Hello all, made an account just to bump this for anyone still interested, and to document how me and my dad have been installing these seats into my 96. I got a set of 5th gen SS seats from a buddy of mine and indeed, you HAVE to be up on your fab skills, however it is possible.

So far, we cut the hooks off the bottom to flatten out the seat frame, and aligned the front mounting holes with the two front mounting bolts from the factory, and made some custom brackets to install them onto out of 1/8th inch steel. Still working on the back two mounts, but will update soon with pictures.

As for powering the seats and the heated seat function, we simply just ran two leads to the positive and negative pins on the seat plug (I’ll find the diagram for that and post it here) and we’ll make a separate circuit for the heat, and put some switches in the center console plastic.

That’s all for now, will send some pictures of the mock-ups shortly.

 

Trying to find the right height for this bracket and weld it.

Grinding it down

View of the left rear mounting bolt.

Had to take the back seats out, not like they were doing much anyways. Now I have room for some subs.

Front mounting situation (not finalized)

Mock up of the seat. Noticed that I’d have to figure out how the seatbelts will work, since the 4th gen belt doesn’t latch into the 5th gen receptacle. Any ideas?

 

I would just remove the 5th Gen setup and use the stock 4th Gen one. Doesn't seem to be any reason not to. I like this mod, my 5th gen's seats are way more comfortable than my 4th Gen's.

 

I don't get the aftermarket or 5th gen seat craze. The TA seats are very comfy. Tons of them out there. I sat in a Mustang and the Recaros are horrible. They are way too narrow through the rib cage. I think that's the problem with a lot of performance seats.

 

This would be way easier, but I wanted to have the full functionality of the powered and heated seat.

 

I was referring to just using the 4th Gen seat belt receptacle. Does removing the 5th Gen one screw something up?

 

Upon further research they must have standardized how the belt and buckle are designed sometime in the late 90s or early 00s, and if you buy a new seatbelt kit made for a 4th gen, it’ll come with the newer belt design that’ll work with the 5th gen buckle. I didn’t know whether or not it would come with the old design or the new one when you buy a new kit, so that problems resolved.

Ran out of welding wire so I’ve been at a pause for a couple days but were gonna resume work on it this weekend. Finish up the passenger side and start on the driver side.

 

where are you at on this one.

 

Well, dad had some issues and heart surgery has put us out of the project on this one for some good time now.

However, he is recovering beautifully and we are back in the game! Updates soon!