I'm test fitting the Strato Bench in my GP. It's fitting ok but I am wondering if the angle looks correct. Anyone here have one to check and tell me?
Yes, I know this is a 67 seat but other than the seat back locks I'm pretty sure the seats are identical.
The 4 speed option either must not have been available or buyers had to be 6' tall to order a Muncie, because the shifter hits in 2nd and 4th if the seat is anywhere but the back 2 latches on the track. That's fine for me but the shorter guys would have to bend the stick very slightly to make it clear the cushion.
Just with my little eyes but the seat does look tilted back more than I would have expected. It wouldn't take much of a lift at the back to create a slight drop in the front as the front of the seat is probably 4 or so inches ahead of the tracks. Don't know how much room you are needing but might be worth a try.
I went back and sat down in it again before I removed it and I think maybe it's good after all. I know I have the right brackets, tracks etc, and I know the mounting location is right so I'm thinking it might just be that it's sagged out. I think I'm gonna go ahead and send it away to my neighbour to get it redone. I'm sure it will be fine.
I might have to put a tiny tweak in that handle just to keep the shifter knob away from the seat.
By the way, the whole seat/shifter feel when sitting in the seat is totally natural. It's wonderful. I've never driven a bench seat 4 speed B body but it sure seems like it will be fun!
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Hey Carl I have one in that 67 Grande parts car. Do you want me to take a picture of how it sits? It looks ok to me as it is just kind of flatter than it should be due to 45 years of big butts probably.
Carl, the seat u are using is identical to my front seat in my 67 Toronado. GM sure reused alot of STUFF on different models. My Toro backup lenses are the same as a 67 Corvette. I had my 4sp shifter arm re-bent. It was done cold by a stainless steel company in Barrie. It is very comfortable now. Brian
Hey Carl I have one in that 67 Grande parts car. Do you want me to take a picture of how it sits? It looks ok to me as it is just kind of flatter than it should be due to 45 years of big butts probably.
Sure, if you can Ken, that would be great. Yes, I suspect it's just plain tired after being at on for 45 years. I know I would be.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Carl, the seat u are using is identical to my front seat in my 67 Toronado. GM sure reused alot of STUFF on different models. My Toro backup lenses are the same as a 67 Corvette. I had my 4sp shifter arm re-bent. It was done cold by a stainless steel company in Barrie. It is very comfortable now. Brian
I have 2 or 3 handles to pick from. One has been heated and bent. I may check it to see if the fit is better.
As you can see in the picture, it will take very little to move it off the seat cushion.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Looking at your pics and other posts, it looks like the shifter might not be the right application and thats why it lays on the seat. The one I picked up for my Beaumont has a forward swoop to it, and since the B body shifter mount came with it, it may have had a home in an B body early on. Check out the shape.....
Carl Stevenson wrote:
Magician40 wrote:
Carl, the seat u are using is identical to my front seat in my 67 Toronado. GM sure reused alot of STUFF on different models. My Toro backup lenses are the same as a 67 Corvette. I had my 4sp shifter arm re-bent. It was done cold by a stainless steel company in Barrie. It is very comfortable now. Brian
I have 2 or 3 handles to pick from. One has been heated and bent. I may check it to see if the fit is better.
As you can see in the picture, it will take very little to move it off the seat cushion.
That's similar to the one I have that has been heated. I suspect it will work but I think it may even be too far forward. This one now could actually be bent up/forward a touch and still be fine.
I may have to do a "custom" handle to make it perfect!
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Thanks Elroy. Coming from a guy who is building a spectacular Chevelle, I'm happy you and appreciate a low-end driver quality build! This car will NEVER be anywhere close to a nice car as long as I own it. I want to have fun with it. I'm pretty much done with cars that I do nothing with except wash and cover it!
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
i do appreciate low buck builds as thats what I have done all my life ! Never had a shop until the last few years either. This car is fun but kinda drives me crazy at times too as nothing is ever good enough... sometimes wish I had taken a low buck approach too !
From the top of the trans hump to top of the bench seat cushion in my biscayne is about 5 3/4". What do you have from the top of the hump to the strato cushion??
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1967 2dr Biscayne. L36, M40, G80, K05, F41. #'s. 1967 Impala convert. 283, glide. Parked in the garage since 74 and hasn't moved. Soon to be BB 4speed.
I have found the strato benches sit higher than a regular bench and strato buckets due to the special mounts required. They are a couple inches skinnier too as they fit in A bodys too.
I doubt that car has ever been under water though. Just the fact that it's been rained on for a year now. Before I bought that back window, that car was closed up.
-- Edited by Carl Stevenson on Monday 10th of December 2012 12:09:21 AM
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
I just found the rear seat that I need in a car on ebay! 66 Grand Prix has a fold down rear armrest! I'm likely going to have to get my back seat recovered to match the Strato, so.....
I know of one in a car in a yard, but it's over 3 hours away! Plus, I bought the rear window out of that car in January. Not sure how good that seat will be any more after sitting out in the elements for a year.
Neat never seen that. Not to many good seats in that auto wrecker I bet??
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1967 2dr Biscayne. L36, M40, G80, K05, F41. #'s. 1967 Impala convert. 283, glide. Parked in the garage since 74 and hasn't moved. Soon to be BB 4speed.
I don't that car has ever been under water though. Just the fact that it's been rained on for a year now. Before I bought that back window, that car was closed up.