64-66 cuda fold down seat into 63-66 dart

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crvtec90

crvtec90

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Has anyone used the rear seat from a 64-66 barracuda in a 63-66 dart? I see where the seat back has a relief in the middle and it looks like the sides have a narrow bit towards the bottom. Thought it might be interesting to have the fold down seat in my 66 Dart. I already have the barracuda / valiant front bucket seats and I saw a nice condition matching rear seat from a barracuda not too far where I live.
 
The folding back is much narrower and probably lower than a standard seat back — it would expose a lot of metal on either side. It is also thicker so it may not actually clear the package shelf, and, of course, requires the hinge parts. The seat base may not be a direct replacement, since the Barracuda seat has to bolt down, while Dart rear seat bases are merely hooked. I say this because I have a 67 fastback and a 67 Barracuda convertible, and the back seats are completely different and not interchangeable.
 
Thanks MVH. I saw the seat for sale and got all excited since it has the matching pattern to my front bucket seats. I did some searching and found that other people have used the barracuda rear seat successfully in wagons. Probably a lot of work to get it to fit in a 2 door. Its more of a valiant part than a dart and it doesnt quite come as far forward on the bottom section. Like you said it probably sits too far rearward on the seat back. Also, the hardtops and sedans have a cross brace behind the seat that would have to come out to make a clear opening to the trunk once the rear seat folds down. Im not opposed to cutting up the rear package tray a bit. Pretty much just going by pictures on the web right now. Wish I had a spare one laying around to see exactly how bad it fits.
 
I am sure you could make it fit and then it would be like a Duster with a fold down rear seat.It seems to go into the wagons.
 
Just be aware that the fold-down back seat of the first generation Barracuda weighs 70 lbs. Remember, when folded down, it's part of the cargo compartment floor and so the seat back is reinforced with a rigid, ribbed metal stamping that adds significantly to the weight of the seat.
Also, the X brace on a conventional two door should not be removed, as it adds quite a bit of strength/rigidity to the body. Early Barracudas have a whole bunch of extra bracing around the back window to make up for the lack of a package tray and that X brace. That's one reason - along with the heavy seat and the huge rear window - that a Barracuda outweighs an otherwise equally equipped Valiant by somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 lbs.
 
65 Cuda 340 said:
Just be aware that the fold-down back seat of the first generation Barracuda weighs 70 lbs. Remember, when folded down, it's part of the cargo compartment floor and so the seat back is reinforced with a rigid, ribbed metal stamping that adds significantly to the weight of the seat.
Also, the X brace on a conventional two door should not be removed, as it adds quite a bit of strength/rigidity to the body. Early Barracudas have a whole bunch of extra bracing around the back window to make up for the lack of a package tray and that X brace. That's one reason - along with the heavy seat and the huge rear window - that a Barracuda outweighs an otherwise equally equipped Valiant by somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 lbs.
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Thanks, I was unaware of the weight but that makes sense. I had assumed it was like a typical seat since lots of late model cars have fold down rear seats that give access into the trunk.

The cross brace will stay in my car if it requires too much modification to provide the structure needed with it removed. Once again I had assumed it would not be hard to remove it and just reinforce the package tray. Now that you mention it, it is a fairly robust piece of metal. Lots of bends to make it strong.

The station wagons have a fold down rear seat with no cross brace. Do they have extra structure on the roof panel as well?

There is also a chrome bar that goes across the rear of the barracuda seat. Am I correct that it latches to the brackets on the wheel well tubs to hold the seat in?
 
crvtec90 said:
Thanks, I was unaware of the weight but that makes sense. I had assumed it was like a typical seat since lots of late model cars have fold down rear seats that give access into the trunk.

The cross brace will stay in my car if it requires too much modification to provide the structure needed with it removed. Once again I had assumed it would not be hard to remove it and just reinforce the package tray. Now that you mention it, it is a fairly robust piece of metal. Lots of bends to make it strong.

The station wagons have a fold down rear seat with no cross brace. Do they have extra structure on the roof panel as well?

There is also a chrome bar that goes across the rear of the barracuda seat. Am I correct that it latches to the brackets on the wheel well tubs to hold the seat in?
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I really have no idea about station wagon structure.

On the chrome bar, yes, when the seat back is up it hooks into brackets on the wheel well tubs. When down, straps on the floor hook onto the bar to hold the seat flat.
 
I just went ahead and got the back seat. I was already on a road trip for early a body parts from a different person and I figured Id just go check it out while out of town. Well it turned out that both sellers actually live on the same exit of the interstate so I was able to meet up easily for 2 separate transactions. The seat is not perfect but its a very nice part. Wrong color since my buckets are black but Ill just dye them whatever color I choose once fitted. The fitment isnt too terrible. The seat back is just resting on the bottom in the pics so it may lift up a bit. Ill either need some filler pieces for the sides or just cover the exposed metal with carpet.

