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Drivers side electric swivel seat

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SILVERLINER

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Drivers side electric swivel seat
« on: May 10, 2021, 02:40:32 pm »
Drivers side swivel seat , Electric seat pedistool.
Most say it can't be done. A while back I posted on this forum: if any one had a driver side swivel seat on there Phoenix Cruiser  2100 . Various replies, but no one could show they have one, even calling the factory if it could be done, answer  possibly not with the electric control seat so that said I gave up the idea.
I don't like the saying it can't be done, visualizing I see there was enough room that the seat can clear the steering wheel and door (Yes have adjustable steering wheel and door can open if needed to clear the turning seat and even electric control seat if needed. ) DW wanted that seat to turn so it faces the dinnett table and sofa, also a comfortable seat to sit facing  guests . So to start the project, internet research,  Ford no help, PC factory no help ,someone on this forum gave me a link of a company that sells swivel seat  mechanisms for various vehicles but for the E 350 Ford it would have to be modified at a cost of $ 299. + shipping I hesitated. Continuing the search I needed a swivel seat mechanism with a forward  & aft slide attachment.
Finding a company in China exactly what I needed  for $72.+ shipping using Alibaba for shipping assurance got what I needed. With some modifications it works perfectly, smooth and easy turn abouts . Photos show results.

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2 Frazzled

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Re: Drivers side electric swivel seat
« Reply #1 on: May 11, 2021, 08:24:56 am »
That's a five way power seat? What do you mean by a few modifications? We're not really tool people so are we talking idiot level (that's me) or some mechanical skill required?
John, Holly, and sometimes Chloe.
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SILVERLINER

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Re: Drivers side electric swivel seat
« Reply #2 on: May 11, 2021, 11:34:00 am »
 (exactly)Reply: yes it takes, mechanical ability to perform this modifications.  Not an easy job ,But it can be done with the proper parts and tools, the modifications has nothing to do with the 5 way electric seat . The slight modifications mentioned is drilling and aligning the swivel and slide mechanisms. (I am a retired aircraft mechanic and it was challenging) but I am very pleased with the outcome.

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Tarnold

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Re: Drivers side electric swivel seat
« Reply #3 on: May 12, 2021, 08:11:51 am »
Could you resend/resize that first picture of the base.  I can’t make anything out of what I can see.  Looks like a good project.

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SILVERLINER

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Re: Drivers side electric swivel seat
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2021, 09:57:28 am »
My photos are clear it's just that  I have to resize to ad to forum ,see if this helps.

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Tarnold

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Re: Drivers side electric swivel seat
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2021, 03:12:20 pm »
Bigger now but still a little fuzzy.  How much did it raise at the lowest setting?

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SILVERLINER

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Re: Drivers side electric swivel seat
« Reply #6 on: May 20, 2021, 05:20:57 pm »
1 1/2 to 2"

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CalCruiser

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Re: Drivers side electric swivel seat
« Reply #7 on: May 20, 2021, 07:06:05 pm »
Nice work!

Did you make a template and parts list?

Is it necessary to open the door to rotate  the seat 180 degrees?

Is the additional fore and aft seat travel adjustment necessary for clearance?

Could  the same bracket be modified for the passenger seat?

Since there are multiple types of Ford Econoline  consoles, what’s the minimum clearance between the seat and console when rotating it ?

TIA
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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Drivers side electric swivel seat
« Reply #8 on: May 21, 2021, 06:02:11 am »
Hi SILVERLINER,

A very interesting project accomplished.  Good for you.  Thanks for sharing it with us here.

It appears that you stacked the swivel base on top of the electric base.

Did you modify the electric base in any fashion to lower it's own profile?

You mentioned 1.5" to 2" height increase.  Is that simply the height of the swivel assembly?

I see you now have two sets of forward/backward slider rails.  Are there accumulating tolerances noticed, or does the sandwich remain nice and tight?

In your search for a swivel, did you run across any that did not have the rails?

You mentioned that you have an adjustable steering wheel.  Do you have tilt wheel up/down only, or does yours also have a telescoping feature to push the steering wheel forward toward the dash board that would provide extra clearance?
« Last Edit: May 21, 2021, 06:04:51 am by Ron Dittmer »
Ron (& Irene) Dittmer

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Re: Drivers side electric swivel seat
« Reply #9 on: May 22, 2021, 10:43:00 pm »
Replies : Thanks , Cal and Ron, hopefully I can answer some of your questions : yes made a template, then copied that template to 1/8" plywood so that way I can bolt it on the seat and pedistool which made it operational to see if everything cleared. (No I didn't leave the plywood there after everything lined up removed it ) you must have the swivel with the slide . It will not clear by just the swivel (lazy Susan) .The turn and the slide work together  to  clear the 180 * turn with seat back all the way up clearing console, steering wheel with out opening the door even with the arm rest. Yes it makes it easier with an  open door the more you turn the seat you find it easier to do .Yes you can also do the passenger seat which is easier  because  you have more clearance  , my 2100 model has the dinnett so turning the seat does no good. But it makes a world of difference to turn that driver seat and face your guests at the sofa and the dinnett. (I'll post a photo of the removable table I just installed) so even with the installed table it all clears nicely.
Ron the stack does not interfere with the electric pedistool  your stack sits on top bolts on it raises the seat approximately 2"  plenty of head room,  better view over the dashboard  and when turn around better clearance to the slight step up to coach and really not needed the tilt steering wheel adjusts and the electric control seat fine tunes it.So when driving everything is locked in tight and comfortable.

