Jeep YJ seat upgrade

I upgraded the seats in my 1990 Jeep YJ to 2008 Mercury Mountaineer Seats.
The fronts require quite a bit of trial and error and custom fab to get them right, but the rear's bolt in with little additional work. I did not have to drill or cut any additional holes in my Jeep to fit these seats.
Seats are very comfortable on long drives, also have heat, recline and adjustable lumbar.

[@krod2162]

They sure look comfortable for all the bumpy roads

[@noble2kat142]

Those look great! I love how you got the heated seat option working.

[@bigtruxz]

Thanks for the idea on this! I found a pair of power/heated seats that I am in the process of installing in my YJ. I'll shoot a video when I complete the install.

[@shanehoosier1825]

bigtruxz Just wondering if you completed this? I bought powered and heated a few days ago and I am trying to prepare for any obstacles that may pop up.

[@shanehoosier1825]

bigtruxz please let me know if you get them installed. I an having a hell of a time getting it to work.

[@STR8SICCC]

*this is very cool!*

[@jaycobyhyde2742]

This. Is. BADASS!!!!!!

[@deantucker6209]

thank you so much for the info, i am in need for seats in my yj and i like the looks of those.

[@davidshettlesworth1442]

Awesome!

[@johnburkett521]

You should make and sell the brackets to do this!

[@stephengillett7679]

Sorry I've not been checking this all that much, this Wrangler was totaled in a accident and I've moved on to other projects. I will continue to respond to inquiries as I see them.

[@stephengillett7679]

Hi, are you still working on this?

[@shanehoosier1825]

Stephen Gillett I would love some info on your approach to installing the fronts. Also, how did you wire the heated seats ? I have already installed the rears. They look awesome. Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.

[@titan_05tj89]

shane hoosier do you have pics? Or a build thread?

[@dansgarage2010]

Very cool!

[@Xaphan6669]

Im doing the similar ford explorer rear seat and ill tell you now its certainly no 15 min job. only 1 hole on each side lines up and you have to slightly space the rear upwards because the seat latches protrude through the bracket and will hit the floor if you dont space them about 1/2in.

[@sirstelly]

So question for you, is the seat out of the Mountaineer the 3rd row seats or the 2nd row outer seats? I finally have some in a local junkyard and want to pick them up

[@heisenberg-c]

For those who find this video with the idea to do the same, READ THIS: Yes, I watched the video because wanted to replaced the seats on my JY. I found a Mercury Mountaneer 2005 in a Salvage Yard that actually had the same seats (same color and material). If I'm not wrong it will be the same for MM 2005-2008 and Ford Explorer of those same years. The seat covers of a Ford Explorer are fabric tho. I installed the rear seats first. I took me almost a day because had to remove the carpet, clean, drill holes and install river nuts. It is kind of easy task once you figure it out but it takes time. the seats on the rear fit just snug on the YJ. Not even a ml of space left after the install. Now, the front seats were kind of a nightmare, at least for me. A two men job if you want to be done in a day. 1. You have to cut metal parts that won't fit with the YJ front seats brackets. 2. you have to detach some other metal parts on the seat to lower it down because you cannot remove the brackets on these seats plus adding the YJ brackets, thats going to set a high seats. This is a problem with the pedals if you are a short person or it's a problem with the top if you are tall. 3. You need no figure out how to joint the seats brackets and the YJ brackets. I had to drill holes on seat bracket to match the YJ holes' brackets. Yes,it was a pain in the a$$ but if you dont mind all this then go ahead. There are a couple of videos on youtube that show other car's seats that actually are direct bolt with YJ brackets. Maybe you would rather to do those. I wont lie, these seats look awesome on my old YJ. Good luck!

[@momo-yz4lu]

Sounds like it was a painful task...I just got some hyaundai seats fronts only hope it’s not too bad. Just seeing what others did for seats.

[@chriss.3476]

Mr. White, did you retain the power? I don't see how the original poster did AND fit it to the YJ risers as he claims. I'm having a heck of a time with this. Are you able to contact me to let me know how you did it? The back ones are fine but the these fronts...

[@stephengillett7679]

Hi there, I didn’t retain the power seats, just the heat. I cut the entire motor assembly off of the front seats and tossed it, leaving just the metal frames. The seat heating elements are in the cushions themselves, you should only have 2 (maybe 3) wires running off of them in a single connector. I had to build a bracket to adapt the Ford seat base to my YJ brackets, took a few hours but it worked. My food forward and sliding tracks all worked.

[@chriss.3476]

@@stephengillett7679 thanks. I couldn't figure it out, so I just grabbed some 01 Grand Am seats. Were a really simple swap. I've still got the explorer seats. But one of them is trash after cutting the spring. I have the center row captains chairs that I'll put in the rear.

