Plans for Home-Made Back Seat

[calvinhunt]

As I promised on the earlier Back Seat thread, here is a sketch of an easy-to-build, light weight, very serviceable Jeep back seat. �I have tried to contact the owner of a 1963 CJ-5A that still has a rear seat I made for it more than 40 years ago in order to get measurements and pics. �I have been unable to do so. �I still remember the dimensions so I have made the sketches below (but a picture is worth a thousand words-still try to add later).

I made several of these in my younger days. �The first was for myself. �I did not come up with the design. �I saw one when I was visiting a friend out of town. �I'm not sure he was the designer either. �You can alter the design to suit your particular needs. Please ask questions for clarification.
�

You can see that the plan shows a different hand rail on either side of the seat. �The one on the left is a good handrail or somewhat of a safety rail for children. �The one on the right allows for easier access over the side (and simpler to make). �I have drawn in phantom lines showing the backrest of the seat. �It is made of plywood. �It must be notched on each end to accept the radius of the frame. �It is screwed or bolted to the frame three places across the horizontal member and one place on each vertical member. �The bottom cushion is made from plywood cut to fit the bottom frame. �I used 1 1/2 inch foam rubber on the back rest and 3 inch foam on the bottom. �High density foam is best (and more expensive). For cosmetics I rounded the top corners of the backrest and front corners of the bottom with a 2-inch radius. �I covered the foam with Naugahyde (vinyl) and stapled it to the back or bottom of the plywood. �I had an upholstery sewing machine, but most modern housewife sewing machines do a fairly good job on most vinyls. �Use the heaviest thread possible and a large stitch. �

Here is another sketch itemized with materials callout.

#1 Seat End, make 2 each from 16 or 17 gauge mild sheet steel. Bend 90 deg to dimensions shown
 ï¿½ � (Item will bend to a sharper angle and fit better if heated. Most steel suppliers will cut and bend to order.)
#2 Long Seat Bottom Frame, make 2 each from 1/8 in X 1 in 1 in steel angle.
 ï¿½ � (Length to fit inside your Jeep bed 3' +0/-?*. �Front seat bottom frame is located 2 inches higher on Seat Ends
 ï¿½ � than the Rear seat bottom frame in order to give pitch to the seat.)
#3 Short Back Support, make 2 each from 1/2 inch electrical conduit (EMT).
 ï¿½ � (Bend conduit with a standard conduit bender--rent or borrow.
 ï¿½ � Flatten the forward end of conduit for easier welding to seat bottom frame.
 ï¿½ � Determine length of lower leg by centering bend on rear long seat bottom frame.)
#4 Short Seat Bottom Frame, make 2 each from 1/8 in X 1 in X 1 in steel angle.
#5 Long Back Support, make 1 each from 1/2 inch electrical conduit (EMT)
#6 Seat Back, make 1 each from 5/8 inch plywood. �Make seat bottom from plywood to fit seat bottom frame.

NOTE: Take necessary precautions to not inhale toxic fumes generated when welding electrical conduit.


*Seat can be made to fit snugly inside of fender wells. �However, you may want to leave enough space to add padding to protect the painted fender wells. �Some have used padding, such as carpet, to make a snug enough fit to keep the seat in place without fasteners. �Others have simply drilled a couple holes on each end of the seat and bolted it to the fender wells.

[athawk11]

Hey Calvin,

Thanks! �Those are pretty neat plans. �I didn't expect all the detail. �For me, this is pretty far down the priority list, as the Willys is in lots of pieces. When I do get to it, I will take a photo and post it.

In the mean time, Here is a photo of my almost complete engine restoration. �Maybe it will give you the itch to tear into another one.

[calvinhunt]

athawk11,
  Thanks for the photo.  The itch to do another project is always there, and yes, the photo makes the itch even greater.  Good looking engine.  Please keep the pics of your progress coming.

[CRT]

Thanks for sharing your  plans on the back seat.  I have been contemplating building one.   Do the sides, just lay on top of inside of the fender wells in the back of the jeep?  From the photo, it appears it does.

Thanks,

Cliff

1949 CJ3A

[calvinhunt]

CRT,
  Yes, you are right about how it sits on the fender wells.

  If you have any other questions I would be pleased to answer them.  It really does make a nice little back seat.  

[CRT]

Thanks for your reply.  Looks like a fun little project coming up for my jeep.  

[iflylow74]

Thanks for the plans calvin!!!