My Willys 3A and 3B Community
TECH FAQ SECTIONS => BODY and trim => Topic started by: chucktaylor90 on September 11, 2022, 09:40:15 AM
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I have a 60 3b and I need seats. Can anyone tell me what seats will fit in this thing? The drivers side attaches to the bottom of the door frame, unlike a 3a and early 3b, and the passenger seat hinges are pulled further in and don’t rest in the edge of the toolbox like others. I have heard maybe some cj5 or m38a1 seats might fit, but haven’t heard anything definitively. Also none of the reproduction suppliers I can find sell a “late” 3b seat option. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. I included some pics of what I’m talking about as well as a new m38a1 seat that might work.
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I have a 60 3b and I need seats. Can anyone tell me what seats will fit in this thing? The drivers side attaches to the bottom of the door frame, unlike a 3a and early 3b, and the passenger seat hinges are pulled further in and don’t rest in the edge of the toolbox like others. I have heard maybe some cj5 or m38a1 seats might fit, but haven’t heard anything definitively. Also none of the reproduction suppliers I can find sell a “late†3b seat option. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. I included some pics of what I’m talking about as well as a new m38a1 seat that might work.
Chuck,
Looks like you're dipping your toes into an issue that needs more answers. I've mentioned before that vendors are pushing this idea that, "One Size Fits All," mentality when there are actually differences in the parts. Here, the early and later seat frames just aren't the same.
From your post, where you shared images from the CJ3B Page, https://cj3b.info/Seat.html, you'll notice on some of the additional images that all the attachment points for the driver seat has multiple hole choices. My assumption is this allows for small adjustments on where the seat can be positioned. Certainly not as easy (or as wide a range) as modern adjustable seats, but it gives the owner a choice on position.
I found a few threads on the old forum. Unfortunately, some of the images are gone but most importantly, the authors, if they're still around, may still be able to help.
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/cj3b_bulletin_board/viewtopic.php?p=30322#p30322
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/cj3b_bulletin_board/viewtopic.php?p=19458#p19458
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/cj3b_bulletin_board/viewtopic.php?p=8323#p8323
(this last link has as a final post, from topfueler1, that at one time he had these seats available for sale)
I also found a vendor offering early CJ-5 seats (I'd also wonder if they're the same - if so, it would be one way the company could save costs by using the same seats on 2 different models).
https://somarmotor.com/cj3b-willys-front-seat-passanger-and-driver-side-pair/
Also, another possibility:
http://www.debellajeepparts.com/m38spec.htm
(Here's where getting some measurements would help) - I'm assuming your tube has the correct hole placement for how the legs are positioned.
I see that you've found an Omix ADA frame. This is another option but I'd also want to confirm the measurements on the legs first (I found a couple of offers on ebay of that frame, but they would also be available through multiple vendors.
Not sure where you're located, but if there's a vendor withing driving distance, a road trip may pay off.
Don't forget to check with Harry Sheets: http://www.midwestwillys.com/
No matter what you start with, having a solid frame to start with will make it easier for any alterations you wind up making.
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Rus,
Thank you so much for your lengthy reply. You’ve given me a lot of resources to continue my research. It is fascinating that you often hear about this one size fits all approach to early CJ‘s. I’m finding more and more that to not be the case. And really it seems like 3b’s are the most difficult to find for other than maybe some of the military versions. I will look into some of the resources you provided. And in the end I may not be able to settle for exactly the way that it should be, and may have to use another seat and make it work.
Do you have any experience or know anyone who has had experience with that website you referred? somarmotor.com? I’m just not familiar with them, and I have been burned trying to buy parts from online vendors that I haven’t heard of before.
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Rus,
Thank you so much for your lengthy reply. You’ve given me a lot of resources to continue my research. It is fascinating that you often hear about this one size fits all approach to early CJ‘s. I’m finding more and more that to not be the case. And really it seems like 3b’s are the most difficult to find for other than maybe some of the military versions. I will look into some of the resources you provided. And in the end I may not be able to settle for exactly the way that it should be, and may have to use another seat and make it work.
