Photos of column-shift interiors

[Jfridge92]

So I'm planning to fix a lot of the interior issues on my car this spring. The back seat, while visually in good shape, has a ton of springs that will literally stab you if you sit on them or lean across the seat wrong. So in the spirit of fixing that, I figured that I may as well explore the options of swapping seats. A quick Google search brings up some less than ideal photo angles of Bonneville SE interior, but I'm looking for some good quality shots of the bench style seats in the SE's, Olds models, etc to see what different options there are, and if they're worth the effort to swap.

The main thing I hate with the LeSabre seats now is that they're completely flat, 0 side support. On the pictures I've seen on the bonnevilles, it looks like the seats have a bit more side support, but I'd love to see pics of all of the column shift h body interiors to really see what a good route would be.

[1oldman]

No "expert" here, but have you looked at the SLE/SSEi (1992-1999) seats in leather? The pics I've seen and from the interior of my '92 SSE, they should "fit the bill". My wife likes the seats in the '92 better than the 2005 SE or her 2013 CTS. - BC

[Jfridge92]

I've kind of been wondering about the ssei or floor shift seats. The main thing with those is since I've got a bench seat, the center console is part of the seat. With the ssei models or floor shift models, the center console is part of the dash. If I did ssei seats, I'd think I wouldn't be able to use the center console, right? At least not without swapping the dash over too.

[RJolly87]

The 05 PA Ultra seems to have a bucket seating arrangement. And while the seats might not fit the bill, the console might. You may also seize the opportunity to use aftermarket, or even build your own, to make it everything you want it to be.

[Jfridge92]

Going on google pictures, I think you're on to something good with a PAU center console. It'd be sweet to throw some SSEi seats into the car, I know those would feel way better even if I'm not able to get everything fully functional on them right away (as far as seat warmers, and all of the 9000 ways those can move) lol. Even if I swapped the motors from my current seats into them so I can keep the current functionality of mine, but the support and looks of those, I'd be happy with that. Now to try and track down a PAU and an ssei that isn't trashed totally lol.

[ga93sle]

Looks like Olds 88 console might work, too... And you won't have to worry about heated seats if you use 92-99 SSEi seats

[Jfridge92]

Looks like Olds 88 console might work, too... And you won't have to worry about heated seats if you use 92-99 SSEi seats

Good catch there, all of the 88s I saw online looked like they were mostly bench seats with the console on the bench like mine, but the few 88s that did have a floor console had floor shift? Is the console two pieces?

And do the ssei seats not have heaters back then?

[1oldman]

Maybe even front seats from an Olds LSS? - BC

[nos4blood70]

Pre-2000 did not have seat warmers. But I do believe you can make them come alive, power wise, without a lot of issue. I assume the Buick has completely manual seats?

[Jfridge92]

Most of the LSS's here also had the bench seats, but I'm keeping my eyes peeled at the u pulls for pretty much every h body to check.

Pre-2000 did not have seat warmers. But I do believe you can make them come alive, power wise, without a lot of issue. I assume the Buick has completely manual seats?

Surprisingly the drivers side got full power. It's got forward and backward motion, tilt, and up and down adjustments. I'm sure there's better terminology for the motions, but the labels on the controls have been worn off since I got the car. I've never been in an ssei to know what the differences are there, but I recall reading about I think AL7 seats having a ton of adjustments? Seat heaters aren't a big deal for me, especially since I have a garage now. It's the summer that makes leather less appealing hahaha

[haro1225]

Those LSS seats look pretty nice. See, if I was doing this I'd end up swapping to the full olds interior, and ditch the column shift altogether.

Or you could always turn the space for the floor shifter into cup holders or some kind of charging dock for a phone, iPod, etc.

[Jfridge92]

Those LSS seats look pretty nice. See, if I was doing this I'd end up swapping to the full olds interior, and ditch the column shift altogether.

Or you could always turn the space for the floor shifter into cup holders or some kind of charging dock for a phone, iPod, etc.

I'm honestly itching to do this, but the idea of a complete dash swap scares me lol I'd love to snag the door panels and dash from an LSS or SSEi and ditch column shift, but I'm not up to cutting the floor pan or really swapping the dash/playing with air bags. I think the steering wheel has to come off for that too if I'm not mistaken.

Although I was thinking about making a panel for the shifter locator for what you were saying, maybe a cubby for storage or something simple to replace the shift bezel there. I think I could make a floor console work as long as it doesn't slope up towards the dash like the bonnevilles do.

As far as side support goes, do the bonnevilles or LSS have more bolstering in the seats?

For reference, here are the pancake flat seats I'm working with now lol

[haro1225]

Looks like there was a different console on the older ones that look like it could work with the Buick dash.

[RJolly87]

Ugh, I forgot, you probably have the power seat controls in the door.

Be on the lookout for a LeSabre/PA with a manual drivers seat to raid the door panel inserts too. You will likely need to simply move the main power for the seat controls over to work with the new seats and adapt to the controls of the new unit going in. That should hopefully make life easier, especially if you go for AL7's.

[CMNTMXR57]

Those are Aurora seats (or very similar). My '94 LSS had a split bench though if I recall.

[ga93sle]

AL7s do have a ton of adjustments, 16 I think, but they made a 9-way, too, that's what my SLE had, 9-way drivers seat and manual passenger seat. They were leather. I would think Bonneville seats would have more side support than Oldsmobile, especially if you go with the AL7.