How to Install Buckets and Console

by George Nenadovich

Car Courtesy of Dennis Wheeler

 

In order to change a car from a bench seat to buckets and console a few items are needed before starting the project.

 

Items Needed:

1. Bucket seats correct for year, 68-9 are the same while 70-2 are the same.

All GM A-bodies share the same bucket seats for the same years. Included in A-body designation are 68-72 Chevelle, LeMans, Skylark, Cutlass and 70-2 Monte Carlo and Grand Prix.

2. Console, 68-9 console are the same, 70-2 consoles are the same. 1973-77 Regal/Century consoles can be used but will need to be modified as stated in an article on the site. The shifter and cable from the 73-77 Regal/Century will not work but you can use the trans cable bracket and selector bracket.

3. Shifter assembly which includes: shifter w/handle, cable, cable bracket that mounts to the trans pan (TH350 and TH400 brackets are different). Trans selector bracket which attaches direct to trans gear selector input shaft.

4. Steering column, either tilt or non-tilt.

5. Bucket seat brackets. If installing a power driver's seat, floor bracket will be different than non-power seat. Brackets are available as repro units.

Here is the rear floor console bracket, it is welded to the floor and can be fabricated from simple sheet metal if need. Distance from the rear vertical portion(just in front of back seat bottom cushion) of driveshaft tunnel is 17.5 inches. This dimension is not critical but gives a close approximation where bracket should be located. Notice width of bracket to allow for some console movement from front to back.

Another pic which shows the location of the shifter's rear screw holes and the front floor bracket. Distance to rear shifter holes is 28.5". Use sheet metal screws to mount shifter to floor. Distance to center of front bracket is 42" as measured from rear as stated above. Also, notice shifter handle is black for this car which is a 72 GS455. 1970 versions are woodgrain. 1968-9 are black. You can use the upper handle section (chrome part) from a 73-77 Regal/Century if needed.

Right arrow indicates the hole for shifter cable to pass through to transmission. Hole is pre-located on floor pan with a 1/8" diameter dimple. Use a door hole saw available from Home Depot to drill the hole, approx 1.5" diameter. Use low drill motor speed and some lubricating oil to keep the saw blade cool as you drill through the metal pan.

Left arrows indicate factory floor brackets for manual bucket seats. These are available as repros. These MUST be welded for proper anchorage. Do NOT use sheet metal screws to attach these to the floor pans.

Here is the driver's side floor pan, large hole to the left is for the seat belt retractor. This is a bench seat car converted to buckets, 1970 model. This car has one rear hole, some models have two rear mounting holes. The bucket seat rear pedestal has two mounting holes...use the outside one to line up with this hole.

Same hole viewed from the bottom....the inside hole (closest to the driveshaft tunnel) is the one to use for the bucket seat pedestal.

Here is a diagram showing stud locations for manual bucket seats. If you have a power driver's seat. The rear studs will be closer to the firewall by approximately 3".

 

Total time to install all items including welding should take approx. 2 hours which also includes changing steering columns and ignition key cylinders.