LX head rests

[Bert]

Upscale Festys have seats with separate and height-adjustable head rests. The seats themselves are softer and more durable than the vinyl versions. But the darn headrests are lousy vinyl and very susceptible to cracking and peeling.

Boneyards are full of lovely looking fabric headrests on other cars but none that I've looked at have compatible post spacing (Festy is an oddball 7 inch).

Has anyone out there found suitable sources for direct replacements or come up with ideas for modification to accept other headrests?

[bravekozak]

I have one headrest that isn't cracked or split. I think there were two different types of Festiva headrests. Do you have a picture of what you have?

[Bert]

headrests

These are the ones in my cars. All made of the same cheesy vinyl as the L model seat borders. Since headrests are a dime a dozen at the boneyards I'd just as soon get softer and fabric-covered ones. But the darn 7 inch spacing doesn't correspond to any of the 100s of different cars/vans/trucks I've looked at.

[Bert]

Have to try once more. Boy did I choose to post and inquire about a dull topic a few days ago! But at least now its a Monday and not a Saturday.

I am still keen to renew/replace the LX headrests on my cars with something a little more durable and less prone to heat split/UV-degrade or otherwise become ugly. I don't even live in sun-baked Arizona.

Anyone out there familiar with, or have JY found, headrests with the same 7 inch post spacing as Festys? I've already discovered that most cars/trucks and vans are 6 3/8 inch.

[Safety Guy]

I know what you mean. I tried a couple others a few times but found nothing that would fit.

Since it's just the headrest, you might consider putting some money into having a vinyl repair job or getting a seamstress to do up a nice cover for it.

Karl

[htchbck]

If I were doing it I'd fab some kind of adapter plate. Cut off all but 3/4" of the "sticks" on the new headrest, then thread whats left with a die. Then cut another pair of full length proper diameter "sticks" and thread the end of them. Bolt them to a plate at the proper width for a festiva, then bolt that plate to the threaded portion of the sticks thats left on the new headrest. Might not be the cleanest solution, but could be done tastefully I think. I like the Escort seats in FestEvil though They have cloth headrests!

[Bert]

htchbck: you may be on to something! Goood idea! Makes sense to me in light of spending an entire day comparing headrests at a junkyards. Why ever on earth Festy rests aren't compatible with any other manufacturer's stuff escapes me.
And your novel suggestion opens the whole world of fabric and fancier material etc etc.

[KJ4YXY]

Are these the types of seats your talking about - the head rest inst in the photo but it looks like yours except with out the hole in the center.

[Bert]

KY4WXY: Your bomb has the adjustable headrest arrangement, only mine have the centers punched out. If some lucky soul discovers similar-spacing headrests from another manufacturer/source I will be all ears to know. Boneyards are full of perfectly good and usable headrests but not a one I've ever had a look at has the same spacing. To me that's downright weird.