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Re: Drivers side electric swivel seat
« Reply #10 on: May 23, 2021, 11:37:53 am »
Since I can now rotate my driver seat I added a removable table. I customize it by deco pod epoxy seals the wood and added a photo of a trout which I printed on my printer on regular printer paper on a ink jet printer. ALSO added a fishing lure inbetted in the wood.
Nice added feature , the table is removable and stores easy, the base is flush to to the carpet (no hole only screws) a plastic cap fits in the base when not using it, flush to carpet.
BTW seat rotation clears leg  and I also off set the table bottom so it swings in and away from you while seated. See photos

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SILVERLINER

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Re: Drivers side electric swivel seat
« Reply #11 on: May 27, 2021, 10:24:12 am »
 :)(:made a world of difference to turn that driver seat, see attachment

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LRUCH

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Re: Drivers side electric swivel seat
« Reply #12 on: July 09, 2022, 05:52:22 pm »
I found a swivel for my PC driver's 6way power seat on ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/225032409727?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ELGSSWBJRoa&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=aU5lXZf0TLO&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY and bought it. It was shipped FedEx ground and arrived in 3 days. It wasn't cheap, but it was the only one I could find that fit the base in overall dimensions and I didn't want to deal with alibaba and international customs fees.  This driver's seat base is big and hard to fit and I eliminated a lot of swivel bases that did not fit. This swivel is heavy duty and heavy. No wobble. No wiggle. Very sturdy.  It arrived with a loop handle instead of the red rod as shown in the ebay photos (see my pic). The seat base locks in the forward position with a loud solid click.

There are YouTube videos with detailed instructions on how to install the swivel mount. Basically I removed the 4 bolts where the power base unit joins the black base attached to the floor.   This black base is angled, high at the front & low at the back.

The swivel is exactly the right width, but about 2 inches short from to back to match the holes in the black base . Maybe these bases change dimensions year to year? My PC is a 2010 on a 2008 chassis.

The swivel did match holes on the 6way power base perfectly.  So I just needed to drill new holes in the black base.  Of all the hole combinations I decided to mount the swivel in the back most holes and drill a new hole at the front on each side.  Mounting at the back of the base gave me 3 advantages. (1) I have long legs and this added about an inch distance from the pedals. (2) the swivel was going to add about 1.5 in height, but the back most holes were lower, so the net difference only added an inch to the seat height. I'm 6ft2in and still plenty of head room. (3) when the seat is turned around it puts the seat more in the room, as well as higher, and a bit more distance from the steering wheel giving more recline depth. You can see how it aligns with the passenger seat when both are rotated.

I had to make the holes in the black base a bit larger because the 4 hex nuts and bolts that come with the swivel were 1/8 inch large diameter than the originals.  Again, really heavy duty.

I put some plastic loom around the wires for the seat belt and seat power, and threaded that thru the hole in the center hole of the swivel. That should protect them from any rubbing.

Last step was to connect the seat to the swivel using the original bolts and nuts. No mods required for this.   While I had the seat off and it was easy, I did put a small amount of oil on each of the pivot points and some white grease on the tracks and gears. I bought my PC 10yrs old and I think the prior owners moved the seat a lot. It needed lubrication.

All of this took about 90 minutes, including the 20 minutes I spent on the seat lubrication. It might have been faster if I had help lifting the seat. Sorry but I didn't take pics of the process because I didn't rememder to take my cell phone to the storage lot that day.

Now, to rotate the driver's seat I bring the back of the seat fully forward. Back up the seat about 90%, pull the release loop and rotate. Once it is facing the room I can move the seat forward and up, as well as recline about 50%. It feels like I completed the living by getting this to rotate.
Larry

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Engineerlt

Re: Drivers side electric swivel seat
« Reply #13 on: July 09, 2022, 08:18:50 pm »
« Last Edit: July 09, 2022, 08:38:33 pm by Engineerlt »

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LRUCH

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Re: Drivers side electric swivel seat
« Reply #14 on: July 09, 2022, 11:34:18 pm »
Hi Lance,
Yes, it really does "round out" the sitting area. I'm thrilled with it.  I'm camping this weekend in 106F heat. These 2 seats are right in the path of the AC... Perfect place to cool off inside where it is 68F.

That base in the link you provided is one that I researched. Basically it could replace the base of the driver's side... But the holes didn't match the bottom of the seat and also didn't match the existing holes in the floor. I wanted to minimize the number of new holes to drill so I passed on this one.

Larry
« Last Edit: July 10, 2022, 01:14:13 am by LRUCH »
Larry

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