Seat Back Wood Slats

[rboltz]

The truck is now apart and waiting for warmer weather so I can blast, prime and paint with a reliable 60 degrees and above. While I wait, I dug out the metal seat parts that came with the truck. Figure I'll get the wood cut awhile. I know what the pieces are, as shown in the picture, but since I don't have another truck to look at, a question comes up. Why three holes for two slats? How do they mount with the three bolts? Also, what is the width of the slats and the relationship of the top slat to the top of the bracket? Dimension between slats? When I drove these in the Army I never paid attention to things like that as the truck was a means to carry my GRC-46 and nothing else!

 

[WarrenD]

I'll see if I can get some pics when I get home. I have my troop seats out of the truck in the basement. The wood is still attached so should be what you are looking for.

 

[WarrenD]

Here are a couple of pics:

 

[rboltz]

Thanks! Looks like 3" wide boards and I'll assume 1/2" thick or so. 1 bolt top board and 2 on the bottom.

 

[WarrenD]

You'd assume wrong. My boards are 3/4" thick. At the rear bracket they go across the opening and end flush with the rear-most part of the bracket, ie, if you ran the boards long and cut them using the outside of the metal as a guide. The front end brackets are different, the wood goes just past the bolt area and ends flush with the lip inside leaving the entire open channel area exposed. The boards also have a nice radius along the longitudinal edges.

 

[rboltz]

You'd assume wrong. My boards are 3/4" thick. At the rear bracket they go across the opening and end flush with the rear-most part of the bracket, ie, if you ran the boards long and cut them using the outside of the metal as a guide. The front end brackets are different, the wood goes just past the bolt area and ends flush with the lip inside leaving the entire open channel area exposed. The boards also have a nice radius along the longitudinal edges.

I based the 1/2" on small remnants that were attached to the seat bottom brackets but of course, they were rotted so no telling what they were. No problem routing the edges in a nice curve and I did notice that. Thanks again and I'll gather some wood for the project.

 

[majorhitt]

When doing the bed and cargo area of my truck I dug this up, Dimensions for the seats and side boards are; Upper board 2 each side 2.75"X77" Headache rack, 2.75" X ?" cut to fit. Seat driver's side 3.5X77" Passenger's side If you have the spare mounted in the bed 3.5"X 61.5" If you don't have the spare in the cargo area use the same as the driver's side. Jump seat 3.5"X ? cut to fit. Don't forget if you have the jump seat when it drops on the shorter section seat bottom you have to cut a grove to let the metal from the jump seat to be level so you don't have a metal pants catcher that will do in a good pair of pants.

 

[majorhitt]

I should have mentioned that the boards are 3/4" as mentioned by WarrenD

 

[Bill W]

Huh
I had mine milled to 7/8" thick, being the old boards were over 3/4", maybe my old ones were swollen??

 

[rboltz]

Another question answered!

Seat driver's side 3.5X77" Passenger's side If you have the spare mounted in the bed 3.5"X 61.5"

Before I saw this post, I dug the seats out of my storage building early today, to see what all I had. When the truck arrived, all this stuff was thrown in the bed and I just put it all away without looking at it. Today, I noticed one seat was shorter and took pictures to ask why but your post explains it. Thanks!!

My spare is on the drivers door (why did they not put them on the passenger door is beyone me as it's a PITA), so I'll make the seats the same length. I also have the seat back for the bed front, rotted, and a small seat I suppose is the "jump seat" also rotted. The steel is in good shape however.

 

[rboltz]

Jump seat 3.5"X ? cut to fit. Don't forget if you have the jump seat when it drops on the shorter section seat bottom you have to cut a grove to let the metal from the jump seat to be level so you don't have a metal pants catcher that will do in a good pair of pants.

Just got back to this. Where does the jump seat mount? Don't see any holes that match.

 

[majorhitt]

I found two photos of the jump seat. This is not my truck, Just reference photos I have. hope this helps.

 

[rboltz]

I found two photos of the jump seat. This is not my truck, Just reference photos I have. hope this helps.View attachment 433531View attachment 433532

Best I can tell from the pictures, it mounts on the curb side on an angle?

 

[majorhitt]

That's correct. remember the seat are at an angle. That makes the jump seat at the same angle. Later i'll take measurements and post them.

 

[majorhitt]

I went out and took some measurements. The back of the box you have the square box piece on the top, I took the measurements from the square box not the flange below it. From the side There is a 1/4" thick bracket coming from the square box tube down about 6". I took the measurements from that, not the cargo box side. Measurements are to the center of the bolt hole. Right side bracket, top hole 1 7/8" down and 5 3/8" over, bottom hole that bracket,3 7/8" down and 5 3/4" over. Left bracket, top hole 1" down and 14 1/8" over, bottom hole that bracket,3" down and 14 1/8" over. I also looked due to lack of memory what was on the back side of the panel the brackets were mounted, there are welded nuts there. This was taken from my 1951 M37. It has the jump seat and the spare tire bracket in the cargo box. I also have a 1954 M37CDN. That didn't have the jump seat or the holes, but did have a shorter seat. There was no evidence that the jump seat was ever in this truck. It also has the holes for the spare tire bracket, but that also was not there when I got the truck. That was more than likely removed by one of the previous owners.I hope this info helps.