New Viper Seats

[DurangoDudeNJ]

Got my first gander at my re-done 2001 Viper seats and they look amazing!! The color match is perfect in comparison to the factory skins. Will be picking them up next week and I'll post pics. :D

[Evilsizer]

Got my first gander at my re-done 2001 Viper seats and they look amazing!! The color match is perfect in comparison to the factory skins. Will be picking them up next week and I'll post pics. :D
no pics? where did you have the done at? :drool: viper seats, i only whish i had the money to get some.

[TopDawgN8]

$1,300 isn't too bad for Viper seats. I would get them, but they don't go too well with 4-pt. harnesses.

[DurangoDudeNJ]

The seats were done at a place in Linden NJ, Everlast Auto Interiors. They do tremendous work and have been featured in several magazines. I don't have pics yet but will very soon.

I know I know I know........

:needpix:


:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

[SinCity R/T]

How much did the re-cover cost? I've been tempted to have my Viper seats re-done but the one quote I got online was $2000 - OUCH!

[DurangoDudeNJ]

$1400 to do both seats in all leather. No more black carpet on the back and both have map pockets now.

[Wolfman]

Are the Viper seats a direct replacment in Daks or do they need fab work done???

[DurangoDudeNJ]

From what I know, you need to use 1" square steel tubing to build up the height. I'm also going to use the factory adjustment controls so I'll need to do something with that too. Oh well, the project never ends. ;)

[2K R/T]

$1400 just recover them right
Then you had to Find a set

Did you get a Set in Rough condition to keep the Total cost down??

RICK

[DurangoDudeNJ]

Exactly. That cost was just the labor/fabric. The seats themselves were $1150 on eBay. Surprisingly when I got them they were in really good condition. No new foam was needed to build them up. They guys at the shop guess they were only originally used a few times upon seeing how good the internals were.

[DurangoDudeNJ]

Here's the pics! :D

I opted to go with factory R/T emblems as opposed to embroidery. Got the idea from some of the cars Chip Foose has done on Overhaulin'.

Enjoy! :D

[SinCity R/T]

They look great! :biggthump :clap2:

[GOON'S D]

Let see them installed! Nice man, real nice. I wish I had that kind of loot and an understanding wife!

[DurangoDudeNJ]

Thanks guys!

[DurangoDudeNJ]

They look great! :biggthump :clap2:


Hey Sin, do you know or recall if the bolts on the factory seat tracks line up with the holes on the bottom of the Viper seat frames? Or, do new holes need to be drilled?

[HemiDak]

Those are really hot, I love them! :biggthump

[SinCity R/T]

Hey Sin, do you know or recall if the bolts on the factory seat tracks line up with the holes on the bottom of the Viper seat frames? Or, do new holes need to be drilled?

The holes appeared to line up, but you can't connect them as-is because the Viper seat bolts downward, and the Dakota/Durango seat bolts upward. Another issue that arises is the Viper seat bottom is a lot thinner than the Dakota/Durango seat, so people use 1" square tubing so it raises the seat up a little bit plus it allows the bolts to face in opposite directions for mounting.

[bigtexantim]

got this pic from a guy on delphi boards... i deleted his email write up but you might be able to find him on there or cardomain and get a hold of him if you need more help than the diagram...

[arcdesigns]

The diagram above will get you there with the exception of 4 (per seat) 1/4" spacers that need to be placed between the Dakota rails and the 1" tube stock below the Viper base (see attachment). These are needed on my 2001 because the top of the Dakota rail is not flat but may or may not be needed on other year Dakotas.

The overall install process was actually a lot easier then I thought it would be.

Now would be a great time for anyone thinking about adding Viper seats as there are currently 4 or 5 pairs on eBay.

[DurangoDudeNJ]

Ok folks, had a chance today to really dig in to mounting these suckers to the factory frames.

First off..... because my D has power seats, everything I've read about how to mount these went right out the window. The track is totally different and so are the position of the holes. Not to mention that two of the front screws are in a very tight area so it was a little tricky getting them loose.

After removing four small set screws allowing the track to slide back 'n forth with no power, I was able to remove the track from the stock seat. I noticed that there were two mounting ears at the rear of the frame that would be in the way of the new seats. There's no way they could be utilzed so I needed to cut them off. (Thank god for the man who invented the reciprocating saw!!). The next step was to drill holes in the 1" square steel tubing that would line up with the mounting points on the stock rails. Once this was accomplished, I dissassembled them and drilled mounting holes to attach the tubing to the bottom of the Viper seats. I also needed to use thick spacers (pics of these coming) to raise the seat up a little more to clear the adjustment motors.

The bonus here is that I was able to use many of the original bolts but I did purchase extra grade 8's.

I attached the square tube to the bottom of the new seat with a C-clamp, drilled new holes and bolted them on. I made sure to drill the holes large enough so I could use one side of the tube as an access point for the torx bit needed to tighten them down. Gotta tell ya, with three bolts on each side it's super solid!! Now all I need to do is reattach the frame to my pre-drilled holes and I'm good to go for install (or at least a test fit) on at least the passenger side, (didn't have the time to get to the drivers).

So there's an update so far. Will be working on the completion of everything over the next couple of nights and hopefully get everything in by Friday if not sooner. Granted this has been a little challenging, but now that the passenger seat is almost done the next one should be a breeze.

