Flight bench

[idc1233333]

anyone ever try a front bench seat in a mtx sho? my dad had one in his wagon (which was the first taurus I loved) and I really want to make this sho similar to the taurus my father had. Think its possible? :thankyou:

 

[firebat45]

It's going to mess up shifting a whole bunch. ATX sho could be swapped to column shift but MTX I don't know what you could do about the gear lever.

 

[sperold]

You will have to tell us how this one goes.
If I remember correctly, the front seat adjusts seperately between the driver and passenger side and I think a fold down arm rest goes with the drivers side. You will have to look for a wagon as I think in the end, they were the only ones with a column shift and 6 passenger seating.
Who knows, with the passenger side all the way back, there may be enough room for a modified shifter.

 

[idc1233333]

The seat is split right down the middle. I was thinking, if i could modify the shifter it may work. And yea i found a wagon thinking it had bucket seats but when i saw the bench i started dreaming

 

[sperold]

Yep, wagons have the 6 passenger seating, and some of the truly base sedans (with hub caps) have it as well, but they didn't sell many of the sedans.
Some of the later wagons had sunroofs and leather seating, but again not too many.
If you had to notch the seat section, I don't know which material would be easier to stitch back up..... maybe the cloth would be easier. I think modifying the seat, in the long run, would be better than goofing around with your shifter... even if it is a cable shifter.

 

[idc1233333]

Thats a good idea, my friend has a bench seat in his s10 and its notched in and id like to do that. Do you know if the bolt pattern is the same? Thanks for your help sperold

 

[sperold]

As far as I know, the bolt pattern for the seats is standard on the Gen 1 floor pans. Of course you have more holes than you need when you switch from buckets to bench.
Don't discard your buckets and the console, you may miss them.
I had an 86 wagon and after a lifetime of use, the seats were in fabulous condition.... unlike the rest of the car. So you won't have any trouble finding really nice seats.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

I cannot even imagine taking a corner in my SHO....

sitting on a BENCH seat :laugh_ti:

 

[SHOmethewayhome]

my wife's 94 SLO sedan has a cloth 50/50 bench up front (the 'in' side of the seat backs folds down for arm rests.

i think if you are a tall guy like I am and dont need to adjust your seat forward you could get away with it.

if I am not mistaken there is a pic somewhere on here of a guy who removed his center console and just had the shifter sticking out of the tunnel with a rubber boot around it.

I have a bench seat in my truck right now and i hate it. the stroke down for reverse damn near puts the shifter into the seat and i have it adjusted all the way back.

as soon as the funds become available and i dont drive the truck as much i'm swapping the seats out for some out of an explorer sport and getting a center console out of a 04 and newer F150.

it is my personal opinion that a bench seat should never have been put in with a floor shifter. its not like anyone but a small child (or Zooyost ZING!) could ever ride in the middle of the front bench without getting in the way of shifting in a standard transmission vehicle (whether it be taurus or truck.)

 

[idc1233333]

personally i love the bench seats but i know everyone has there preference. I searched that guy who removed his center console but the picture was no longer available. The thought of NotSoSlowSHO's comment made it seem even more fun to me. Im going to buy the set tomorrow

 

[93rev2sev]

I had a bench in my 67 Fairlane. After the wilwood brakes and all new suspension, including nice sticky wide tires and doubling up on stabilizer bars, I'd end up in the passneger seat on all spirited left hand turns.

 

[tardboy21]

My first car had a bench seat. I think it is more nostalgic than anything, but I got a nack for them as well. With regards to being able to fit a passenger in the middle with a stick, if she sits close enough to you, I think you can get away with skipping second gear.

 

[HotRodKid]

you may have to have the bench seat modded by an upholstery shop, notch out both seats to make space for the shifter. since your removing material it wouldnt be much of a problem for them, no need to match fabric or anything

But i can imaging a sho w/ a bench, my god. As it is i have to hold onto the passenger door w/ my left and and pull my seatbelt tight w/ my right to keep from being tossed into Alex lap when hes driving ...

 

[idc1233333]

hahahahahhahaah i can just imagine having my girlfriend sit in the middle while im power shifting. And i think i could modify the notch myself, and i cant wait to try a left hand turn with the bench and no seat belt

 

[frosho]

hahahahahhahaah i can just imagine having my girlfriend sit in the middle while im power shifting. And i think i could modify the notch myself, and i cant wait to try a left hand turn with the bench and no seat belt

Post pictures of the damage.

 

[Vnuk1]

Yup, should be interesting....

 

[HotRodKid]

Leave a note to your family, request they post pictures of the damage.

fixed

 

[idc1233333]

lmao my friend owns an autocross track ill do it there. but ill still write the note just incase