Help with solution for cargo space, and front seat.. 2005

[WolfgangFox]

Hey all.

I just bought a Fleet XLT 2005, with 100k miles on it. It was previously a New Mexico DOT vehicle, so it's very barebones, and a little dirty. Per the pictures below, I need to make the cargo area flatter. I know I can probably build a little wooden box to fit in it, but it looks like this version never came with a 3rd row seat?

Also, in the front, there are just 2 bucket seats. It doesn't look like there are rails, or anything to have a middle 40/20/40 or 60/40 which is what it was supposed to come with?

What are my options here for a bench type of seat for the front, and either adding in a 3rd row seating option, or honestly, just making the cargo area flatter. I was already planning on taking out the 2nd row seats to have a large cargo area for transporting arcade games and pinball machines.

What do you guys think?

 

[WolfgangFox]

 

[Hamfisted]

Ugh.... yeah. Hopefully you're a pretty good craftsman, and mechanic.
There's no bench seat for the front, and that rear floor you're just gonna have to create something.
Any service records with it? Like when the timing chain and phasers were replaced ?






.

 

[WolfgangFox]

Not with it. I was wondering if I were to call them, I'm sure they keep them for tax reasons, and if I could get a copy that'd be nice.

I'll upload the original window sticker too.

 

[WolfgangFox]

And I just found something on the window sticker, it's an SSV model. I'd assume?

 

[whtbronco]

Yep, it's an SSV model, Special Service Vehicle. They have a different list of options and different standard features. As far as I know the Expeditions had the same drivetrain and suspension unlike come of the SSV model cars.

Another option for the rear may be to pick up 3rd row seats at a salvage yard. Then you can lay the 2nd and 3rd row seats flat and cover them with plywood or something like that if you wanted to. That of course assumes the 3rd row seat mounting points are actually there and just plugged.

 

[WolfgangFox]

Does the black plastic piece in front of the jack stowage and cover come out?

 

[whtbronco]

Yes it does. Here's a pic of my 2004 showing pretty much everything behind the 2nd row removed.

 

[WolfgangFox]

So for replacing the front seat with a bench, or just a center console, what F150 benches would work? I see a 2005 F350 that has a really nice bench. Would that work with no modifications? Just a direct drop-in, bolt-in?

-Pat

(Image from Salvage Yard 2005 F350):

 

[whtbronco]

I can't say if the F-350 seat brackets would bolt down to the floor in the factory locations, but I doubt it. You might be able to mount the seat on the Expedition seat brackets, of course it wouldn't move easily then. All that said the hip room of thee Expedition is 63" and the the F-350 is 67.4" so the seat is likely to be too wide.

I think you'd better off with the seat from an F-150, but you will likely have to do some measuring and maybe even make templates of the floor mounting points to have a good idea if it will fit.

I did swap the seats in my 78 and 79 Bronco's, but back then Ford trucks were all very similar. That is not the case now days.