Interior tired? Seats not comfy anymore? Do this!

As a newby, I was awed at the last carshow I went to where the wagons had
new bucket seats installed in them. I inquired about this transformation.
I was told to get Pontiac Bonneville buckets and a console from a '93-'95 donor
vehicle. Have you seen one of those lately? --- ready to be torn apart??
Meanwhile my wife was bitc--ing that she felt like she was being thrown out the door,
due to a "listing" on her 16 year-old seat! What to do --- worry, worry, and we had a big trip
coming up. Found a solution. A friend just had their minivan completely re-upholstered -- in
leather by a nearby shop. Passed that info onto me. So I went there!
Well, I could not afford to do the leather conversion, but when I told the shop owner about my
problem, she suggested why not just REBUILD the seats, with firmer padding, and spring
re-tensioning? ----- and the price was unbelievably low! Cheaper than boneyard finds!!
So we did it, and here are the results. I also was frustrated in not having an accessible
console or storage place for our GPS, cell phone and other items that we might want to leave
in the car. I looked on the web for a seat-mount one & the cheapest good one I found was $109.00-
plus shipping! So, I decided to build one, using furniture-grade plywood, and here it is as well!

Could always bolt in the armrest out of any Roadmaster. They use the same mounting hardware.

Well, that is some serious storage! (nice deep cupholders too)

but will it hold a super big gulp?

Nice idea on the seats. My wife's minivan with 193,000 miles could use a restuff on the driver's seat.

One caution: Please carefully consider your center console. Automakers build soft and flexible things inside the interior for a reason. If you or a family member gets in a crash, you will likely be thrown or smashed against that console. Or, if it isn't properly bolted in, it may get launched at you, or at one of your occupants. If I were to build something like that, I'd consider carpeted luan. Sounds flimsy, but if it's me vs. the console, I better win.

sherlock9c1 wrote:

Nice idea on the seats. My wife's minivan with 193,000 miles could use a restuff on the driver's seat.

One caution: Please carefully consider your center console. Automakers build soft and flexible things inside the interior for a reason. If you or a family member gets in a crash, you will likely be thrown or smashed against that console. Or, if it isn't properly bolted in, it may get launched at you, or at one of your occupants. If I were to build something like that, I'd consider carpeted luan. Sounds flimsy, but if it's me vs. the console, I better win.

I considered many factors on the construction of this item. I wanted a console that had covered storage.
I want it to stay put, so I provided "slots" on each side, and it is held in place by the center seat
seat belt! It isn't going anywhere! The only problem with that arrangement is, if you move the drivers
2/3 seat, you first have to unbuckle the console, or you will break it! I have to educate my wife on that issue. The shop that did the rebuild on my seats offered to cover it for me, but the time factor for our
trip interfers. I may go back & do it later.
As far as getting thrown or smashed against the console ----- you are over-reacting! Remember, seat belts, and then there are also air bags!
The only way this console will become an obstructive factor is in a side crash! I've been in a car totaled
accident years ago, and the damage incurred was due to loose items moving. I had a leg ripped open
by a short-wave radio that was loose on the floor when we got hit.
Thanks for your concern, but been there, done that. :<)

rkmdogs wrote:

As far as getting thrown or smashed against the console ----- you are over-reacting! Remember, seat belts, and then there are also air bags!

Like the seatbelts that I was wearing and still sent me into the dashboard and sprained my knee last year?

And on another note, for $10 at a junkyard this meets the same criteria:

Cadet57 wrote:

rkmdogs wrote:

As far as getting thrown or smashed against the console ----- you are over-reacting! Remember, seat belts, and then there are also air bags!

Like the seatbelts that I was wearing and still sent me into the dashboard and sprained my knee last year?

And on another note, for $10 at a junkyard this meets the same criteria:

WHAT IS IT???? I'll buy it from you & give you a profit! How does it mount? S'plain, please!!!!

I have one of those in the colour you need. Leather, though, not cloth. I am in Europe right now, but will be home next week. Send me a PM.

Jason.

