Offline
All,
Perhaps this is a pipe dream, however I would like to add head rests to my TR4A, in the interest of improved safety. (Note, "improved safety" does not imply "best safety". I would drive the proverbial Volvo if that were my ambition!)
I realize the easiest way to accomplish this is to install TR6 or Miata seats. However, my aim is to have the original seats, plus some inconspicuous modification to allow head rests to be installed when needed. I have not yet looked at the seats in detail to see how this could work, but they are coming up soon in my restoration.
Has anyone added removable headrests?
A few thoughts:
1. Use VW new beetle headrests, so that only the plastic "buttons" / holes are visible when removed. I say New Beetle because the headrest is an open box design, i.e. not too bulky and maybe (?) visually acceptable. Plus they are plentiful thus inexpensive. This would include, I presume, adding some tubing inside the seat to brace the headrest, and this would need to clear the padding / rubber strips on the back.
2. Affix some sort of external structure to the back of the seat, perhaps pinned to the seat frame on the top. Kind of like these Porsche 356 aftermarket headrests, but the support would extend to the base of the seat for better rigidity. (Plus the Porsche headrests are pricey - yow!!)
An article on refitting Volvo headrests: https://www.sw-em.com/headrest_upgrading_notes.htm. Some pictures of the beetle, Volvo and Porsche are attached.
Pipe dream??
Perhaps this is a pipe dream, however I would like to add head rests to my TR4A, in the interest of improved safety. (Note, "improved safety" does not imply "best safety". I would drive the proverbial Volvo if that were my ambition!)
I realize the easiest way to accomplish this is to install TR6 or Miata seats. However, my aim is to have the original seats, plus some inconspicuous modification to allow head rests to be installed when needed. I have not yet looked at the seats in detail to see how this could work, but they are coming up soon in my restoration.
Has anyone added removable headrests?
A few thoughts:
1. Use VW new beetle headrests, so that only the plastic "buttons" / holes are visible when removed. I say New Beetle because the headrest is an open box design, i.e. not too bulky and maybe (?) visually acceptable. Plus they are plentiful thus inexpensive. This would include, I presume, adding some tubing inside the seat to brace the headrest, and this would need to clear the padding / rubber strips on the back.
2. Affix some sort of external structure to the back of the seat, perhaps pinned to the seat frame on the top. Kind of like these Porsche 356 aftermarket headrests, but the support would extend to the base of the seat for better rigidity. (Plus the Porsche headrests are pricey - yow!!)
An article on refitting Volvo headrests: https://www.sw-em.com/headrest_upgrading_notes.htm. Some pictures of the beetle, Volvo and Porsche are attached.
Pipe dream??