20200725_192820_HDR.jpg


20200725_192808_HDR.jpg


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20200725_192741_HDR.jpg
 
Looking at this picture ( NOT my car) you can see how the seat does not go all the way to the door panels so carpet is used to cover the wheel wells and floor

19-2-798x466.jpg
 
crvtec90 said:
Has anyone used the rear seat from a 64-66 barracuda in a 63-66 dart? I see where the seat back has a relief in the middle and it looks like the sides have a narrow bit towards the bottom. Thought it might be interesting to have the fold down seat in my 66 Dart. I already have the barracuda / valiant front bucket seats and I saw a nice condition matching rear seat from a barracuda not too far where I live.
Click to expand...
Why?
 
I installed that seat in my Valiant. works pretty slick when I want to put my fishing poles or anything long in the car. also bailed me out when I closed the keys in the trunk the other day...… just crawled into the trunk from the back seat. I am going to build a finish panel for the rear deck.
 
That looks good in there.
I would want to remove the cross brace but I’m not sure what needs to be done to replace that structure.
For me a fold down rear seat adds a lot of versatility to sedans & hardtop.
 
Anybody still read old threads? How much/what are the differences between a 1963-66 Valiant convertible back seat bottom and a 64-66 Barracuda back seat bottom? Interchangeable.
 
briansb71 said:
Anybody still read old threads? How much/what are the differences between a 1963-66 Valiant convertible back seat bottom and a 64-66 Barracuda back seat bottom? Interchangeable.
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I have one of each, but have never thought to measure. On my way to a July 4 dinner now, maybe can measure the seats later if no one beats me to it.
 
If you have time, please do. I have read that they are slightly different, but I can’t imagine why … but if they are, I can’t image by much. I am guessing the Barracuda seat bottom might be lower (shorter springs or reduced padding) so the seat back could fold down into less space to make the rear floor flat, but I am thinking the width is probably the same? Totally guessing but it would be great if they were interchangeable!
 
vitamindart said:
I installed that seat in my Valiant. works pretty slick when I want to put my fishing poles or anything long in the car. also bailed me out when I closed the keys in the trunk the other day...… just crawled into the trunk from the back seat. I am going to build a finish panel for the rear deck.
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Can you post some pictures of the both up and down?
 
RRR, I will try and get a couple pictures this weekend.

briansb71 said:
Anybody still read old threads? How much/what are the differences between a 1963-66 Valiant convertible back seat bottom and a 64-66 Barracuda back seat bottom? Interchangeable.
Click to expand...
I cant say on the convertible but, I'm pretty sure the Barracuda seat is a little narrower than my Valiant's original ( for the buckle that held it down ? )
 
briansb71 said:
If you have time, please do. I have read that they are slightly different, but I can’t imagine why … but if they are, I can’t image by much. I am guessing the Barracuda seat bottom might be lower (shorter springs or reduced padding) so the seat back could fold down into less space to make the rear floor flat, but I am thinking the width is probably the same? Totally guessing but it would be great if they were interchangeable!
Click to expand...

Sorry, got bogged down in other stuff and forgot to measure. Looks like both seats (63 Valiant convertible and 65 Barracuda) are 45 inches wide. Didn't measure depth. Here are pix of each:

63 Valiant conv.
1688759936218.jpeg

65 Barracuda
1688759970655.jpeg
 
vitamindart said:
RRR, I will try and get a couple pictures this weekend.


I cant say on the convertible but, I'm pretty sure the Barracuda seat is a little narrower than my Valiant's original ( for the buckle that held it down ? )
Click to expand...
Yes, I am reasonably sure that the seat bottoms from the 63-66 Valiant 2 door sedans and HTs (and I assume Darts, also) are wider than the Barracuda and Convts. I know that the back seat bottoms on the 4 doors are wider and are curved on the sides to make entering and exiting the back seat easier.
 
65 Cuda 340 said:
Sorry, got bogged down in other stuff and forgot to measure. Looks like both seats (63 Valiant convertible and 65 Barracuda) are 45 inches wide. Didn't measure depth. Here are pix of each:

63 Valiant conv.
View attachment 1716111668
65 Barracuda
View attachment 1716111669
Click to expand...
Thanks for posting! Other than the upholstery difference, it sure looks like the same seat bottom to my untrained eye! If not exactly the same, it’s got to be scary close! I had my doubts that the good folks up in the engineering department would bother to design an entirely new seat bottom when they already had one in the parts bin … nor would the “bean counters” downstairs allow it!
 
just took all the attaching hardware and tabs from the Barracuda. lowers bolted in after drilling the mounting holes ( if I remember correctly, its been a few years ) welded the tabs for the upper latches. I drilled out all the spot welds for the x-braces , just in case I changed my mind. I made a board to finish off the front of the rear deck and carpeted it ( looked more finished that way ) carpeted the trunk and under the seat bottom with some cheap auto carpet from Menards. I like it, not something you see all the time. kinda like the early A's or a turbo slant..... LOL
 
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