Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

What is the best way to get seat covers off in an '87 cougar? I know they don't just zip right off, and I know you have to get the head rest off but I don't know how.....any insight?

Once unzipped, there are hog rings holding the fabric to the frame.  You have to feel up in there and find them.

And then just pull them off?

DO NOT PULL OFF! Like mcb82gt said, hog clips are in there.

easiest way all around.

*Pull headrest. Good yank or two

*Unbolt back of seat at the two hinges.

*Unzip cover

*Reach up and find clips

*Remove clips
-Can clip them, or slide a screwdriver in them and twist it. Will cause it to open up. Can also grab with pliers and twist and they will open up.

*Slid off covers.
-Wise to detach foam from seat frame to avoid damage. There is a long plastic clip that goes arounf the bottom of the backframe and clips up. If you remove the foam and cover together it also makes removal easier.

Write up coming soon

I meant pull the clips off not the covers lol sounds easy enough, never done it before thaks guys

Sounds easy, they can be a PITA. After the about the third one you will find the best way. I figured thats what you meant, i just messed up a lot of stuff pulling on it though the process of re-covering my seats.

Yea, I see now where you can screw them up, but I can't so I have to be extra careful thanks again man

Can't seem to get the head rests off......pulled and pryed, no go. Got the clips (which ended being these rods) off, but can't seem to get the  headrest off.

Try sliding them all the way down and then pull em up as fast as ya can. Sometimes these things like to say where they've been for 20 odd years.

Well they dont slide up and down, more like front to back, kind of swivelish (if thats even a word) But anywho the headrests are attached to the seat frame, so since my car is going to  the boneyard anyway, I just lobbed them off.

Well that IS one way of doing it. I was just going to give my mother-in-law a call (She's an unpolsterer). Did it work out in your favor? Nice post count by the way.

Yaaay up to 600! Cool:cool:  Yea, it worked out. Just covered the seatcovers (haha) with and old shirt of mine and cut the headrests off - seemed like the only way to remove the covers since the headrests are attached  to the rest of the seat frame...

nice, well at least that worked. Get everything taken off the car yet?

Yea, mostly, I still have a few things to take off but as much as it sucks, gotta take it to the yard this weekend:punchballs:

Its easier to do out of the car. Just need a good yank.

Im not a weak fella, but Ive never been able to yank them out, on the few sets ive had.

There is a small clip holding the headrest's on. It's on the inside.

Guess I broke all mine LOL.

Yea its almost like riveted to the seat frame.....screw it hack it off lol. Actually after the headrests came off, the seat covers were very easy, 2 hog clips on each side, you really only have to get the front clips off, then remove  the seat cover and cushion at the same time, then remove the rears. I have run into a problem getting the bottoms off though, and I can't figure out how to remove the seats (I found the two front bolts, of course, but I can't locate the rear 2) so it will be easier to pull the seat bottoms. Anybody got some info?

If you are talking about removing them from the car, then you have to move the seat all the way forward to access the rear bolts.:D

Ya know, that makes so much sense I feel like a real dumbass....:dunce: But thanks for the enlightenment!

There are no stupid questions in here. Well................there is, but that wasn't it.

Yea, I know, but that was a little too obvious lol. Why it never crossed my mind is a mystery

its too bad you didnt get pics of this,, good info here.

No problem, we've all been there before. :D

Can still get some of the bottoms.......gonna get 'em off soon as the py rain stops...

Ok, so after me and another member (Cat Daddy) pulled the rear glass (and omg was it a task....:punchballs: ) out of my car today (succesfully:D ) I got to the bottom seat covers. I'm posting some pics for future reference so if anybody has to do this again and dosen't know how....here ya go.

First, as cougarman said, remove the four bolts from the studs (unplug all accesable seat harnesses first). Pull the seat up and flip it on it's back, and unbolt the four bolts that hold the seat track from the frame...




 there will be some c-channel clips on the front and sides, simply unclip them from the track, then, using a t-40 torx bit, remove the screw holding the recline motor and slide the motor almost vertically

Now comes the hog clips, there are 3 on each side, and 3 in the middle, remove all the clips and slide the rods out.





The covers should slide right off the foam and ready for new ones.

wonder if those motors would sub in for window motors.

Ya know, I thought the same thing, they look really similar, havent checked the connector, but the motors are really, really close. And I'm pretty sure the wire colors are the same, If that means anything.  Bolt placement looks similar too, although the bolt i took out was a larger diameter than the window motor bolts