The seats look great! Care to share the cost of the rebuild?

Cadet57 wrote:

rkmdogs wrote:

As far as getting thrown or smashed against the console ----- you are over-reacting! Remember, seat belts, and then there are also air bags!

Like the seatbelts that I was wearing and still sent me into the dashboard and sprained my knee last year?

And on another note, for $10 at a junkyard this meets the same criteria:

$10?!! Daddy NEEDS one for his Caprice wagon.

rkmdogs wrote:

WHAT IS IT???? I'll buy it from you & give you a profit! How does it mount? S'plain, please!!!!

It's a Roadmaster armrest with the fliptop cupholders. As I already said... It uses the same mounting hardware as the caprice armrest, unscrew yours and pop in the Roadmaster one. Literally takes 2 mins. I don't have any spares, but go to a JY, I can't imagine it would cost more than $10 for one.

BigWagon wrote:

The seats look great! Care to share the cost of the rebuild?

The seats were rebuilt by B.J. Custom Upholstery in Tampa. FL. 8624 N. Florida Ave.
She charged me $138.00 each,
but that price depends on the condition of your seats,
what they need to do to fix it, and the time it takes to complete the job.

In my case it was minimal. The complete re-upholster in leather they do with a kit. She quoted me
$1375 for the kit + any extras they might need to complete the job, and that was for all 3 seats.

The custom console was made from left-over 1/2" cabinet scraps that I had from a prior
kitchen remodel. The additional things I needed cost $11.76 at Lowes.(hinge, paint, nails).

Cadet57 wrote:

rkmdogs wrote:

WHAT IS IT???? I'll buy it from you & give you a profit! How does it mount? S'plain, please!!!!

It's a Roadmaster armrest with the fliptop cupholders. As I already said... It uses the same mounting hardware as the caprice armrest, unscrew yours and pop in the Roadmaster one. Literally takes 2 mins. I don't have any spares, but go to a JY, I can't imagine it would cost more than $10 for one.

Thanks for the info, but how many Roadmasters have you seen in a boneyard lately --- of the correct
vintage & color? Down here you can find hens' teeth faster!!

Your explanation sounds like a very simple job, but looking at my armrest, it does not appear as
simple as you say! I'll keep looking, unless someone here has a spare they want to sell. My
current armrest is solid & has no compartment!

rkmdogs wrote:

Thanks for the info, but how many Roadmasters have you seen in a boneyard lately --- of the correct
vintage & color? Down here you can find hens' teeth faster!!

Your explanation sounds like a very simple job, but looking at my armrest, it does not appear as
simple as you say! I'll keep looking, unless someone here has a spare they want to sell. My
current armrest is solid & has no compartment!

They use the same armrest 91-95. And it really is that easy. There are only two screws holding it on. Really...

Check the yards, you'll be glad you did! I added a tan RMS center console to my 1A2, blends pretty good with my vinyl seats. Easy mod, just tilt both seats back, take out 2 philips screws and swap. The absolute best part is you get a usable cup holder instead of that one in the ash tray supported by fragile plastic sliders.

Hey rkmdogs your homebuilt consolre brings back a ton of memories.Back in the 60s my dad
was salesman and spent a lot of time in his car.He couldnt find what he needed so he built
one and it looked just like yours.Its still out in the garage somewhere and looks just like yours.
He kept it and transferred it from one car to the next new car from year to year.He had to
rebuild it once because the side and top wore out from use.Thank you for the great memories.
Jim Gordon

If you pay $1,400 to recover factory caprice seats in leather, you're an idiot.

It's your money, but that'd just be wronger than a football bat.

Glad you're happy with your new setup though.

Bewber wrote:

If you pay $1,400 to recover factory caprice seats in leather, you're an idiot.

It's your money, but that'd just be wronger than a football bat.

Glad you're happy with your new setup though.

