Seating Suggestions

[bondobilly]

I am thinking about changing the front bench seat in my Hawk over to buckets. This is in the thinking stage and not set in stone. The reason behind this is that I have stinosis of the lower spine and some leg issues.

The criteria for these bucket seats are the seating surface must be long enough to support as much as my legs as possible to get near the knee joint, and high enough to allow my legs to remain in a full seating position, where the legs are staright down.

I am open for suggestions as to who's bucket seats would fit the criteria. I also want the ability to re-install the original bench seats when and if the car goes up for sale after my passing 45 years from now. Also needed is suggestions on installing a smaller steering wheel that can be changed over without any hassle.

All input is welcome.

[Warren Webb]

As far as the steering wheel goes, a Grant conversion should work for you. They make an adapter plate for Studes & offer a wide variety of styles to fit your taste. I would try a Stude bucket seat first, perhaps one from a 61 Hawk since they are larger as far as width goes, not sure about the length. Have you spoken to a local upholstry shop about this yet? Perhaps J.P. can suggest something.

60 Lark convertible
61 Champ
62 Daytona convertible
63 G.T. R-2,4 speed
63 Avanti (2)
66 Daytona Sport Sedan

[BobPalma]

I dunno about your seat specifications, Bill, but I appreciate your enthusiasm for your life expectancy! BP

[mbstude]

Pic stolen from Ray F.'s site..

Billie, find someone with a '61 Hawk and check out the seats. They might work for ya.



FWIW, they're '61 Hawk ONLY. (Sound kinda familiar?)

And you might try a '57-60 Stude steering wheel... I'm pretty sure they're a bit smaller than the '56J wheel.





Matthew Burnette
Hazlehurst, GA

[60Lark]

Bill - I put 1964-65 Corvair bucket seats in my 56 Power Hawk. I also wanted to install a Grant steering wheel but could not find the correct adapter. They have 2 adapters listed for Studebaker but niether would fit the steering shaft on my 56 Hawk



Studebaker Fever
60 Lark
56 Power Hawk
Phil Hendrickson
Arnold, Missouri

[sbca96]

Sounds like you want something more modern, probably from a late 80's
to present car. The 4th Gen Camaro seats are some of the best simple
seats I have sat in. I have logged over 200,000 miles in my '93 Z28
and have never suffered from exhaustion due to the seats. These are
quite plentiful and not to hard to install. Power seats were fairly
common as well. Good recline ability, with the Firebird offering some
more adjustability for lumbar, leg extention and headrest.

Bad backs run in my family, and I have lived with nerve issues. I did
a thread on installing them into my Avanti, though for a Hawk you can
use the factory sliders, and power seat mechanism.

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5715

Tom

'63 Avanti, zinc plated drilled & slotted 03 Mustang Cobra 13" front disc/98 GT rear brakes, 03 Cobra 17" wheels, GM alt, 97 Z28 leather seats, soon: TKO 5-spd, Ported heads w/SST full flow valves, 'R3' 276 cam, Edelbrock AFB Carb, GM HEI distributor, 8.8mm plug wires

[sbca96]

Also, I must mention that the fabric seats are more comfortable than
the leather ones, even though the leather look better. The fabric is
also better at keeping you from sliding, that has a disadvantage when
you are getting into the car, but an advantage when turning a corner.

Tom

[bondobilly]

The above pictures have given me ideas. Thanks. From what Tony Caralla told me, the 57 wheel will not mount/fit onto the 56 colum.

You guys gave me some great ideas. Now to execute on them.

Thanks