I have a 2003 Chevy Express cargo van (3500 long wheel base) that I need to add a rear bench seat to. This van is replacing an older passenger van of the same type that is currently being used for work purposes (the old van has over half a million km and is ready for the junk yard: no reverse gear [that's fun, let me tell you], leaks a litre of oil every 4-5 days, frame is rusted out to the point where it might be unsafe to lift it on a vehicle hoist, etc.). We need to transport up to five people at times, which is why we need the bench.
We have four benches with seatbelts that we can use from the old van. Is there a way we can remove one set of brackets from the old van and install them in the new one? We have a MIG welder and a vehicle hoist for underside access, just wondering if the floor needs extra reinforcement or if we will even be able to cut out the old brackets. The seat also needs to be removable.
I haven't investigated the seatbelts yet (just got the van the other day), but I don't believe they will pose a problem, since they should be mostly interchangeable.
Has anybody done this before? I've been searching but haven't found anything about putting OEM seats in an Express cargo van.