Headrests mod

[alexmak]

We did it! Headrests from 2004 Audi A4 might not be the most beautiful thing in Cobra, but the safety they provide is totally worth it.

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[doddmoore]

I like it. I saw in another headrest thread where a builder took the leg rest from a wheelchair and using two brackets attached it between the pipes of the roll bar. I plan on doing that. It was a really good look.
Great job on making it safer. One hit from behind and it would be bad news.

[mburger]

This is exactly what I am going to do. I think they look great.

[swwebb]

That's why I put high-back seats in!

[alexmak]

That's why I put high-back seats in!

we looked very closely at many of the high-back seats but didn't find any that we liked that would work with the old school look that we are after. A couple of possible candidates from Cobra seats were considered (Classic CS/RS), but it was much cheaper to give it a try with DYI headrests, and have Cobra seats as a fall back option.

[Walt]

I like the looks , how did you mount them inside the seat back?

[MisterAdam]

Here they are. They do need to be moved forward a bit. Dont know if i will add spacers or offset bend a new bracket132580

[alexmak]

I like the looks , how did you mount them inside the seat back?

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Like this. These pipes are somewhat on a bigger side, so if I want to, I can feel them with my back (son claims I have a very sensitive back), so I might play with smaller tubes later.

[alexmak]

Here they are. They do need to be moved forward a bit. Dont knkw kf i wi add spacers or offset bend a new bracket132582132580

I personally do not like headrests on the rollbars, and they are way back to provide a proper protection

[mburger]

Check out John's original mod for this at the link below. This was my inspiration to go this route for my car.

https://www.ffcars.com/threads/another-seat-thread.413801/page-2

[Walt]

I built the ones attached to the rollbars , they were to far back to do any good, i removed them.

[Walt]

Alex, Where did you find the headrest, salvage yard? Or buy them new.

[alexmak]

Alex, Where did you find the headrest, salvage yard? Or buy them new.

yes, salvage yard. also had some headrests from a Mercedes (rear seats), but they ended up being too much in the front, making things uncomfortable. Audi ones look very "native", with leather ("leather"?) grain being very similar to the FFR vinyl seats.

[RJD]

That looks great! Nicely done.

[AC Bill]

Here they are. They do need to be moved forward a bit. Dont know if i will add spacers or offset bend a new bracket132580

Several years back a builder added headrests, and he used brackets on the roll bar that allowed them to be extended farther forward using stainless steel tubing as spacers. I am not sure if something similar could be done using the wheel chair pads.
Sorry, I tried attaching a picture of them, but the file size was to large..Grrrr. Shame we can't simply copy and paste pictures.

[Avalanche325]

I did the same as John. These are a kit for 65 / 65 Mustangs. The only thing that I don't like is that the arms are not chromed.

Those Audi ones look nice.

[GTBradley]

Continuing from your response on the graduation thread…I thought that was you, but gave up looking when I couldn’t find this in your build thread. Should have tried harder.

So what was the reason for putting the support tubes on the front side of the seat as apposed to the back side?

I actually had some Audi headrests in my hand at the salvage yard, I think I’ll go back for them because I like the look you have. I see that you have the mounting hardware, was that difficult to remove from the Audi seats? Do you remember the year of the Audi?

[alexmak]

Continuing from your response on the graduation thread…I thought that was you, but gave up looking when I couldn’t find this in your build thread. Should have tried harder.

So what was the reason for putting the support tubes on the front side of the seat as apposed to the back side?

I actually had some Audi headrests in my hand at the salvage yard, I think I’ll go back for them because I like the look you have. I see that you have the mounting hardware, was that difficult to remove from the Audi seats? Do you remember the year of the Audi?

I believe these are from 2004 Audi A4, front seats headrests. If I remember correctly, support tubes in the back side of the seat would make it a weird angle for the headrests. Also they would be too far back, and interfere with body edge in the back

[OSU Cowboy]

My head rests are accomplished in an approach similar to "MisterAdam" - mounted to the roll bars. They are designed such that they are far enough back to provide clearance for a helmet for a track day - yet still provide protection in the event of a rear-end collision. The seat-mounted head rest is a great approach as well, along with a high back seat. To each his own.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

I built the ones attached to the rollbars , they were to far back to do any good, i removed them.

Same problem. Went to high traction tires & need to have support for my head & neck on a quick start. Am now looking at high back seats, which I hate the look of in theses cars, that I can set my head against :mad:

[RBachman]

I used a set of Cobra Seats with removable headrests. They look very similar to the FFR seats, but with headrests. This way I have the safety of head rests, but can simply yank them out if I want to get that look back. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cbs-ccs-v-gy?seid=srese1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMItJKwwdj08wIVj8aGCh0lFA3TEAQYCCAB EgJpsPD_BwE 155080

QUOTE=BEAR-AvHistory;472958]Same problem. Went to high traction tires & need to have support for my head & neck on a quick start. Am now looking at high back seats, which I hate the look of in theses cars, that I can set my head against :mad:[/QUOTE]

[Fman]

[QUOTE=RBachman;473012]I used a set of Cobra Seats with removable headrests. They look very similar to the FFR seats, but with headrests. This way I have the safety of head rests, but can simply yank them out if I want to get that look back. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cbs-ccs-v-gy?seid=srese1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMItJKwwdj08wIVj8aGCh0lFA3TEAQYCCAB EgJpsPD_BwE 155080

Do these seats work with the Breeze seat base brackets? Same mounting pattern as the FFR seats? These would be best of both worlds, old school look that also would be functional on a track/spirited drive to help keep you from sliding around.

