Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered

[hatzie]

The broad strokes of rehabbing bench seats are probably all fairly similar but the mild differences in hardware etc would slow the repair.

You'd run into similar mild differences between generations of GM light truck seats in Series 10-30 67-72, 73-80, 81-91, 88-94, & 95-01 GM seats.

Your main problem would be the fact that you likely don't have several Ford seats stripped down so when a part is damaged beyond repair you have to find a donor.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by hatzie

The broad strokes of rehabbing bench seats are probably all fairly similar but the mild differences in hardware etc would slow the repair.

You'd run into similar mild differences between generations of GM light truck seats in Series 10-30 67-72, 73-80, 81-91, 88-94, & 95-01 GM seats.

Your main problem would be the fact that you likely don't have several Ford seats stripped down so when a part is damaged beyond repair you have to find a donor.

You are correct on this. That is why I mainly cater to just the 73-87/91 seats. And there are several different configurations and parts just in that range of years.
In the case of doing my friends Ford seat. He supplied the seat that was in the truck. The only thing that needed replaced with new, was the seat bottom foam, and course the cover. Thankfully nothing else needed replaced, or we would have been looking for a donor. This will most likely be the only Ford seat I will do, and I really only agreed to do it because he was a good friend, and a well respected/good boss. I will say this about the Ford seat. The cover was really easy to install compared to the 73-87 Chevy seats.

[Warrens69GMC]

Nice work. You could probably expand into S10 seats, we all know they need redone.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by Warrens69GMC

Nice work. You could probably expand into S10 seats, we all know they need redone.

I have one. But I really can’t expand, I just don’t have the room. Between the seats and the seatbelts, I’m maxed out on room to store all the supplies & cores. And what I have pictured here, is just part of what I have in stock & supplies.

[Warrens69GMC]

Wow. I see what you mean.

[TKCR]

This 77-80 Black Velour is heading to Nebraska.

[LT7A]

What is the white cover that the foam is encased in, in the last picture of post number 597? I feel like I should know what it is because I have read all of your thread updates, but that picture got me curious.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by LT7A

What is the white cover that the foam is encased in, in the last picture of post number 597? I feel like I should know what it is because I have read all of your thread updates, but that picture got me curious.

It is fleece. It adds just a little more thickness to the foam under the seat cover. I found it also helps smooth the imperfections of the foam, especially around the corners of the seat back. Early on, I noticed those imperfections of the foam were showing thru the cover, and I didn’t like how it looked. So I tried this out on a seat and was very happy with the way it helped with that. So I’ve been using it ever since. It also aids in sliding the seat back cover on. Some videos on installing seat covers will say to use plastic, to help the cover slide down over the foam. But then it’s a pain to try and get that plastic pulled back out. I have actually had several seats that I have stripped down for restoration, and they had been recovered at one time and found the plastic still under the cover, they just left it there, lol.

[TKCR]

1975-1976 Blue. Fully restored, tilting seat. This one is heading to California.

[TKCR]

Mahogany Velour. Fully restored.

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by TKCR

It is fleece. It adds just a little more thickness to the foam under the seat cover. I found it also helps smooth the imperfections of the foam, especially around the corners of the seat back. Early on, I noticed those imperfections of the foam were showing thru the cover, and I didn’t like how it looked. So I tried this out on a seat and was very happy with the way it helped with that. So I’ve been using it ever since. It also aids in sliding the seat back cover on. Some videos on installing seat covers will say to use plastic, to help the cover slide down over the foam. But then it’s a pain to try and get that plastic pulled back out. I have actually had several seats that I have stripped down for restoration, and they had been recovered at one time and found the plastic still under the cover, they just left it there, lol.

That makes sense. Thanks for the info!

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by LT7A

That makes sense. Thanks for the info!

Your welcome.

[TKCR]

Just finished up a set of Blue Velour Deluxe seats for a Crew Cab. These will be staying local, so they will be picked up.

[69Tom]

I have a quick question for you. Does a 74 Custom Deluxe seat get burlap under the seat foam? Or some other material? After 19 months, finally got my seat cover from SMS. On the upside, they did a really nice job on it.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by 69Tom

I have a quick question for you. Does a 74 Custom Deluxe seat get burlap under the seat foam? Or some other material? After 19 months, finally got my seat cover from SMS. On the upside, they did a really nice job on it.

It doesn’t normally get anything. The bottom of the 73-80 foam already has muslin, I think that’s what it is called. But I have had a couple of seats where the bottom of the foam wasn’t so attractive looking, so I put burlap down. And I had another seat, where I used jute.
Pics 1 & 2 are Burlap
Pic 3 is jute
Pics 4 & 5 are nothing, it’s just the bottom of the foam on the springs.

[69Tom]

Ah, ok. Thanks. I always wondered about that. Good info.

[TKCR]

Went to Michigan Saturday, and picked up 4 core seats and a set of seat belts. Spent the last couple days getting them all stripped down, and started the rust removal process, mainly the hardware & tracks. Now I need a couple good days to get the frames sandblasted, repaired & repainted. They all need some springs repaired, as they always do. I have yet to have a seat that didn’t need something repaired. It’s why I do, what I do. There are so many issues hiding under that cover & foam. The frame & springs are the back bone of the seat. Sure, you can make the seat look pretty by throwing a new cover on it. But that’s like putting lipstick on a pig. The frame & springs need to be repaired, otherwise your just wasting your money.

[TKCR]

Here are a few pics of the frames, tracks and hardware after restoration.

[Hammered 77]

TK, which do you think is the better design of the frames? The early seat frame with the S style spring or the later design with coil type springs.

Rick

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by Hammered 77

TK, which do you think is the better design of the frames? The early seat frame with the S style spring or the later design with coil type springs.

Rick

The 73-80 seats, hands down. Those seats are built like tanks. The frames are heavy and the springs are a lot thicker. Usually the only thing that ever needs repaired on these seats, are the “end springs”. But I thinks it’s because from the factory, there is only 1 end spring per side. There are provisions for 3 per side. That one little end spring just wasn’t going to take the abuse of someone’s body weight right on the end of the seat, when you go to get in the truck. Almost every seat has broken or missing end springs. And I find even more seats, where someone else has redone the seat, and they do all kinds of these, EXCEPT replacing the broken springs with new ones. So when I restore the seat, I install 2 end springs per side.

[Warrens69GMC]

Business looks like you are doing well.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by Warrens69GMC

Business looks like you are doing well.

Actually the seatbelts probably keep me the busiest.
I just have to make these road trips from time to time, whenever the seat cores become available to purchase. I try and coordinate getting other seats in the area. I was getting pretty low on seat cores.
Then it’s just a matter of getting them home to be stripped, repaired and repainted and put away in the seat shed. That way, when I do get a request for a seat, the biggest portion of it is done already. I’m trying to get it to where there is hardly any wait time, when someone wants a seat. I keep the most popular cover colors on hand.
With the gas prices going up & up, that’s a big hit. Had to fill up twice with yesterday’s trip

[blazer2007]

where do you get the plastic washers for the hinge part of the seat and what is the orientation of them. I have some that are flat and some a sleeve type washer.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by blazer2007

where do you get the plastic washers for the hinge part of the seat and what is the orientation of them. I have some that are flat and some a sleeve type washer.

Not quite sure what your asking about. Can you quote the specific thread/post, so I can see what it is.

[blazer2007]

I didn,t think I worded it right ,I will take a pic