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Questions about headrest installation on 72 Cutlass buckets
I'm re-covering both of the seat covers on my 1972 Cutlass 442 due to tears on the driver's side seat. The rest of the seats are nice as they should be on a low mile car. Since the Legendary seat covers will be new and look different from the originals, I'm doing both of the bucket seats. I used the Legendary 1971 (72) replacement video on YouTube and it's pretty good. I did the driver's side first and the seat back cover was a real PITA to install but they look pretty good (see photos) EXCEPT the YouTube video never mentions the headrest tubes so.......I forgot to install them, so I'll be taking the cover back off to insert them.
Here is a photo I took of the seat as I was disassembling it. I had the seat face down with the back of the seat (where the seatback and seatback release button would be) and I have the tubes marked as I believe them to be inserted into the headrest hole through the top of the seat foam. I took the passenger seat apart and installed the tubes through the top seat foam and using the one screw on each per the photo. Being old, I'm not 100% sure that this is correct. I could be 180 degrees off.....I'm not wanting to install the covers and finding out that the headrests don't sit right? I hope someone here has good info if these are installed correctly??? I found another video for installation of the headrests, and he showed the tubes already in and then put the seat covers on so no real info there. I see no other info about headrest installs in detail! Below is photo of them installed in new foam and the seatback is down and the cover is sitting on top before I have stretched it over the sides. I just don't want to have to re-do these once I get the covers on. Info please! OLE442
Last edited by OLE442; Sep 20, 2025 at 08:44 AM.
Reason: spellin'
I've been looking through assembly manual hoping to find a page with headrest info but nothing yet. I've searched the net but found nothing useful. Surely someone had a post with relevant info about the placement and orientation of the plastic headrest tube in the seatbacks??
You have the tubes in the right location, but you were a little aggressive in cutting your foam. The tubes should be flush with the foam like the photo below. Once the cover and top plates are on, it will probably still look fine.
Yes, between the wife and I we got the cover on. I used a thin wooden spoon to get some extra padding up under the cover to near the plastic pieces! It looks pretty good! Thank you for the verification of the plastic tube position! You’d think Legendary would mention those tubes in there or have a separate video addressing them on GM cars??
Well, both seats are completely done! I’ll work on a couple trim issues in the back seat before I install them both tomorrow! They’re done, look nice and my hands aren’t as bad as I’d feared!
Just a comment about installing the new seat covers. Legendary sends a pack of hog rings in the install kit. For one, I know they aren.t enough, so you'll have to buy more. I bought some years ago but also need some more d/t not catching the vinyl cover and the seat springs. I ruined many so I bought some more from Restoration World locally and still ran short on the bottom of the last seat, So, I looked them up and found some online at Tractor Supply Center (I have one a few miles away!). They have various sizes for actually inserting them in hog's noses but have a smaller version for upholstery. I bought a box of 100 but knew I wouldn't need that many. They worked even better than all the others. They are a bit wider which helps to get them to surround the seat cover and seat spring. The also have a slight bit longer and sharper points at the ends which helps to snag the material before you close them. They are also what looks to be cadmium plated which seems to help them collapse and go around the material. If I ever do another, I will use these. They are great to use!
