Dapapadon

I suggested member 68Tom ask some bench seat questions about his 68 442 over at realoldspower.com. He signed up over there but needs an administrator to activate his "membership", if that's how you say it. He asked me for help when he didn't get activated. I thought maybe give it a little while and he has. Anyway, I know several folks here frequent that site much more than I do. Could someone help get his account activated?

Tom, sorry I didn't do this sooner. Work was demanding this last week.

Don

dan1s

Don,

I had forgot my password and was locked out. It took a while for me to get my account unlocked. All I can say is that it does take some time. Try and send another Email or post it in the general section and hope that a administrator will see it.

Dan

dan1s

Tom, Don

I posted a note on the general section asking for an administrator to activate 68Tom.

Hope this will help get you in Tom.

Dan

Oldsguy

PM the admin or a moderator. They can't help but see the request then.

FTW65W29

I am in the same boat that dan1s was in. I have sent numerous requests without any reply. I even had another member request assistance but with the same outcome. I understand that the administrators are busy, so I just gave up on being able to login. To bad I as I enjoy visiting that site and reading some of the posts.

Oldsguy

ROP is really huge, I wouldn't be reluctant to say they have X100 posts that we have daily. I sure would not have to be responsible for a site that large. Then again, what is wrong with sharing the load? I just can't see why someone there would not be able to give some attention to your plight.

74 Omega

I did recieve a confermation e-mail back, it took awhile, but I was and still am, unable to log in. so I have just givin up.

Frankenpez

Same here. Although ROP may have a larger membership with more active posters, I feel that any questions I have will be answered here just the same, maybe a little longer in response time. Small price to pay for a good bunch of people to be around.

I gave ROP a chance, they lost. I'm happy here!

Dapapadon

Yeah, I prefer this site too! Tom has a 68 442, he was asking about a bench seat he needs & I think he has determined it's a one year only seat. There are a few 68/69 restoration guys over at ROP. Also thouhgt he might have some luck locating a seat close to him over there. I've got one, but I'm west coast and he's east coast (NY I think).

Don

68Tom

Well, now that I'm back in 442 world (yes, I decided to keep the car) I am still in need of a '68 bench seat/seat info and have still not heard from ROP. I understand if they're busy, but that's just absurd. If you can't do the job, perhaps it's time to hand it off to someone who can.

dan1s

Tom,

I posted another comment on ROP to try and get you in. Let's see if it works.

Dan

68Tom

Thanks Dan. Another way around it, is one of you ROP members could simply post the question for me. I guess if they don't want me they don't want me. haha.

dan1s

What question do you want me to post?

68Tom

Basically, I am in need of a proper front bench seat for my 1968 442. In it at the moment is what I believe is a '69 GTO bench seat with center armrest and headrests. When I talked to Legendary Auto about getting it recovered, they told me that the '68 bench seat was a one-year only seat, and hence, if I want the covers to fit, I need to get a '68. So, I guess my initial question was, a) is this true, and b) will any '68 GM A-body bench seat fit the covers? I find it hard to believe that GM made a different bench seat frame for each of their A-bodies that year, but I guess it's possible.

Now, I have no problems with getting an Olds '68 bench seat. However, they're a bit hard to find. The car is now in Phoenix, so I might have a bit of an easier time finding one.

So, basically, I was going to post to ask the 1st question, and then ask if anyone had a '68 bench for a Cutlass or 442.

Thanks

dan1s

OK, I'll see what I can find out for you.

Dan

dan1s

Tom,

I got two responces so far. Here they are:

1: Shades of the past, indeed. I went through that with my 67 which was missing a part.

What I did was use a seatback frame from a 72. They are close enough to work. I know, in 67, the headrest was an option which my car didn't have, so it was easier to make it work than possibly with a 68...which MIGHT have had its own headrests...someone else will have to answer that one.

If headrests were an option only in 68, and, thus, not always included, a 70-72 might be able to be reupholstered without headrests and be close enough that no one without a tape measure could tell.

Here's my 67...note that the driver's side back is bigger than the passenger side. I saved the other back to get that fixed when I restore it...the armrest/seatback interface is better with the bigger, newer one anyways.

http://www.landofjohn.com/cutlass/4.jpg

2: I personally consider the seat pattern to be a fairly small difference from 68 to 69. I wanted headrests in my 68, so I had some 71 buckets done in the 69 pattern and did the backseat to match. Yes, the car seat police will bust me, but phoeey to them!


I'll post them as they come:

Dan

68Tom

Thanks for posting Dan. I'm not really sure if I got a response that helps me, but from what's posted, it does not seem like the seat frames are all that interchangeable.

dan1s

Tom,

Here's another reply.

