Bonneville Seats

So after alot of looking/reading, I think i'd like to find a set of bonneville seats for my OCC. Are the seats a direct bolt in? Do I use the bonni seats with my tracks? Or the bonni seat and track both? I only plan on doing the fronts for right now.

I put my bonnies on my Caprice rails (same as yours) and it was very easy. You will have to drill new holes, but it's very straight forward.

If you find a set of the 12 way seats, though, it might be worth it to wire those up on their own rails and include the controller. No experience in that department, though.

The cloth bonneville seats are a great and cheap option. I had them for awhile but went to the 12-ways only because if you're really tall (6'3" or more) the 6-way upper padding didn't quite fit my back. The fabric is different with each color; personally I dislike the corduroy fabric they used on the tan seats but loved the fabric they used on the charcoal seats.

Because Bonnevilles of that vintage are so old now and the Bonneville owner crowd typically was not the type to keep the leather conditioned, it will be very hard to find a set that's not torn or ripped. Even if you find a set with some abrasion but no tears or rips, that may be your best option. There's a set on the ISSF here that's in probably as good a shape as you will find, although the price is steep.

If you chase after the 12-ways, grab the center control switch assembly and remove ALL the wiring harnesses, only cutting the black, tan and grey ground/power/dimmer wires that tie into the rest of the vehicle harness. Do not cut any other parts of the harness no matter what; it'll be very tricky to put it back together. I think you can leave the seat bases in the donor vehicle and use your Caprice rails but make sure the drive motor plugs are compatible (I bet they will be).

Thanks guys.
I dont think i'll really need the 12 ways, as i'm only 5'7. Power seats don't really thrill me, but since I already have them, and the switches are in the door, I definitely would like to keep them.
Last time I was at the junkyard, I did spot a real nice set of charcoal grey cloth seats. They were in a 92-99 bonneville, I don't remember exactly what year. Does it matter? The yard wants $35 a piece for the seat without tracks.

Nope. Doesn't matter. Those will work.

Bonnies bolt right to the B rails. No need for any drilling or anything. I've installed a dozen sets that way, no issues.

The 12 ways however, do require some modifications.

Very good to know, thanks. And just out of curiosity, how much do seats run at the yards where you guys live? Just looked it up and a bucket seat, no tracks, is 25 with a 5 dollar core here.

I got mine for $22 a piece with the rails.

I thought I got a good deal on mine...
They were $50 for the pair, including one power and one manual track.

Ok, so I guess it's not too bad.

91OCCWagon wrote:

Very good to know, thanks. And just out of curiosity, how much do seats run at the yards where you guys live? Just looked it up and a bucket seat, no tracks, is 25 with a 5 dollar core here.

Core charge at the junkyard on used seats? WTH do they do with the 'core' seat?

I wondered the same thing.

1. Scrap metal.
2. Get you back in the yard to buy more. Works on me, unfortunately.

When I bought seats, they were 15-20 a piece without rails (depending on which guy I got at the gate).

And wtf of the core charge.....its a seat

Again, thats what I said. lol
The yard is one of the LKQ yards. They try and squeeze every dollar they can outta you.

I still have a pair on minty mint mint charcoal leather 6 ways that have been in the basement for ten years. One of these years I'll put them in a car. Or not.

jayoldschool wrote:

I still have a pair on minty mint mint charcoal leather 6 ways that have been in the basement for ten years. One of these years I'll put them in a car. Or not.

Way to rub it in,have you checked on those seats lately?

Last time I saw them, they were still mint, but dusty. I offered them up at WF a couple of years ago, but no takers.

Are you still thinking about selling them,if I were you I would hold onto really nice bonnys for
that special b body.I got a deal on a set of 04 bonnys for my friends limo.These are very nice
seats as well and I bought a set of the machined and powdercoated mounting plates as well.

91OCCWagon wrote:

Again, thats what I said. lol
The yard is one of the LKQ yards. They try and squeeze every dollar they can outta you.

When I called LKQ for quotes on chevy 350s, they wanted 900+core for a 300k chevy truck motor and 1100+core for a 150k roadmaster 350 motor (both of which came with a 3 year free replacement warranty). I tried to keep from laughing.

Geez, and I thought they were bad here. I definitely would have laughed, right before I hung up on em.

cadillac kevin wrote:

91OCCWagon wrote:

Again, thats what I said. lol
The yard is one of the LKQ yards. They try and squeeze every dollar they can outta you.

When I called LKQ for quotes on chevy 350s, they wanted 900+core for a 300k chevy truck motor and 1100+core for a 150k roadmaster 350 motor (both of which came with a 3 year free replacement warranty). I tried to keep from laughing.

I bought a 100K LO5 and trans for about $550 with the core charge at the local LKQ you pull it. Recently someone picked an LQ4 with trans, wiring harness, and computer for about $875 at one of the LKQs here. I should have raced there and picked it, but did not have a place to store it. Next time I will grab it and deal with where to store it after the fact.

I just took out my SS seats and installed some black bonneville seats(6-way) I still haul things in quickssilver sometimes and with the bulkiness of the rear SS seat i couldnt fold the back seat down all the way. But with the bonneville rears not only are they thinner, which allows me to fold the back seat down properly, they also have a rear middle console complete with cup holders, the perfect mod with two little kids that ride in the back.

I wasn't really planning on swapping the rear seat too, but that would be nice to have a cupholder or 2 back there.

I have a set of light grey 12 ways in my 9c1 ,. i hate em,.
I,d prefer another set of SS seats,.

Honestly, since losing weight, I LOVE my bonnies so much more. They hold you. It's awesome.

I need to get to the yard and get a passenger seat bottom and swap it into my driver's seat. Then I'll REALLY be in for it.


Mmm yes.