Late Model Bucket Seat Installation

[403Olds]

With the extra time on my hands due to the recent situation, I finally got some time to install the 98 Buick Regal front seats in my Cutlass. I bought these about four years ago, since it's very difficult to find any maroon late model seats. My Cutlass originally had buckets, manual passenger side, and power drivers side (with the broken plastic coupler). Brief summary, about 5 hours on the passenger side, and 15 hours on the Drivers side later, and they are in. This is an estimate, as I would work on it when the weather was rainy, or when not frustrated. The mounting holes are about 1 1/2" wider than the Cutlass seats, but the same dimension front to back.

These were out of a four dour, and many posts talk about the lack of access to the rear seat. When I took them apart, I noticed that there's another hole that about 1" rearward that I moved the seat recline spring to. This caused other parts to need clearancing, but does permit the seat to be angled forward to permit access for back seat passengers.

The passenger seat is pretty straight forward, make an adapter piece for the front mounting holes, and redrill the holes in the rear.

The drivers seat was trickier. I learned that the 86 and earlier had a weak plastic transmission, which was evident as I took my seat apart, and the housing had age cracks in it. So moving forward, I noticed that the Buick power seat assembly looked remarkably close. I had to modify one of the motor positions to like up with the Cutlass seat track. Then had to swap the rear actuators from side to side to permit better drive cable routing, but everything is working well now.

With my 6'1'' height, I've got the seats down as far as they will go, and the seat position seems pretty good. The seats are definitely more supportive, I've not had it out on the road yet, as we are still cold and rainy here.

I've also got the rear seat to match, but not tackling that at this time.....

 

[5spdCab]

With the extra time on my hands due to the recent situation, I finally got some time to install the 98 Buick Regal front seats in my Cutlass. I bought these about four years ago, since it's very difficult to find any maroon late model seats. My Cutlass originally had buckets, manual passenger side, and power drivers side (with the broken plastic coupler). Brief summary, about 5 hours on the passenger side, and 15 hours on the Drivers side later, and they are in. This is an estimate, as I would work on it when the weather was rainy, or when not frustrated. The mounting holes are about 1 1/2" wider than the Cutlass seats, but the same dimension front to back.

These were out of a four dour, and many posts talk about the lack of access to the rear seat. When I took them apart, I noticed that there's another hole that about 1" rearward that I moved the seat recline spring to. This caused other parts to need clearancing, but does permit the seat to be angled forward to permit access for back seat passengers.

The passenger seat is pretty straight forward, make an adapter piece for the front mounting holes, and redrill the holes in the rear.

The drivers seat was trickier. I learned that the 86 and earlier had a weak plastic transmission, which was evident as I took my seat apart, and the housing had age cracks in it. So moving forward, I noticed that the Buick power seat assembly looked remarkably close. I had to modify one of the motor positions to like up with the Cutlass seat track. Then had to swap the rear actuators from side to side to permit better drive cable routing, but everything is working well now.

With my 6'1'' height, I've got the seats down as far as they will go, and the seat position seems pretty good. The seats are definitely more supportive, I've not had it out on the road yet, as we are still cold and rainy here.

I've also got the rear seat to match, but not tackling that at this time.....



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Those look like they are pretty comfortable, I think that when I do mine, I will probably get the s10 seats, though I have a pair of seats from a 90 something Grand Am or Grand Prix that uses some front hook shape to fasten the front, while it is bolt down in the back.

 

[clean8485]

I installed seats from a '96-'98 Grand Am GT in my '84 Monte, and they bolted directly to the original bucket seat tracks. I looked at trying a pair of seats from a '93 Bonneville SSEi, but the seat were too wide for the space between the console and the doors.

 

[403Olds]

Thanks guys. I've got a set of firebird seats for my wifes GP. They will bolt right in. Trying to find anything to match the maroon in my Cutlass was difficult.

 

[TURNA]

Very nice!

The back seat should just pop in.

A few people take out the same year Monte seats and use them

 

[565bbchevy]

Trying to find anything to match the maroon in my Cutlass was difficult.

So are you going to swap the upper door panels and rear inserts for a matching vinyl version?

 

[403Olds]

Very nice!

The back seat should just pop in.

A few people take out the same year Monte seats and use them

Thanks, My back seat doesn't get used that much, but I'll probably tackle it at some point.

 

[403Olds]

So are you going to swap the upper door panels and rear inserts for a matching vinyl version?

The lighting isn't the greatest in my barn, but the door panels are already maroon, but have faded over the last 30 years and 200K miles. The seats are leather, I doubt I put an money in the door panels. I really was just looking for an improvement in the comfort of the seats. The stock Cutlass buckets aren't the most supportive...

 

[81cutlass]

So am I understanding that it is factory G body tracks bolted to the W body seats with some bracket adapters in between?

Rumor I saw was that split bench G body tracks bolt to W body seats and drop in to the car. I have yet to confirm that.

Makes me want to get around to swapping seats in my 2+2 with a set of W body seats more now.

 

[5spdCab]

Which models are the w-bodies?
I read here on GBF that s10 seats into the late 80's early 90's will fit on g-body tracks.