Transplant: 2002 Bonneville seats into 1983 Bonneville wagon

I found a set of blue cloth buckets in a 2002 Bonneville at the local JY on Monday.

I finally got time to test-fit them today.
To make them fit I had to elongate the mounting holes in the adjuster pedestals. I am also using only 4 of the 6 mounting studs on the driver's seat. The '02 passenger seat uses 4 mounting studs - elongating the holes about 1/8" allowed the seat to fit onto the existing stud locations. I'll also need to make a jumper to connect the power seat harness; the connectors had changed between 1983 and 2002.

The driver's seat is a little too far outboard; it is rubbing against the "B" pillar trim. BUT, I'm gonna use them.

The cloth is so close to matching the original material that you have to look very closely to see the difference.

I was concerned that the smoother, more "organic" style of the newer Bonneville seat would look bad in the car, but I like the way these look and feel.

Took it for a short test drive and I didn't notice any issues with alignment or centering relative to the steering wheel and pedals. I would like the driver's seat to go back a little further; that will probably be a winter project.

New driver's seat next to original passenger seat:


Both seats in position:


View from driver's side rear door:


And I still have room for a console!


I still need to install all the seat adjuster covers, the seat belt anchor covers and finish the jumper for the power seat feed.

And I need to repair a small burn in the driver's seat cover, but that's a lot cheaper than all new trim covers!

Looks great Joe and those seats do match pretty closely!
Jim

WOW those look great! The fabric is really a close match, pretty wild.

Hey off topic but if you didn't know it putting a Grand Prix tachometer in there in place of the big clock is easy, and there are a lot of them still in the salvage yards. Very cool you have the rest of the dash gauges and not the idiot lights.

I like that car a lot!

-Mike

Oh and another trick I went to an art supply store and got a "chrome" paint marker and re-did the trim around the wood on my 85 Grand Prix's dash....and just recently my 88 Cutlass. It makes a world of difference to re-do that.

Are you going to put a console in the car now?

Keep the pics coming!

-Mike

Wow those seats are a CRAZY good match. Nice score!

Mike; yes, I plan to add a console. I might go back and grab the one that was in the Bonneville, but it was pretty beat up.

I've got one of those "chrome" pens, too. I will re-do the bezel trim when I get the new woodgrain film.

Stingroo; thanks!