Matrix seat swap in my 98 xtra cab

Been wanting buckets for quite some time now so i decided to hit up the junk yard in search of a cheap set.
After looking for an hour or so i walked out with a set of 2012 toyota matrix seats for $50 cash.

 

I knew it wasnt going to be a bolt in swap but it went pretty easy.
Had to air chisel my old brackets off the stock rails


The brackets are held on by some pretty stout rivets and a small spot weld on each one.
Removal went pretty quick, aside from one that wanted to be a bastard

 

Once the brackets were removed from all four seats I wire wheeled the paint off my stock ones and bolted them in place where i sat the seat into position and tacked them to the brackets

 

Once they were all tacked on i removed the seats and started welding them on. First pic is the one that got slightly fubard by my air hammer from being stubborn.




Im using a 220 hobart welder and even on the lowest setting its still a little too hot for the thin metal on these brackets. I had to crank up the wire speed and move fast to keep from burning through it.

 

I had to remove a bunch of electrical stuff from the new seats as they were air bag equipped. i had to swap over my seatbelt clasps and wire up my seatbelt dash light.

 

After welding all the brackets on the seats fit perfectly.

 

This one even makes a nice rolling tray ; )



I got started about 5pm and was putting tools away by 9:30.
So roughly 4 hours to complete.
The seats are 10x more comfortable than the 60/40 bench and they sit alot higher also.

 

Thanks!!

 

those are sweet!

 

Took it out for a test drive and i must say these are leaps and bounds better than stock.

Daryl seems to like them Now if I can just get the wife to quit putting ugly ass clothes on him

 

How much did they raise you up? Im a tall guy and would like to still fit in my truck haha.

 

Quite a bit, im 5'7" and the top of my head is only 6-8" from the headliner.
They have a lever on the side that allows you to raise and lower them, i think their at the bottom

 

I was wondering how long it would take before I come across a Matrix/Vibe seat swap. Nice to see someone did it.

 

Waiting for Evo 8 seat write up

 

I own a 07 wrx and was thinking about swapping a set of those in since people frequently swap wrx interior for sti stuff. I didnt want to pay $500+ for a set so these fit the bill.
I couldnt imagine how much a set of evo's would run considering they are even more rare around here than wrx's. My guess is they would cost about the same as an set of sti's.

 

we need more seat swaps such as thus! The folding seat option is awesome! So much more room for activities!

 

ok edumacate me here, are the stock seat brackets welded on to the seats? don't they just unbolt? I ask because I keep seeing people say they had to swap bottom rails?

and while im asking silly questions here are there any seats that are just drop in and bolt on because I cant find any Tacoma seats but there are several Toyota camry and carolla in the salvage yards

 

2005 Subaru Forester XT:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1s...djik-mans-laugh-him-build-14.html#post6029229

Since these came out of a four door Forester the passenger seat doesn't not fold forward. Makes it very difficult for my Herculean shoulders to get through to the rear access cab but the seats are so much better than stock buckets.... it's so worth it.

 

Both sets of seats have the mounting points rivited to the rails on them, basically you just remove the mounting points from both seats and swap the tacoma set,to the new seats.
Ive never had luck with swapping the rails due to dfferent widths and such.

 

Look a lot more comfy than the Celica seats I swapped into mine. They look huge in that tiny cab.