Do you have any experience or know anyone who has had experience with that website you referred? somarmotor.com? I’m just not familiar with them, and I have been burned trying to buy parts from online vendors that I haven’t heard of before.
I'm copy/pasting everything 'cause I don't see your posts (log out, read, log back in reply. Repeat) so in case others want to follow, they can hopefully either see your posts and/or mine.
I think we've all been there with shady internet sellers. I had to do a google on them as that name isn't ringing any bells. While they have some web presence, here's another ask from fellow jeeper's:
https://www.oldwillysforum.com/forum/index.php?threads/has-anyone-used-the-house-of-jeep-or-somarmotor-com.19367/
I did the same thing and got on their website and I saw the same grammer/spelling things. Maybe this is an overseas business.
**ADDED**
I posted this and then found some more info, so I'm just adding vs. another post. This time, I concentrated on early CJ5.
It may seem that you're not the only one searching for seats.
http://www.earlycj5.com/xf_cj5/index.php?threads/152714/
https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/early-cj5-seats.1191003/
http://www.earlycj5.com/xf_cj5/index.php?threads/108028/
This ebay list is interesting because it didn't sell.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/374220411806
Another source to scan:
http://www.ewillys.com/?s=seats
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Thanks again for a great response. I will keep looking and I’ll let you know what I find. I wish that those posts still had pictures. They would probably be very helpful.
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walcks 4wd had a driver side seat frame, no springs :( for a late 3b...... i'm looking for a early cj 5 seat for the springs my driver seats is springs are shot :'(
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Sorry I have totally slacked off on my replies here.
I try to use correct Willys terms and various Jeep seat descriptions can become a can of worms.
The early 1945 to 1960-1/2 seat frames were called “1/3 type seats”.
The “3B” seats after 1960-1/2 we’re called “bucket type seats”.
The bucket type seats were also standard for all 1955 CJ-5/6 up untill the late 1960’s.
After that “Bostrum” type seats were installed.
So yes any cj-5/6 seat prior to the Bostrum type will fit your post 1960 cj-3b.
The “1/3” type seats all have solid metal back panels.
The “Bucket” type seats do not have metal backpans.
The “Bostrum” type drivers seat are on a sliding track and the lower frames are separate from the upper seat.
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Thanks Rus, for quoting Chuck's posts. It's pretty frustrating not being able to see certain posts, and you would think the admin team would be able to figure out this problem. The fact that posts from the same person consistently don't show up should be a pretty good clue.
I followed the process of logging out of the forum and logging back in as a guest, in order to see oldtime's post. Then logged back in to post this reply.
Oldtime's summary of the seat progression is great. The dates may not be quite exact -- for example, my '59 3B has the late-style "bucket" seats. The fact that the early 3B seats are the same as the 3A, and the later seats are the same as the CJ-5, is also found on my "Take a Seat" page at https://cj3b.info/Seat.html where Chuck got those photos of my green 3B. That fact should be a good starting point for somebody looking for seats. But one thing I should emphasize on that page is clarification that the illustration from the 1965 Service Manual incorrectly shows the early seats.
Your post with links to vendors and other forum postings is wonderful, and shows the value of a forum like this 3A and 3B Community. It's the kind of information that can't really be carved in stone on a website. Many of the external links I did include on my website in the past are now dead, so I have to spend time finding and deleting them. For example I just noticed that the link on the Seats page to some instructions for putting Wrangler seats in a 3B is now dead. (Maybe that's for the best!)
Good luck in your seat search, Chuck.
Derek
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Many forums have a "ignore member" feature that allows one member to not see posts made by another member. I looked around the help documents and found reference to such a feature, but I didn't see it any of the menus. Maybe it's a hidden feature that was accidentally activated.
Eric
Snowflake, AZ
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walcks 4wd had a driver side seat frame, no springs :( for a late 3b...... i'm looking for a early cj 5 seat for the springs my driver seats is springs are shot :'(
did you find a seat yet?