Full Size Jeep Network

Hello all,

The front seats in my 1978 Jeep Cherokee are in need of either being replaced or covered/reupholstered. I am, though, focusing on the front as I will most likely remove the back seat so as to maximize the storage room. If it matters, I plan to Rhinoline and then add black carpet in the front.

If I elect to replace the front seats I was curious what more modern (around years 1990-2000) truck or Jeep seats work for a ‘78 FSJ Cherokee? Additionally what alternative seat belts might work? One reason I might go this route is that I am short (5’5”) thus the stock bucket seats force me to lean back a bit too much.

Alternatively, if I do reupholster the front seats I would like to find something that matches the Native American motif I have on the paneling (please see http://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtop ... 74#p157374). Does anyone know of a company that has something that might match?

Thank you, everyone!

My apologies as I came across this thread after I posted:

http://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtop ... 11&t=13266

I am liking the look of the Corbeau Baja RS for my 1978 Jeep Cherokee yet any suggestions, especially on the reupholstering, is greatly appreciated!

late 90's dodge dakota cab and a half seats bolt in. They also tilt forward. The durango seats fit but don't tilt forward, so for a waggie they would be fine but for a cherokee or a Jtruck you want tilt. I have a set in my truck. Took about 10 mins per side to unbolt the old seats, remove the sliders, bolt them to the dakota seats and drop them in.

I thought about doing the corbeau seats in mine until I found this shop. Not sure if he's just cheap or what, but I talked to a guy in Raleigh a few weeks ago about doing a custom interior for my Wagoneer. New custom everything, carpet, door panels, seats, headliner, was going to be about $3000. Vinyl, not leather, but completely replacing everything.

j10jim wrote:late 90's dodge dakota cab and a half seats bolt in. They also tilt forward. The durango seats fit but don't tilt forward, so for a waggie they would be fine but for a cherokee or a Jtruck you want tilt. I have a set in my truck. Took about 10 mins per side to unbolt the old seats, remove the sliders, bolt them to the dakota seats and drop them in.

Nice. I will look into them. Thanks!

81waggy wrote:I thought about doing the corbeau seats in mine until I found this shop. Not sure if he's just cheap or what, but I talked to a guy in Raleigh a few weeks ago about doing a custom interior for my Wagoneer. New custom everything, carpet, door panels, seats, headliner, was going to be about $3000. Vinyl, not leather, but completely replacing everything.

Thanks for the information! I will keep it in mind. Right now, what is really pushing the Corbeau seats is that with my being short I find that the original bucket seats force me to lean back too far which is rather uncomfortable and makes using the side mirrors almost impossible. I think I might prefer better lumbar seating where I have a chance to see a car on my side before I hit it.

I do, though, still have to recarpet and headline my Cherokee thus I might look into that.

If it helps I'm 5'7". The power seats get me plenty close. I think a previous owner was a few hundred pounds more than me though because the seats do have a pretty good bend to them. He said he could straighten them out for me as well.

81waggy wrote:If it helps I'm 5'7". The power seats get me plenty close. I think a previous owner was a few hundred pounds more than me though because the seats do have a pretty good bend to them. He said he could straighten them out for me as well.

Aye, yet at 5'5" I might give the seats a run for their money to get me close enough to see properly!

The corbeaus will get you up higher than the stock low backs. I am about 6' roughly and I have an a couple inches of headroom with the new seats. But a perfect driving position, IMO. Much better than the stock seats.

1979bettywhite wrote:The corbeaus will get you up higher than the stock low backs. I am about 6' roughly and I have an a couple inches of headroom with the new seats. But a perfect driving position, IMO. Much better than the stock seats.

Thanks! That is very good to know and quite encouraging on the Corbeau seats! I have been thinking of the Baja RS over the Moabs as I thought that the Baja RS looked a bit more comfortable (please see https://corbeau.com/susp-reclining/baja-rs.html versus https://corbeau.com/sport-reclining/moab.html), yet I am a little concerned that the Baja might not give as good back support as the Moabs. It would be lovely if I could physically see and try them first, but such is life.

Thanks again!

j10jim wrote:late 90's dodge dakota cab and a half seats bolt in. They also tilt forward. The durango seats fit but don't tilt forward, so for a waggie they would be fine but for a cherokee or a Jtruck you want tilt. I have a set in my truck. Took about 10 mins per side to unbolt the old seats, remove the sliders, bolt them to the dakota seats and drop them in.

The 90's durango is what you're talking about right? I am redoing the interior of mine in the spring and can start getting the maroon out!

Yes, Durango, or Dakota. Dakota ones will tilt forward, Durango will not.

I know that I looked at quite a few pick and pull places for seats when I was redoing my interior. I looked at many Dakotas, Durangos, Ford SportTracs, Explorer Sports, Escorts etc. What I found is that most of those interiors were pretty worn out/gross. They would have taken recovering as well as possibly re-foaming etc. to make them decent. By the time you did all that work, you were at the cost of a brand new seat probably. Plus in my situation I needed tan/beige and almost everything I came across were the dark grey interiors. You may have better luck than I did, but I finally gave up and went new. Glad I did now.

Just my 2c.