I have a bench seat from my '68 Cutlass S. I'll try to get a couple of pics this week, but feel free to bug me and remind me if you don't see anything by Monday. It's sitting in the garage, and I know it has the center fold down armrest, can't remember if it had headrests.

When I here back from him I'll let you know.

Dan

68Tom

Thanks again Dan. Did the '68 have the center armrest option? If so, that'd be pretty cool to have. Not sure how the available upholstery would work on it, though. Or, if I don't have to get it reupholstered, even better....

olds68

68TOM,
I have owned 68 Cutlass/442 models for over 30 years and don't recall ever seeing a center arm rest. Unfortunately, I sold a nice bench seat a few years ago. The bench seat was split in the middle which would prohibit an armrest. I'm not sure about head rests either but the 69 style is interchangeable with 68 and they may have had head rests available.

Redog

I too forgot my password and never been on the site.

PM an Adim a few times and still not on the board

dan1s

Tom,

I don't think they had head and arm rest in the 68' model. Here's a pic of my seats. The bench should look some what like this.

P8120151.jpg

68Tom

I personally didn't think they did either. See what I've been dealing with regarding my question/request? I agree with olds68 said in that they're simply a split in the middle bench seat. I've heard that you could get headrests as an option, but personally have never seen it.

In the end, all of this is moot if I could simply get a ****** '68 Olds 442 or Cutlass bench. haha.

dan1s

Why not just get buckets?

68Tom

Because bench seats are cool! Because I like to be different! haha. I dunno, I actually like the idea of having the front bench with the 4-speed. I can just see some "gentleman" in '68 ordering it as such. Plus, this car will be all numbers matching, so I'd like to keep it as such.

dan1s

I know exactly how you feel. I'll let you know if I here any thing from ROP

Dan

dan1s

Tom,

Here's the responce back from the ROP that I posted before.

The guys name is Chuck from Pittsburgh.

I had asked him if he was selling it.

Yep, it's just collecting dust. I'll clean it off for the pics. I'm not 100% it's a '68 Olds bench... someone somewhere along the way tried telling me it was something else. It's possible... the car was hit, and had a '69 front clip put on it. I don't think so though, the whole interior was pearl white, both seats, door panels, headliner, etc.

When I get the pic I'll post it for you.

Dan

380 Racer

I am friends with the Hunts (owners of ROP). ROP is not their means of making a living. They own a construction company. They have been so busy working 12-14 hrs a day for 6-7 days a week. They also do some machine work on the side. They are having trouble keeping up with things they have promised in both areas. All 4 of them also have families, which they don't have much time with anymore. Sometimes Russell doesn't even get on ROP for days. Russell also told me that some of the problems comes from his spam blocker. He doesn't even see alot of emails.

After this weekend I'll see if I might be able to pass on some info for you guys. Now before you start flooding my inbox, please let me find out if I can even help.......OK?

Nick

68Tom

Thanks Nick. It's obviously not a life or death matter on my part. In fact, at the moment, I'm taking my time and holding out for the proper seat. It was just frustrating at the time.

Thanks, Dan. If it's original upholstery, I guess we'll be able to tell pretty quickly if it's a '68 or '69.

dan1s

Tom, I sent you a Private message. Check it out.

mb197942

i tried to get in to registered over a month ago still not activated

csstrux

I'm in the same boat as you.

2blu442

Dan & Tom, just a comment on headrests and armrests. I've had the backs off of at least 3 sets of 1968 Buckets and once a Toronado Strato Bench seat backs and they all had the internal parts for headrests. I don't know about the A-body benches as I've never had one of them apart. I also have a 1968 4 door bench seat with the center fold down arm rest, and a 1967 Cutlass 2 door with the center fold down arm rest. So I believe they had that option in 1968 for the 2 door cars too. John

dan1s

Tom,

Here is a picture of a bench seat from a 68' 442.

00.jpg

Also I'm waiting for the other two guys to send me there pictures of the seats. I'll send them out as soon as I get them.

Dan

geckonz08

beautiful interior!!

It took me matbe 6 weeks until I was "approved " .They are good in the respect that the numbers are there .However,for friendly,helpful advice ,on this site it`s hard to beat. IMHO

dan1s

Thanks,

Not that bad for 40 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Allan R

Hi,
I did a little checking on web at Parts Place. They have the 1968 Cutlass Supreme listed for buckets, and the option you are looking for Bench Seat with Center armrest. Here is the link to that page in their catalogue. Good luck with your project.

http://www.thepartsplaceinc.com/cata...ideimages=true

I have a bench seat in my 1972 Cutlass. It looks like new; even the tracks. But I'm replacing it with a power bench with armrest from a 72 Supreme. Problem is that I have to get it custom upholstered to match the trim pattern in the Cutlass S. No one (even fusicsk or parts place can help me on this one).