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Changing 2nd row bench to captains chairs

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#41 ·
Super grateful for this post! Gave me the courage to try this with our 2015 Traverse. Swapped the bench for a pair of captain's chairs from a 2014 Acadia. A few lessons learned:
1. The plastic track covers from the 2015 bench seat did not fit the 2014 seat tracks exactly, they were just slightly off and wouldn't snap into place. I ended up going to a u-pull salvage yard and taking some tracks for a 2008 Acadia that fit perfectly.
2. I also could not find the flange bolts that bolt the seat into the floor anywhere local. You'll need two extra bolts when going from bench seat to chairs. So I got those from the salvage yard as well.
3. I ended up cutting up the floor carpet and pad from the Acadia in the salvage yard to fill the hole in the floor left behind by the bench seat. This was easier for me than trying to find foam of the right thickness/density.

Next step I think will be to get an all weather floor mat that goes between 2-3 rows and then you'll never know it wasn't always that way. :)
 
#42 ·
acastillo7609 said:
I am also going in the opposite direction. But with a 2016 Traverse. Would a 2014 2nd row bench seat be compatible with a 2016? I think so but would like to confirm.I currently have captains chairs but with the family growing, I am now in need of the full bench. I didn't even think about the floorboard. If going from captains to a bench seat, would I need to do any cutting or replacing of that as well?
Click to expand...
I’m looking to switch out my 2018 bench seat for a bucket seat/captain chair. Did you ever find what you were looking for? Sometimes car-part.com has listings of used traverses in junk yard.
If anyone has a 2018 captain chair for sale, please let me know. Thanks.
 
#44 · (Edited)
We were in the market for a mini van with our second kid because of the bucket seats in the second row. Now after reading this I think I will inquire about my grandpas traverse he is looking to get rid of to buy a new car. Its a 2009 with cloth interior and bench seat. Ill be swapping to the buckets obviously. If anyone is interested in a trade let me know we might be able to do a complete swap brackets and anything else that is needed and maybe work through everything together. Im located in SE michigan. Ill be going over tonight and can grab some pictures, model, vin etc.

An earlier post (I think the OP) had recommended just using the 40 of the bench instead of replacing the seat. Not having eyes one it, is there a way to just remove the center portion of the 60?
 
#45 ·
Well Ive received my grandpas traverse. Have the bucket seats on order from Schwams (recommended above) which should be in tomorrow. Probably start the swap this weekend. Ill be sure to take photos and document as much as possible. Shouldnt be too bad the more I look into it.
 
#47 ·
DaWiz9578 said:
Well Ive received my grandpas traverse. Have the bucket seats on order from Schwams (recommended above) which should be in tomorrow. Probably start the swap this weekend. Ill be sure to take photos and document as much as possible. Shouldnt be too bad the more I look into it.
Click to expand...
Are you talking about Schram's Auto Parts?
schramauto.com

home.aspx - Schram Auto Parts

schramauto.com schramauto.com
 
#49 · (Edited)
Have a slideshow going with all progress pictures. Not sure Ill be able to post a powerpoint on here but I can PDF if needed. I think the hard part is done. So far got the seats out and working on cleaning up the rails of the junkyard seats prior to install (man PB Blaster does wonders leaving it sit over night). need to figure out carpet modifications needed if any.
 

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#50 · (Edited)
id say 85% complete. Just need to check a junkyard for the inside trim pieces and maybe a square of carpet in the middle. Not too bad of a project Id say 4 to 5 out of 10 on difficulty. Thanks for the input from previous posters giving me the knowledge to move forward with the project.

....Anyone want a 2009 traverse 83C titanium 60/40 bench seat? haha. Located in SE michigan. Id say pristine condition. Not sure if you could tell by the carpet but my granparents (as most do) took very good care of this car.
 