Do you have any pictures of them installed in your ride? How close to Leather do they look?

[RBachman]

Here are some pics of my dirty Cobra. LOL

The seats look exactly like leather and match the FFR dash nicely. They are available in leather seating surfaces also. I chose vinyl because of its resistance to sun and rain. However, I replaced the center seat sections with a perforated material to help keep things cooler. It's not a good picture of the color, but you can see that the holes have a blue material under the surface to add some color and match the paint. I'll also do the headrests in that material as a winter project.

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[QUOTE=RBachman;473012]I used a set of Cobra Seats with removable headrests. They look very similar to the FFR seats, but with headrests. This way I have the safety of head rests, but can simply yank them out if I want to get that look back. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cbs-ccs-v-gy?seid=srese1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMItJKwwdj08wIVj8aGCh0lFA3TEAQYCCAB EgJpsPD_BwE 155080

Do these seats work with the Breeze seat base brackets? Same mounting pattern as the FFR seats? These would be best of both worlds, old school look that also would be functional on a track/spirited drive to help keep you from sliding around.

Do you have any pictures of them installed in your ride? How close to Leather do they look?

[Fman]

Here are some pics of my dirty Cobra. LOL

The seats look exactly like leather and match the FFR dash nicely. They are available in leather seating surfaces also. I chose vinyl because of its resistance to sun and rain. However, I replaced the center seat sections with a perforated material to help keep things cooler. It's not a good picture of the color, but you can see that the holes have a blue material under the surface to add some color and match the paint. I'll also do the headrests in that material as a winter project.

155172155171155170155169




Those look great, are the mounting brackets similar to the FFR seats? I have the Breeze seat base kit which I would like to keep if possible. Might have to put these seats on my Christmas list :D

[RBachman]

They are not exact, but I'm also using the Breeze kit without issue. Installing seat heaters is slightly more difficult because you have to remove and reinstall upholstery "hog rings" to gain the necessary access. I think they are slightly more narrow than factory seats, but if you go through the Cobra Seats-USA catalog (https://www.cobraseats-usa.com/products/historic) they have several that fit into the look of our cars with removable headrests.


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Those look great, are the mounting brackets similar to the FFR seats? I have the Breeze seat base kit which I would like to keep if possible. Might have to put these seats on my Christmas list :D

[John4337]

Check out John's original mod for this at the link below. This was my inspiration to go this route for my car.

https://www.ffcars.com/threads/another-seat-thread.413801/page-2

Wow, it lives on. Glad it helped out

[nucjd19]

Here are some pics of my dirty Cobra. LOL

The seats look exactly like leather and match the FFR dash nicely. They are available in leather seating surfaces also. I chose vinyl because of its resistance to sun and rain. However, I replaced the center seat sections with a perforated material to help keep things cooler. It's not a good picture of the color, but you can see that the holes have a blue material under the surface to add some color and match the paint. I'll also do the headrests in that material as a winter project.

155172155171155170155169



Those look great, are the mounting brackets similar to the FFR seats? I have the Breeze seat base kit which I would like to keep if possible. Might have to put these seats on my Christmas list :D
EDIT: I hopped over to your build thread and saw the current seats you are running. I think I might have an idea to create some fore and aft movement of the headrest.
Hey F,
Just curious are you currently using the standard seats or the vintage Kirkey lowbacks? I am running the Kirkey low backs mounted to adjustable rails and was planning on doing your headrest mod but not very sure it would be helpful unless the seats are all of the way back near the roll bars. I love how the kirkey seats fit and lock me in so really wanting to keep them. Maybe I can come up with a mod to the head rest mod to allow for fore aft adjustment.

[mburger]

I posted earlier in this thread, in July of 2020, saying I wanted to do this mod, and yes John, your thread lives on continuing to help!

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=141255&d=1611429822

[alexmak]

Wow, it lives on. Glad it helped out

Thank you John, it was an inspiration for us too :)

[Chainsaw]

EDIT: I hopped over to your build thread and saw the current seats you are running. I think I might have an idea to create some fore and aft movement of the headrest.
Hey F,
Just curious are you currently using the standard seats or the vintage Kirkey lowbacks? I am running the Kirkey low backs mounted to adjustable rails and was planning on doing your headrest mod but not very sure it would be helpful unless the seats are all of the way back near the roll bars. I love how the kirkey seats fit and lock me in so really wanting to keep them. Maybe I can come up with a mod to the head rest mod to allow for fore aft adjustment.

Will be curious to see what you come up with. I have the Kirkey low-back seats coming as well and was thinking of using the 1982-2004 Mustang Halo headrests on them.