new to me 96 MGM ..questions

[Jacorik]

Hello,

Just aquired a 96 and had some questions.. about the seats/dash

1st up the seats they are cloth but the driver is a power w/lumbar pass side nothing..problem well for my liking the they sit to low even when driver seat adjusted as high as it goes..I could live with the drives seat but the pass side sit on the floor it seems. I looked and thought that it I used high grade bolts and some steel tubing to raise the pass side up maybe 2/3 inches would be an ok height but it seems I may run into problems with the seatbelt. Threw reading I'm seeing that leather seats from other years/car fit in as long as they are FOM but will I also have to take the seat belts that goto the floor?

2nd The panel that starts at the light switch and goes the vent passed the radio on the right that the instrument panel sit in does this thing come in a wood grain that matches the rest of the wood on dash? not seen this part anyplace all I can find is a 04 and up kit ...does the 04 match or come close to a 96 ? guessing not anyone pop in a pix of a 04 dash here? I thought it would be just 1 large part but this the only thing close?

http://ssd4u.com/PDFSchematics/04XA-GRAMQ-RB.pdf

[85crownHPP]

using tubing to raise the seats might make the mount weaker, since now its only contact with the floor is through the tubing sections.
As far as the end to end dash piece - it definitly comes in woodgrain I didnt know there was anything else.

[Blaze86Vic]

To raise the seats your best bet is to build a rectangular mount that is larger than the contact area of the mounts now. You will need the extra area to handle the torque of an impact. If you get hit hard the last thing you want is that seat just giving way and you not knowing where you'll end up. If the seat doesn't feel absolutely solid, then it's not strong enough. Spacers them self add an inherit weakening.

[Jacorik]

ThX guys for the info's I now have a good idea with the type of steel brace to lift the pass side up bout 2 inches. I think I'm going to go 03 gm hunting and get a good look at the interior adn see how many of the wood parts would fit mine.

[drock96marquis]

The 2004 Wood Dash kit will work - however the pictured stereo surround, window switch panels (all), rear cupholder surround, and headlmap switch cover will not work namely due to 03+ revisions/cheapening.


The climate control dash trim surround (the balck part around the HVAC) wood trim can be used, but will have a hole on the left for where the rear defrost was relocated to on 01+ models


Nice to see another 96 GMQ owner

[Archangel]

I had the front of my seats lifted through 2x2" square tubing and grade 8 bolts, it worked fine and was solid as hell. Try that first, it actually makes a big difference and might be just what you need. As long as you don't touch the rear mounts you should be fine in an accident.

[Archangel]

Oh, and dunno about the newer models, but with the older cars the driver and the passenger seat power sliders are exactly the same - might be worth checking that out.

[DuceAnAHalf]

This is the bracket i made to mount my race seat. the bracket is made out of 2" x2" .125" wall steel tubing, the round piece is about 1" diameter heavy wall (about 3/8") this bracket weighs about 12#s. this bracket is connected to the floor with 4" aluminum angle .125" thick, the brackets are connected with four 1/4" grade 8 bolts