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#52 ·
Got the inside portions of each bucket seat's trim and when I put them in place there is still a little conflict with the original outside pieces on each bucket seat where they meet in the middle. I shouldve known to just grab all of them for each seat, but didnt think about it at the time. The junkyard only charged me $10 for 4 seat trim pieces and the middle square of carpet (be sure to cut it bigger than you need so you can trim when you get home). Ill be going back to the junkyard tomorrow to get the rest of the pieces, then either a GM dealership or sherwin williams to get color matched spray paint as the trim pieces from the junkyard are charcoal and will still show through the weather tech mat. Ill post final picture(s) when totally complete.
 
#53 ·
Here is the final product. I ended up not being able to get color match spray paint from the delaership. I figured they would have something like that, but I guess not. Sherwin williams could do color match in spray paint but you have to buy an entire case so I opted not to do that. I went back and got all charcoal trim pieces for the bottom of the seat tracks. Theyre all covered (for the most part) by the weather tech anyways so doesnt look too bad or stick out.

Now I just have to figure out what to do with the bench seats, trim pieces, and mats.
 

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#55 ·
DaWiz9578 said:
Well Ive received my grandpas traverse. Have the bucket seats on order from Schwams (recommended above) which should be in tomorrow. Probably start the swap this weekend. Ill be sure to take photos and document as much as possible. Shouldnt be too bad the more I look into it.
Click to expand...
I'm trying to find Bucket seats for our 2012 Traverse. So Schwams is where I need to go?
 
#57 ·
I just swapped my bench for captains.super easy once I was able to get additional leverage on the bolts. In the process I got 2 sets of captains so I have one set available. I live in utah if any wants them dm me interested.
 
#58 · (Edited)
If someone wants a decent set of captain seats and you're in the Dayton/Cincinnati area, I can direct you to a salvage dealer. The donor vehicle is a 2017 Traverse and these are leather seats in ebony (black or very dark gray). I believe they are compatible with all Gen 1 vehicles. The seats are in good condition but can be brought up to very good condition with some cleaning. They don't appears to have any rips or permanent marks. The price is $100 each plus tax. As of March 1st, they have both seats (still in the car - no busted windows or missing doors).

Dealer: White City Auto Parts - Welcome to White City Auto Parts!
Location: Hamilton, OH

They have quite a few 2nd row seats listed if you do a parts search. The ones I am referring to above are from stock# E5046 5863. Most of the others are listed at a higher price.

I'm not associated with this business. I bought something else there and happened to notice them. It's a smaller salvage yard, but the guy in charge seems nice and they know what they have. Don't know if they would do it, but I would also ask if they could throw in the trim panels/track covers and the bolts (you need at least 2 extra bolts going from bench to captain).
 
#59 ·
kmorris said:
It is going to cost me almost as much for new plastic for the seats since the ones I got from ebay were ebony and our interior is titanium.
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I haven't read the whole thread yet, sorry of this is repetitive.
Regarding your trim ...I just upgraded my hideous '99 crew cab radio to a double din DVD touch screen. I bought the Metra full conversion kit which comes with a completely new instrument cluster cover..in black only!

I went to the local auto paint store and they hooked me up with a spray can of interior dye that matched my interior perfectly ($17 post-covid, $13 pre-covid) .
Super easy to change the color of any interior part this way...instead of buying exact one.
Hope this helps on your next auto adventure!
 
#60 ·
Bringing old thread - quick question for those who swapped from Bench to Captain seats on Gen 1 Traverse. I have 2012 traverse with Bench seats.
I have 2 kids in 3rd row, and it is getting old lifting the bench - my wife is petite small lady and needs my help. I would love to get me some captain seat so my 2 older kids just go to the back and strap themselves in.

I want to remove the longer (larger) 60 section of the bench seats that is on driver side, and replace it with driver side captain seat.
I would leave the passenger side bench seats part intact.
All I would miss out is on hand rest for the passenger bench seat. I do not care about that since that’s where my 3rd child car seat is installed.

Will this work - or do I need to get passenger side captain chair?
 
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