I think you need a fabrication shop to do this work. (some body shops may be set up for this as well.... you'd just have to ask them).


If you were going to do this, you may want to do some of the work yourself, like stripping the seat down to the frame.


Also, remember, if you are planning to just use the 2nd row headrest, you'll still need the guides that mount in the seat (as well as a 3rd set for the center headrest - and another headrest of course).


I never worried about the third, center headrest as I almost never use that seat based on it only having a lap belt.


B

 

Awesome write up. Ill be copying you this winter!

I got 3 headrests and plastic guides from a chevy bench seat that had just been dropped at the dump when I was unloading some garbage. Great deal! haha. And I dont know why they were thrown out, perfect shape, no stains or stink.

One mans gold I guess... Anyway good writeup.

 

Which leads me to another question. Is it possible to install a shoulder belt in the 2nd and and 3rd row center seats? I have 4 kids so plan to have themy in all the outside seating g positionso but sometimes we like to play musical seats or take friends along.

I was thinking too that it might not work to install head rests with video into the 2nd row seats because there may be no power supply??

 

I posted a few months ago in this thread and ended up having the mod done in June. I found a seller on ebay that was selling 4 tan leather headrests from an earlier model Expedition. They were a perfect match for the Ex headrests. I called around to a couple of places and couldn't find any reasonably priced middle row Excursion or Expedition seats to pilfer the headrest guide sleeves, so the hardest part for me was finding those guide sleeves. I ended up finding the eight that I needed at several Ford dealers throughout the US by searching on Google and Ebay (new old stock items) and they weren't too terribly expensive. However, it seemed I bought all of the tan ones left in the country!


I started the process of adding the headrests to the third row seat by taking the seat out and taking off the back and cover, etc. I kind of figured it was going to be tough once I saw my Ex seat had the three bars for the back. I immediately knew I wouldn't be able to have the headrests as close to the outside of the seat as I wanted due to the additional bars. I continued with the process very similar to what was explained in the thread but it didn't turn out very well. I am not a welder and this was my first time welding. I felt the welding actually turned out pretty nice but the headrests were very tight and hard to move up and down. I ended up finding an upholstery guy that somebody I work with uses. I explained to him what I wanted done and he corrected the three third row seat headrests (I put one in the middle) and then a week later I had him add a headrest to the middle of the second row seat. I started to take the second row seat apart to see how hard it would be to add the headrest in the middle and gave up after a little bit. I decided I didn't have time to mess with it as we were preparing to leave on a cross-country trip in July.


I wanted the headrests in the middle of both seats as well, as we are always using different combinations of seating arrangements with our 4 young kids and their friends.


So I guess to answer your question, I didn't have a body shop do the work but I did have an upholsterer do the work. They turned out pretty good, but I probably paid a total of around $300. In my mind I felt it was worth it for the safety of our kids on our 10,000 mile cross country trip.


In addition, I also did the replacement springs and Rancho 9000 shocks before the trip and I couldn't be happier. I purchased my springs from ATS Springs and they were a huge help. Junior overarched them for me to get me some additional lift.

 

Has anyone ever modified a later expedition 3rd row seat to fit in an excursion? The later expy have head rests and shoulder seat belts. I realize its not a quick mod, but perhaps welding or bolting the bottom seat frame from the ex to the expy seat frame? Obviously needs a good certified welder but just a thought? I like the height and look of the expy 3rd row vs the joke of a 3rd the ex's got.

 

An upholsterer you say? Hmmmm. I never would of thought of that. Did they do the welding too? For the 2nd row middle did you have to take that out? We just got our Ex so I was not even sure if that came out. I think to have all 4 seating positions have head rests installed for $300 would be the best money I ever spent. (Except for the Ex itself!)

I like the idea of the Expedition swap too. We have a 2004 Expedition too that we are now going to sell and the third row does NOT have a middle position headrest unfortunately although it does have the shoulder belt.

 

Are these the ones that you ultimately ended up using? Looks like they can still be purchased. I have the tan leather interior.

Do I need to provide anything else to the shop or just these and the headrests and they do the rest?

 

How did I miss this 2 years ago...great work OP!

 

These are the ones I purchased: YC3Z78610A16AAA - GUIDE - Ford. This part # corresponds with the tan interior color. The ones that you linked too probably won't work. I purchased a pair of different ones online that were similar to the ones you linked and the opening was too big for the headrest post. Like I said, I bought a couple on Ebay and searched Google high and low and scrounged together my eight guides.


As far as your previous post goes, yes all I did was provide the headrests and the guide sleeves and told him what I wanted. I can't say for sure but he probably did his own welding. He only spoke a little English, so I wasn't really able to get his installation procedure.


It probably wouldn't hurt to call a few upholstery shops and see what they have to say.

 

Right?

Nice job! I might have to look into this for my X.

 

Yotta peruse the tech folder more often.

Stewart

 

$300 to have the seats done...?! Nothing wrong with that. That's worth it for the time you'd save.


Your suspension set up sounds similar to mine. Good work. I think I may tackle the 3rd headrests as well when I get some time. We often take a couple extra people with us (me and my wife, 4 kids, G&G).

 

Thanks guys. I love having these threads as a reference for me later anyway. Might as well let everyone else in on my successes (and failures!!)

 

I'm gonna look into this. I've thought of modding the 3rd row Excursion bench for a shoulder belt, but it's not really designed for this (not strong enough). If I can find an expedition one with the integrated belt (even if it doesn't have a middle headrest - I can add that), I'll see what it takes to mount it in the back.

 

I found a set of 4 Lincoln Navigator 2nd and 3rd row headrests that match my Ex's interior. I also found a local upholstery shop that has done this before. YIPPEE! Now I am on the hunt for the headrest guides. I need 4 locking side and 4 non locking in tan. Going to do the 2nd row middle seat as well while we're at it.