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Old 02-19-2023, 08:24 AM   #1
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Sprinter or Transit FRONT seats in Ford E-series

Has anyone done this? I can't think of anyone but I'd love to pick your brain if you're out there.

I have two new swivel bases to mount them on (E-series) and am not afraid of tackling the seat belt mods and other fab to mount the seats but I'm wondering about the fit in general of these seats in an E-series, how they sit, how they fit widthwise, whether they jive with the factory armrests in the doors. I'll be looking for a set of seats with the inner armrests but those are easy to find.

Just to be clear, talking about front seats. I know tons of people have added Transit rears to home built vans. I just want to do the fronts, if it's possible.


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Old 02-19-2023, 10:38 AM   #2
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Bet on Black did Sprinter seats in his. Starts at post #45 here.
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Old 02-19-2023, 11:56 AM   #3
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Bet on Black did Sprinter seats in his. Starts at post #45 here.
Thanks man! I knew I had seen it somewhere. And as if I needed a reminder of getting old and losing my shit, I was the last person to comment on his thread asking him about the seat conversion 3 years ago!
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Old 02-20-2023, 10:24 AM   #4
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After owning two travel trailers that I pulled with a pickup, I think a van is the ideal tow vehicle. I'm surprised that more don't do it. The tow capacity for most vans limits it to smaller trailers but there are a lot of good options in smaller trailers.
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Old 02-21-2023, 07:57 PM   #5
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Thanks man! I knew I had seen it somewhere. And as if I needed a reminder of getting old and losing my shit, I was the last person to comment on his thread asking him about the seat conversion 3 years ago!
LOL I totally get it. I've been there myself trying to remember where I had seen someone who did Transit seats. It took me a week to pull it from the memory banks. I'm pretty sure it was Naterry over on ExPo. He mentions it at the bottom of post #304. Unfortunately all his pics are down. But maybe you can DM him.
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Old 02-22-2023, 08:37 PM   #6
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Oh yeah, I remember him. He did all sorts of crazy mods. Haven't seen him on a forum in a long time though.

I think I'm sold on Sprinter seats. Much more adjustability in the manual seats than the Transit ones and they are also better colors/patterns IMO.

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Old 02-22-2023, 10:04 PM   #7
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I think I'm sold on Sprinter seats. Much more adjustability in the manual seats than the Transit ones and they are also better colors/patterns IMO.
That's good info, thanks.
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Old 02-23-2023, 03:40 PM   #8
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I'm sure this is of zero help, but I have a pair of new take-off Transit front seats in the basement that I've been meaning to mount to my swivels for the past year. Rough measurements, the E-series seats seemed narrower in a few places so I don't know how well this is going to work. I'd be happy to take pictures/measurements if you'd like any.
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Old 02-24-2023, 10:37 AM   #9
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Thanks Kibo. I think I know what I need to know for now since I'm focusing on Sprinter seats. Also, location is going to be paramount. Shipping seats these days would be in$ane so I'm searching for the best fit closest to me. There are a lot more Transit seats available in yards near me than Sprinters but almost all salvage yard seats are either filthy or the side airbags are blown. New take-outs are the way to go if you can find em!

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Old 02-24-2023, 11:05 AM   #10
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I'll admit, the main selling point for me on these Transit seats was the price. My kids treat the interior like a climbing gym, so I couldn't justify splurging on something like Scheel-Manns. The OEM seats are falling apart, and it was cheaper to buy the Transit seats than used/abused E-series seats! To your point, the airbags were removed but not blown, so there's a hollow space but the stitches are all intact.

I look forward to seeing your install! This is getting me excited to start on spring upgrades soon. I have to park the van outside, so most projects get put on hold over the winter.
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