'86 Suburban headrest retrofit? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

orvillespooner · 02-14-2006, 07:19 PM

Is there any way to install headrests on front bench seat that did not come with them originally? 1986 Suburban 2wd, tan interior, like new.
Thanks,
Rich

**special-K** · 02-15-2006, 10:30 AM

You should just swap-in a seat with headrests.The factory buckets had them(high back).Your seat would have to be totally rebuilt/customized.$$$

ALASKA ALUMINUM BEAR · 02-17-2006, 02:58 AM

Hi there guy
you would need to first find a bench seat from a chevy that had the headrests--then rip it apart and cut out the frame structure and then reweld it backinto yours---as the person said above alot of work...but not much money if you go to a junk yard and do all the cutting and welding yourself---and i guess you should really no how to reupolster the seat.....my advice is to just up grade---i finally took out my bench in my 86 burb and am now putting in 98 bule leather tahoe seats......so good luck to you....

orvillespooner · 02-18-2006, 08:32 AM

Thanks for the info. I can mig weld, so maybe it would be worth a try. The seat and the Suburban are like out of a time warp, this truck is almost like new, so I would never find a good tan seat. I'll scout out the junk yards and see if there may be a good donor seat. Pickup trucks use the same seat?
Thanks again.
Rich

bigjak · 02-18-2006, 06:11 PM

Pick up seats fold forward, and I don't know if the floor pans are the same.

ALASKA ALUMINUM BEAR · 02-19-2006, 04:14 PM

HI RICH,,,,if your a welder then it's worth a try and you'll pull it off fairly easy---i was doing the same thing but with buckett seat arm rests--looking for a old tore up bucket set that had arm rests;;so i could rob the frame out---then weld it in to a seat that had no arm rests;;anyway--giving it up only because someone got me beautifull blue leather buckets with arm rests......one thing though i think you should not give up your search on,,,,lots of folks like me had bran new front bench seats--that we swap out for bucketts;;;;i believe that if you put out a junkyard search request on the web--that someone will have a like bran new one for you,,,can't hurt to try...also when are you going to post some pic's of this beauty--i for one would love to see it;;;;i am a suburban nut-through and through,,i love them all....best of luck keep us informed as to how you make out,,,john aab

**special-K** · 02-20-2006, 12:17 AM

I`m curious,why do you want headrests?For safety,I assume.I would definately not hack up a nice original seat.{Plenty of donors out there.Not sure if the pickup seats mount right up or not.The folding part doesn`t matter,or at least I see no reason why it would.I was thinking since you`re going modified anyway,why not swap-in a late model w/headrests.You could use front and rears.I`ve seen them swapped into 67-72s before.

orvillespooner · 02-20-2006, 09:08 PM

Yes for safety. It seems that there is no protection, your head and shoulders are very vulnerable. We do use it for a daily driver in summer and to pull boat. It got in a wreck last summer, now it is repaired after much hard work on my part.
Here is link to pics.
http://www.solisearch.net/ims/pic.ph...jXqXe&i=146683
http://www.solisearch.net/ims/pic.ph...jXqXe&i=229054

The first was on day of accident 7/19/2005
Last is after repairs with LMC parts. Since then the pinstriping has been added.
This truck was as close to new before the accident as I could ever imagine, always stored under a car cover in a garage when not in use its entire life, and only used to tow a camper.
87K miles.

02-14-2006, 07:19 PM	#1
orvillespooner Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: utica ny Posts: 8	'86 Suburban headrest retrofit? Is there any way to install headrests on front bench seat that did not come with them originally? 1986 Suburban 2wd, tan interior, like new. Thanks, Rich

02-15-2006, 10:30 AM	#2
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: '86 Suburban headrest retrofit? You should just swap-in a seat with headrests.The factory buckets had them(high back).Your seat would have to be totally rebuilt/customized.$$$ __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

02-17-2006, 02:58 AM	#3
ALASKA ALUMINUM BEAR Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 129	Re: '86 Suburban headrest retrofit? Hi there guy you would need to first find a bench seat from a chevy that had the headrests--then rip it apart and cut out the frame structure and then reweld it backinto yours---as the person said above alot of work...but not much money if you go to a junk yard and do all the cutting and welding yourself---and i guess you should really no how to reupolster the seat.....my advice is to just up grade---i finally took out my bench in my 86 burb and am now putting in 98 bule leather tahoe seats......so good luck to you....

02-18-2006, 08:32 AM	#4
orvillespooner Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: utica ny Posts: 8	Re: '86 Suburban headrest retrofit? Thanks for the info. I can mig weld, so maybe it would be worth a try. The seat and the Suburban are like out of a time warp, this truck is almost like new, so I would never find a good tan seat. I'll scout out the junk yards and see if there may be a good donor seat. Pickup trucks use the same seat? Thanks again. Rich

02-18-2006, 06:11 PM	#5
bigjak Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Omaha, Ne Posts: 12	Re: '86 Suburban headrest retrofit? Pick up seats fold forward, and I don't know if the floor pans are the same.

02-19-2006, 04:14 PM	#6
ALASKA ALUMINUM BEAR Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 129	Re: '86 Suburban headrest retrofit? HI RICH,,,,if your a welder then it's worth a try and you'll pull it off fairly easy---i was doing the same thing but with buckett seat arm rests--looking for a old tore up bucket set that had arm rests;;so i could rob the frame out---then weld it in to a seat that had no arm rests;;anyway--giving it up only because someone got me beautifull blue leather buckets with arm rests......one thing though i think you should not give up your search on,,,,lots of folks like me had bran new front bench seats--that we swap out for bucketts;;;;i believe that if you put out a junkyard search request on the web--that someone will have a like bran new one for you,,,can't hurt to try...also when are you going to post some pic's of this beauty--i for one would love to see it;;;;i am a suburban nut-through and through,,i love them all....best of luck keep us informed as to how you make out,,,john aab

02-20-2006, 12:17 AM	#7
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: '86 Suburban headrest retrofit? I`m curious,why do you want headrests?For safety,I assume.I would definately not hack up a nice original seat.{Plenty of donors out there.Not sure if the pickup seats mount right up or not.The folding part doesn`t matter,or at least I see no reason why it would.I was thinking since you`re going modified anyway,why not swap-in a late model w/headrests.You could use front and rears.I`ve seen them swapped into 67-72s before. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

02-20-2006, 09:08 PM	#8
orvillespooner Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: utica ny Posts: 8	Re: '86 Suburban headrest retrofit? Yes for safety. It seems that there is no protection, your head and shoulders are very vulnerable. We do use it for a daily driver in summer and to pull boat. It got in a wreck last summer, now it is repaired after much hard work on my part. Here is link to pics. http://www.solisearch.net/ims/pic.ph...jXqXe&i=146683 http://www.solisearch.net/ims/pic.ph...jXqXe&i=229054 The first was on day of accident 7/19/2005 Last is after repairs with LMC parts. Since then the pinstriping has been added. This truck was as close to new before the accident as I could ever imagine, always stored under a car cover in a garage when not in use its entire life, and only used to tow a camper. 87K miles.



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