mgmetalworks
Explorer
So putting these seats in the front is a pain if you're building everything from scratch. I've bled for this modification for sure. A word of caution when you're working on the internals of these seats... be careful about the sharp edges!
The driver side is mounted and basically done. I'm going to pull it out again and have everything powdercoated when I'm done with the other set I'm working on.
Here are a couple of learnings:
1). Installing the seatbelt pre-tensioner is not a big deal at all. You have to remove the factory bolt from the bracket which requires spinning a small keeper off the bolt. Then you have to drill one 1/2" hole in the seat at about the 7 o'clock position relative to the seat belt mounting hole (for the driver side... the passenger side is opposite of that, ~5 o'clock). If you hold up the pre-tensioner bracket to the side of the seat, you can easily mark where the hole needs to be drilled for the tab on the bracket that keeps the pre-tensioner from rotating. When the hole is drilled find yourself a longer bolt that fits the threads in the seat and about a 3/8" thick spacer (or stack of washers). The bolt I used was a 2" long, grade 8, 7/16-20. Yeah... a standard bolt on a pretty much all metric seat, that makes complete sense. I'll take some more pictures when I do the other side. Here is what it looks like assembled.
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2). Once you get the Ford seat belt receiver on, the Toyota seat belt won't latch into it. I'm just going to use the Ford seat belts anyways. Someone might choose to leave the Toyota seat belt in place but I chose to remove it. You have to remove the upholstery on the back of the seat to do this. More opportunities to bleed profusely so be careful if you're going to do this.
3). I designed in a 2 degree lift to the rear of the seat and I'm glad I did. It doesn't feel like you're falling into a deep hole like the back seats. This seat has a much different feel than the stock seat. The sienna is not mushy like the Ford seat and you feel like you're "in" the seat, not "on" the seat. I like it and I'm looking forward to putting some miles on the van with this configuration.
4). No problems with clearance around the module under the driver's seat. Didn't even have to touch it.
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Passenger side with swivel is next... The mock up last night highlighted a couple minor clearance issues but I have a solution already figured out. By the end of all this when I've updated the CAD and every little bug is worked out, I should have a pretty close to bolt-in solution for mounting these seats in the front. You'll still have to risk some bleeding and cussing to do a few mods to the Sienna seat before install though.
The driver side is mounted and basically done. I'm going to pull it out again and have everything powdercoated when I'm done with the other set I'm working on.
Here are a couple of learnings:
1). Installing the seatbelt pre-tensioner is not a big deal at all. You have to remove the factory bolt from the bracket which requires spinning a small keeper off the bolt. Then you have to drill one 1/2" hole in the seat at about the 7 o'clock position relative to the seat belt mounting hole (for the driver side... the passenger side is opposite of that, ~5 o'clock). If you hold up the pre-tensioner bracket to the side of the seat, you can easily mark where the hole needs to be drilled for the tab on the bracket that keeps the pre-tensioner from rotating. When the hole is drilled find yourself a longer bolt that fits the threads in the seat and about a 3/8" thick spacer (or stack of washers). The bolt I used was a 2" long, grade 8, 7/16-20. Yeah... a standard bolt on a pretty much all metric seat, that makes complete sense. I'll take some more pictures when I do the other side. Here is what it looks like assembled.
...
2). Once you get the Ford seat belt receiver on, the Toyota seat belt won't latch into it. I'm just going to use the Ford seat belts anyways. Someone might choose to leave the Toyota seat belt in place but I chose to remove it. You have to remove the upholstery on the back of the seat to do this. More opportunities to bleed profusely so be careful if you're going to do this.
3). I designed in a 2 degree lift to the rear of the seat and I'm glad I did. It doesn't feel like you're falling into a deep hole like the back seats. This seat has a much different feel than the stock seat. The sienna is not mushy like the Ford seat and you feel like you're "in" the seat, not "on" the seat. I like it and I'm looking forward to putting some miles on the van with this configuration.
4). No problems with clearance around the module under the driver's seat. Didn't even have to touch it.
.
.
.
Passenger side with swivel is next... The mock up last night highlighted a couple minor clearance issues but I have a solution already figured out. By the end of all this when I've updated the CAD and every little bug is worked out, I should have a pretty close to bolt-in solution for mounting these seats in the front. You'll still have to risk some bleeding and cussing to do a few mods to the Sienna seat before install though.
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