanting a hump into my '91 extended cab I was able to swap in buckets from an explorer or a 93 to '97(not sure on the upper year!) lower brackets and all.

Anyway, for your '87 extended cab with 60/40, you should be good to swap in extended cab seats (60/40 or buckets) from an extended cab Ranger up to '92.

PS: be careful with explorer seats, as well as the floor hump issue, the 4 door seats lack the extra fold forward/slidey part that the 2 door Explorers and your extended cab seats have - do a little "exploring: in the wrecking yard and you'll see what I mean!

 

[fyre82]

You can bolt most ranger/bII/exploder seats right into your tracks.
For buckets use your 60/40 brackets, for a bench use just the outside brackets.

I have 92 high back exploder seats in my custom reg cab and Eddie Bauer bII seats in my supercab.

Rich

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I didn't act fast enough and the seats were sold before I got there. How new can I go with Ranger seats that are a simple swap? I know there may be tracks to switch, just don't want to get into fabrication.

I think somewhere in the middle 00's they starting making the tracks part of the seat.

The seats in my 88 are actually very comfortable and in really good shape...but they are low backs and I hate the idea of getting rear ended because my neck will never be the same. I had seats out of a newer (90 or so) Ranger at one time but I managed to break them (don't ask...lol) and went with the low backs at the time...

I am wanting a set of lowbacks for mine thanks to the std cab, I would take a set of halo style Mustang/Tempo GT seats too though...

With the current tall Explorer seatback coming right to the base of my head I don't know if a rear ending situation would end much better than with a lowback... only I could slide the seat farther back and improve things for a frontal with a lowback. On top of that one thing I don't like about the Explorer seats is the DS doesn't recline... so you are stuck with the seat angle Ford deamed most comfortable

 

[Mark_88]

I'd offer you mine but the logistics is not good...mine were like new when I got the truck and are still holding up well...they are brown with the low back and the hole cut about shoulder height...the seats are really comfortable...with extra padding and bolsters...

I think my primary concern is the colour...they had seat covers on them so I didn't mind much but I have since managed to remove the covers...they were fluffing all over the truck...lol

If I can afford it in the spring I will look for the high backs...I remember putting Tempo seats in at one point...but they were not as comfortable as the Ranger or Explorer seats...