Lets see, in my local JY right now there is a '93 Caprice LS with red leather, $150 for the front bench, skins for the rear are an extra $50. An upholstery shop is going to charge $75 to re skin the back seat. Hmmmm

Hey Bewber & Cadet 57...
Maybe your glasses were fogged when you read it.
I was asked what my costs were for the REBUILDING of my 16 year-old,
broken-down seats, to which I replied.
I also thru-in data about the cost of BRAND-NEW recovering of all 3 seats,
in leather, not vinyl,WHICH I CHOSE NOT TO DO!

So, your glib comments about the prices compared to your junk-yard finds,
is not only out-of-contex, it is trite, and kindergarden in style!
(My daddys' bigger than your daddy!)

I was trying to be helpful with this whole thread, and don't need your dumb-ass
replies! Grow -up!!!!!

rkmdogs wrote:

Hey Bewber & Cadet 57...
Maybe your glasses were fogged when you read it.
I was asked what my costs were for the REBUILDING of my 16 year-old,
broken-down seats, to which I replied.
I also thru-in data about the cost of BRAND-NEW recovering of all 3 seats,
WHICH I CHOSE NOT TO DO!

So, you glib comments about the prices compared to your junk-yard finds,
is not only out-of-contex, it is trite, and kindergarden in style!
(My daddys' bigger than your daddy!)

I was trying to be helpful with this whole thread, and don't need your dumb-ass
replies! Grow -up!!!!!

And now I'm done being helpful. See ya.

Cadet57 wrote:

rkmdogs wrote:

Thanks for the info, but how many Roadmasters have you seen in a boneyard lately --- of the correct
vintage & color? Down here you can find hens' teeth faster!!

Your explanation sounds like a very simple job, but looking at my armrest, it does not appear as
simple as you say! I'll keep looking, unless someone here has a spare they want to sell. My
current armrest is solid & has no compartment!

They use the same armrest 91-95. And it really is that easy. There are only two screws holding it on. Really...

Following your suggestion, I just made a trip to two different boneyards, in my search for the armrest that was shown earlier. First, there were no "B" bodied wagons in either yard. Not knowing if that
armrest/console was model specific, I walked both the yards and saw many, many Buicks with
armrests, ----- but not that one!
Secondly, I saw '91-'93 Buicks and they had a narrower armrest than the one in the pic above! They would not fit my wagon. I found one Caprice armrest ---- and it was the same as what I have,
no compartment, nor cup holders!
Anybody else have some more info?????

Cadet57 wrote:

rkmdogs wrote:

Hey Bewber & Cadet 57...
Maybe your glasses were fogged when you read it.
I was asked what my costs were for the REBUILDING of my 16 year-old,
broken-down seats, to which I replied.
I also thru-in data about the cost of BRAND-NEW recovering of all 3 seats,
WHICH I CHOSE NOT TO DO!

So, you glib comments about the prices compared to your junk-yard finds,
is not only out-of-contex, it is trite, and kindergarden in style!
(My daddys' bigger than your daddy!)

I was trying to be helpful with this whole thread, and don't need your dumb-ass
replies! Grow -up!!!!!

And now I'm done being helpful. See ya.

Spoken like a true, helpful participant of this website

The armrest mentioned above is only in Roadmaster sedans/wagons. The smaller Buicks (Park Avenue/LeSabre) had a half-size one that won't fit. I found my RM sedan armrest in cloth, and even in the right color for $8. It took me some time to find but I did get one. I'll hunt my yards next time I'm out and see if I can find one.

As somebody said on page one, the swap really is simple. Recline the seats all the way back, two phillips head screws in the armrest, swap, replace, put the seats back and you're done.

Hope you stick around the forums.

rkmdogs wrote:

Cadet57 wrote:

rkmdogs wrote:

Hey Bewber & Cadet 57...
Maybe your glasses were fogged when you read it.
I was asked what my costs were for the REBUILDING of my 16 year-old,
broken-down seats, to which I replied.
I also thru-in data about the cost of BRAND-NEW recovering of all 3 seats,
WHICH I CHOSE NOT TO DO!

So, you glib comments about the prices compared to your junk-yard finds,
is not only out-of-contex, it is trite, and kindergarden in style!
(My daddys' bigger than your daddy!)