[@heisenberg-c]

@@chriss.3476 sorry man, I didn’t get your notification 2 months ago. I just got the owner notification an hour ago then saw your comment. I didn’t use any electronic part from the seats. I got the leather seats and they don’t get real cold. Plus I put some insulation in my YJ.

[@drapiza]

Love the upgrade. I went to a junkyard and pulled mountaineer rear seats out of a 2002. The seats appear to be the same as yours, but the mounting bracket seems to be different. I'm not able to directly bolt in to the factory holes. Can you post a picture of the brackets in the backseat and how it's mounted? Thanks again for any help, Id really appreciate it. Your video inspired me to try to do the same.

[@stephengillett7679]

For the rear seats, I took a piece of angle iron and cut it to fit in side the base of the seat with one of the flat sides facing down. Then, place both seats in the jeep side by side and position the angle iron over the threaded hole in the tub where the old, factory sets bolted in. Drill a hole in the angle iron above the factory hole, and then bolt through the angle iron. Once you're happy with the fit, bolt the angle iron to the seats.

[@saulprado1903]

Can you do video on the back seats. Some of us a visual learners. I got mountain eer seats also. Much appreciated.

[@jakeelwess5417]

Is this the AI installed the 'width or the 'length of the jeep?

[@sirstelly]

Do you have any upclose pictures of the frames bolted down with the angle iron? We just picked up the back seats and would love more up close pictures. Thanks.

[@titan_05tj89]

I know this is an old thread but, I love the idea. The rears are from a 08 mountaineer?? Middle or third row?

[@heisenberg-c]

Rear seats. I also bought a pair of this. Plus, Ford explorer 2005-2008 has the same lay out/hardware than the mercury. Btw, mine are from a Mercury 2005. same thing

[@evulution1337]

These seats look awesome! How much higher do they have you sitting, though? Thanks in advance.

[@francescosuarez]

For the rear do you need any YJ rear bracket to mount them or just use the seats built in bracket... I have a YJ without rear brackets or seats

[@jmshare1975]

Were the rear seats a split bench seat or individual bucket seats?

[@1861olesamule]

Very nice. Do your front seats fold forward to allow for access entry to the backseats?

[@stephengillett7679]

Yep, kept the factory brackets

[@the_panda_reaper6844]

Can u do a video on the speakers in the floor?

[@jmarceth5]

How tall are you . I’m 6”4 i need a little bit more of leg room.

[@classicrestomodegarage8375]

Did you use the original seat belts and what size bolts did you use to bolt seats down

[@luisemilianomartinezlagune7597]

How did you get the power heated seat to work!? i hope you can answer me thhanks in advance.

[@lorenzobazan9288]

hey , had some questions about the fabing u did to the front seats , what is the best way to comminicate with u

[@classicrestomodegarage8375]

What row back seat is that it doesn't look the 3rd row or the 2nd row

[@BustedCanofBiscuitsGarage]

Yep, I’m totally doing this soon. I would appreciate any advice you have on fabbing Up the front seats.

[@stephengillett6050]

sorry to say that this jeep was wrecked and sent to the scrapper and i didn't take very good pictures of the front seat brackets. When you are looking at the bottom of the mountaineer/explorer front seat, you will see the big power apparatus with motors and wires etc. That large assembly is attached to the actual seat via 4 rivets/press pins at the four corners of seat. That's where i separated the seat from the motors. That should leave you with four tabs that are oriented perpendicular to the seat surface (they are vertical when the seat is oriented as it would be in a driving position). From there, I got creative with some 1/4 inch flat stock and angle iron to attach the seats to the original YJ seat riser. I was able to retain the ability to flip the seats forward and the sliding functionality, these two functions are contained within the seat riser.

[@landfill9755]

I’d rather the original seats those looked squeezed in there

[@handle2935]

in the rear I agree, the front was really nice tho

[@landfill9755]

@@handle2935 I guess

[@gajeep94yj]

Are the rear seats from the rear of the mountaineer? Or the front of the mountaineer? 2 door or 4 door?

[@stephengillett6050]

Hi, you need to find a mountaineer/explorer that came with the third row. Once you've found one, you want to pull the outer two seats from the middle row. They have the fold and tumble function so that you can access the rear seats.

[@williamgillespie5886]

Hey man

[@stephengillett7679]

+william gillespie Hey William, yeah, happy to text. shoot me a private message with your number

[@nathansykes572]

The rear seats, were they the second row or third row seats from the Mountaineer?

[@gajeep94yj]

Nathan Sykes I went to the junk yard to look, they are the center row with the 40/20/40 split. Pay attention to the over all height though, they are too tall for the latter style roll bars. 38" from floor to top of head rest!

[@williamgillespie5886]

Can you text ?

[@keithbishop4656]

Stephen what is your email address? Or what is the best way to ask questions?

[@stephengillett7679]

+keith bishop Hi Keith, feel free to just post your questions here. Not up to posting my email address for all to see :)