Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

I'm finally redoing a set of '68 buddy bucket seats I bought from a board member (back in 2008--cost delayed this project). I installed new OER foam on both seats (upper and lower), and the upholstery is from Ricks Custom Upholstery. I've never done upholstery before.

The bottom upholstery (red arrows) is off the seat foam by 1/2"-3/4" in the middle. I tried tightening it from the back of the seat, letting it sit for a few days, and using a garment steamer on the vinyl portion of the seating surface while my butt holds it in place, but none of these have helped. These buddy buckets do not have a listing wire in this area like the '69-'72 buckets. I can't let the sun work its magic, because this is North Dakota in the winter so I'm stuck in the basement.

This fitment doesn't seem right. What am I doing wrong?

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

First I'd call Rick"s because he made them , Even if it was years ago , Do the covers have listing sewn into them already ? If not they have been made to glue down , I don't suggest doing that until you talk to Rick's , using a garment steamer on the fabric should tighten the cloth up some . :chevy:

General info : Never use a steam iron on any vinyl or cloth .

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

The original upholstery (has "68" stamped on multiple places on the inside of the vinyl) didn't have any listing wire for the bolsters of the seat bottom, but I honestly didn't look for listing wire provisions on the new upholstery before I hog ringed them down on both seats (so now I can't check).

The new OER foam shape matches the original foam in this trouble area.

I recently received the upholstery, so I emailed Ricks.

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

I purchased a houndstooth buddy bucket upholstery set from Rick's recently and will be installing it soon. I am very interested in hearing what they say about your issue. Please post back when you hear back from them.

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

Post a picture of the inside of the bottom cover. :chevy:

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

Grumpy is thinking the same as I am, the listing wire. You should, if they added them, have listing wires on the backside of your cover. They get hog ringed thru the split in the foam to the seat frame springs. It’s not the easiest thing to do, but that is what pulls the cover, creating the bolster effect. And that would take away the air space between the cover & foam.
Look at you upper seat back covers, the tops should have the listing wire also. Or at least a way of adding a wire.
The only time I ever done buckets. They were for a 1970 GTO, but they were like that, had the listing wire. But you can see how it pulls the cover down into those cracks.

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

Will do. Won't be until Monday.

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

My original buddy bucket covers do not have listing wires on the seat bottom or upper.

Rick said this loosie goosie fitment is typical of factory buddy bucket seat foam since the foam is recessed and there are no listing wires. (My original covers were not in good enough shape for me to know if they were loosie goosie or not.) He said in the buddy buckets he does he makes his own foam and makes it flatter to eliminate the loosie goosie. He said I could:

1. Leave as is (loosie goosie), it does not hurt anything
2. Add 1/2" of foam to fill the recessed area to take the loosie goosie out

My concern with 2. is that I might sit too high in the cab?

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

1/2” foam is not going to sit you higher. I say add it, because a loose cover is going to wear quicker in my opinion.
Either that, or spray some spray adhesive on the backside of the cover & foam. Just on the area in the center, the insert.

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

I installed the driver's seat finger tight in the truck tonight (obligatory picture included, sorry for the poor lighting). Seating position is higher than the factory bench, and higher than the factory buckets in my other '72 truck. In summary, higher than I prefer but I can live with it.

I think this is good advice. I'm going to take the cover back off this weekend and add some 1/2" foam.

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

One additional question: in the picture of the seat installed in my truck you can see the dents in the upper foam from shipping (circled in red). It has been unboxed for less than a week, but they don't seem to be going away. I saw a Youtube video where they steamed collapsed seat foam to improve it, but my wife's garment steamer didn't do anything with these dents.

Should I ignore the dents since they are shallow (and may go away in time)?

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

If they haven’t gone away by now, they aren’t. Chances are you won’t even feel them if there is good foam on the back of the cover. But if it really bothers you, get some cotton batting at Joanne Fabrics. Use a little spray adhesive and fill the low spots with the batting. The spray adhesive will keep it in place.

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

In regard to the 1/2" foam to fill the seat bottom, should I use the foam on the left which is similar in density to the seat's foam?

Or should I use the low density foam on the right which is craft store variety?

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

Use the better foam, the left

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

I'm glad I took the advice to add 1/2" of foam! I've hog ringed both the bottoms covers back on; fitment is still a bit loose, but much, much better.

The center seat is almost complete.

I'll work on the upper covers for the driver's and passenger's seats tomorrow.

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

:metal: Good deal!

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

I went ahead and added 1/2" of foam to the upper cushion, also:

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

Looks awesome! And good job. I know it was probably frustrating there for awhile, but you’ll be happier with the extra foam. :metal:

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

Here are some pictures of the inside of the bottom and top covers. I'd prefer to avoid adding a layer of foam. What type of adhesive do you recommend using? Do you have any tips or tricks for applying the adhesive?

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

I used 3M 74 spray adhesive (~$30/can) for glueing my OER foam to the frames and the 1/2" foam to the OER foam. Spray the adhesive on both sides, let it get tacky for about 7 minutes, and then press together.

What seat foam to you have (original GM, OER, PUI, American Cushion Industries, etc)? From my pictures you can see the "step" recessed area in the OER foam (which I filled with 1/2" foam). From internet pictures both the PUI and American Cushion Industries look the same. In comparison, my original GM foam was about the same shape, but had a smooth transition recess with no "step".

The bottom cover goes on first. I suggest you try first without extra foam and see how loosie goosie the cover is in the center. You can easily cut the hog rings and add foam if you are not happy.

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

I've got American Cushion Industries foam. I'm hoping I can glue the cover to the main foam to keep it from being loose. I don't know if that is realistic or not.

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

American Cushion Industries foam is supposed to be the best fitting foam available. I'm curious what you find for fitment!

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

I sent an email to Rick's Upholstery to ask about gluing the cover to the seat foam, and here is the response I received:

"Yes, spray glue can be used on insert section. Be careful not to get on bolster section. Rick uses that to make it not flop in the inserts. Just make sure to pull front at legs and rear at back tight when hog ringing."

I'm nervous about gluing the back cover since it has to be rolled on. Should be interesting.

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

So, tell us, how does the OER foam feel? Too soft, too firm, or just right? I was thinking about buying some myself. Would you recommend it?

Re: Buddy Bucket Upholstery Installation (is this fitment normal?)
 

It is firm, but I don't have anything to compare it to.