I was trying to be helpful with this whole thread, and don't need your dumb-ass
replies! Grow -up!!!!!

And now I'm done being helpful. See ya.

Spoken like a true, helpful participant of this website

Way to go newby,you and Dale Carnegie have a lot of work ahead of you with that temper
Take Care
Jim Gordon

Way to go newby,you and Dale Carnegie have a lot of work ahead of you with that temper
Take Care
Jim Gordon[/quote]

Hey Jim,
My response was all about a 2 words that seems to be seldom used lately,
"Common Courtesy"

That is what my response was all about. I asked a simple question ---
but some chose to not give a simple answer.

You might want to sit in on reading Dales' book!

Trust me man - relax. You'll have a lot more fun here if you chill out. I learned that awhile ago here. Most of the people here are cool, and I just ignore the ones that aren't (as I'm sure we all do).

I can say though, that so far everyone from this forum who I have met in person has been quite hilarious and friendly. I'm probably the youngest person who frequents this forum on any sort of regular basis, and even I mix well with these guys.

1. I never mentioned your dad. Feel free never to mention mine again.

2. I can tell we might have gotten off on the wrong foot online. I'd love for us to meet up at a wagon gathering so you can explain to me exactly how big of a dumbass I am. I think that'd be a great way for you to get to know me better.

3. You're totally right. I forgot to thank you for being so helpful. "If your seats suck, take them to an upholstery shop and have them redone" isn't something we could have figured out without you. Great thread.

Maybe the best thread ever,lol....

I still need to get this armrest for my Olds. Could have taken two and made one last weekend most likely..but it was hot and I was carrying a trunk lid on my head already... DOH.

Just picturing you walking thru a JY,tools in one hand and holding onto a hood with the other makes me
laugh.There are few guarantees in the world BUT if Mike says he,s going to do something to his wagon,it will be DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Flasheroo wrote:

Just picturing you walking thru a JY,tools in one hand and holding onto a hood with the other makes me
laugh.There are few guarantees in the world BUT if Mike says he,s going to do something to his wagon,it will be DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At least the trunk lid gave me some shade...and Dad and Sprocket helped carry tools.

If you unbolt the center armrest from below, there are 4 10mm bolts. You do not have to tilt the seats back, and you do not have to fight with the plastic washers. I occasionally find them. If you get a leather/vinyl one, you can use SEM paint to change the color. To get on in original light blue, you would have to find a 94-96 car. 91-93s have a dark blue. The later models also have a different flip out cup holder with small sprung arms to hold the cups. I have one of these, but the top leather is coming off at the rear of the driver's side. There is a 93 dark blue one in one of the yards, but it has cracked leather on the top.

Cadet57 wrote:

Could always bolt in the armrest out of any Roadmaster. They use the same mounting hardware.

I did exactly that.  Was given (thank you Dave) a tan Roadmaster armrest.  They shouldn't be any problem to find, as tan is the most common color interior for Roadmasters.  You need a 94 to 96.  When you use those, they look like they belong there and three people can sit in the front.  

They are on ebay, CL and all the major forums where cars are being parted out.  I don't know what you're looking at, but Buick Roadmasters are the same size as Caprices.  If you are looking at other model Buicks, they're not the same.  You can probably find them from $10 on up, and if you lucky you'll find one free like I did.

Tom



"COL" also did the same for his Customer Cruiser and it looks good.

silverfox103 wrote:

Do I see real wood on the dashboard?

Nope. Just a different woodgrain pattern.

Looks "real". Great interior.

Yeah the Oldsmobiles, IMO, got the best looking woodgrain.

Not real wood but looks nice. I really like my Roadmaster armrest.
COL

haha,. comparing the best plastic woodgrains,..

phantom 309 wrote:

haha,.  comparing the best plastic woodgrains,..

You are right Nick. I would prefer burled maple of a 50s Bentley or Jaguar. If i could have what i want,.
I wouldn't want what i have.
Dick