[DurangoDudeNJ]

SEATS ARE IN!!!

FINALLY was able to finish up the last seat seat tonight. Sorry about the night pics but I had to at least take a few to post! :D

Just a few things to finish up and I'll bolt 'em down.

[dakotaR/T2003]

Look good :bow:

[DurangoDudeNJ]

Thanks man!

[NXNLINE]

I just purchased a set of 2004 Viper GTS seats. The track brackets on mine are welded instead of bolting on, Do I saw off the weld to access the threaded holes on the bracket that slides back and forth or do I remove the whole track assembly completly? Thanks guys. I also included pictures of my seats I am installing with the brackets in question :help:

[DurangoDudeNJ]

I'm assuming that you are planning to mount the seats to the seat tracks from your truck?? If so, then you'll need to remove the Viper tracks from the seats alltogether. The 1" square steel tubing needs to be flush against the bottom of the seats in order to be solid.

Because I'm not familiar with what these seats look like with the tracks removed, you'll need to see if any holes will line up. If not, then you'll need to drill your own.

Hhope this helps! Seats look great!! :D

[mtlcafan79]

I'm assuming that you are planning to mount the seats to the seat tracks from your truck?? If so, then you'll need to remove the Viper tracks from the seats alltogether. The 1" square steel tubing needs to be flush against the bottom of the seats in order to be solid.

Because I'm not familiar with what these seats look like with the tracks removed, you'll need to see if any holes will line up. If not, then you'll need to drill your own.

Hhope this helps! Seats look great!! :D


You can take everything known about the gen II viper seats and throw it out the window. They are nothing like the gen III seats. I used the seat brackets exactly the way they were and drilled new mounting holes in the floor for them. You use the one outside mounting hole in the front and the rest have to be drilled.

[DurangoDudeNJ]

Trying to find side seat panels to keep my factory power seat controls has been a pain in my arse. I finally came across a solution.

Searching eBay, I saw a set of power seat panels from a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado. I knew they wouldn't a direct fit and would require modification but was able to get some measurements from the seller and it appeared that with some trimming they'd work.

This weekend I removed the old yucky light tan leather, padding, then use a Dremel and a wire brush to remove all the glue residue. After some cutting, drilling, bending, and other such surgury I was able to create a panel to fit. As of tonight the passenger side is covered in black leather and the switches are mounted. Sorry, don't have pics of that, but you can see the before pics below.

The pieces circled in red were cut off. I needed to bend the rear of the panel to smooth out the look from the back. Sure there are some tool marks but I don't care as it will all be re-covered with padding and black leather. The large hole is the seat belt attachment point.

[DurangoDudeNJ]

Here's the ALMOST completed passenger side panel. Still need to work on stretching the leather out a bit more and the gaps around the switches but this'll give ya an idea.

[FairfaxDAK]

lookin nice man :biggthump I'm gonna love seein it installed :)

[SinCity R/T]

Looks nice, let us know how the final product turns out, I need to make something similar in the near future. I just installed my Gen III Viper seats in the truck and now need to come up with something to hide the rails on the sides, they definitely aren't as convenient or pretty as my Gen II seats were.

[jmaack727]

I just ran across these, would these be the same way to install, how good of a deal is this?
viper seeats (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-VIPER-1994-seats_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33701QQitemZ80703 11013QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW)

[SinCity R/T]

I just ran across these, would these be the same way to install, how good of a deal is this?
viper seeats (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-VIPER-1994-seats_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33701QQitemZ80703 11013QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW)

Those are "Gen I" seats - I haven't seen a set of those up close to know if they mount the same way as the Gen II's or not. For the condition they're in I'd say they might be a little bit on the pricy side, you can usually find some Gen II's at a similar price or +100/200.

[SinCity R/T]

Here's a couple of sets of Gen III seats - they're harder to get mounted but they're much more solid and made of better materials...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-Dodge-Viper-seats-limited-edition-orange-stitiching_W0QQitemZ8069699652QQcategoryZ33701QQss PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-Dodge-Viper-seats-limited-edition-blue-stitching_W0QQitemZ8069334381QQcategoryZ33701QQssP ageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[DurangoDudeNJ]

Looks nice, let us know how the final product turns out, I need to make something similar in the near future. I just installed my Gen III Viper seats in the truck and now need to come up with something to hide the rails on the sides, they definitely aren't as convenient or pretty as my Gen II seats were.


Will do!! Panels going on this weekend.

[jeffDAKOTA]

Here's a couple of sets of Gen III seats - they're harder to get mounted but they're much more solid and made of better materials...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-Dodge-Viper-seats-limited-edition-orange-stitiching_W0QQitemZ8069699652QQcategoryZ33701QQss PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-Dodge-Viper-seats-limited-edition-blue-stitching_W0QQitemZ8069334381QQcategoryZ33701QQssP ageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Hey Sin, I just picked up the blue ones that you have linked here. Cany you give me some info on mounting them. All I can find is Gen II stuff.

[dakota g33k]

i know that Steve had his gen III viper seats welded to the stock seat rail.

[DurangoDudeNJ]

Made some final additions to the panels today as well as stretched out the leather a little more. Installed the passenger side thus far. Oh and, ignore the the tool sticking out of the front of the seat, I was using it as a wedge to hold the panel in place so I could mock up mounting points.