The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Heated seats?

There are plenty of downsides to this modern world and global economy. But one perk is the instant availability of almost any product you’ve ever dreamed off.

Somehow I came across some heated seat “kits” on Amazon the other day. All sorts of variations. But all consist of a coil heated pad of some sort. Some are designed to sit atop your existing upholstery, and some designed to go UNDER the upholstery.

There is less than a 1% chance I will ever act on it, but it sure looks like it would be super easy to make your seat heated, in a very hidden way, whilst reupholstering your old truck. And it could be done pretty inexpensively.

I’d have to assume someone here has already tried this. How did it pan out?

I look at things like that and ask what's the point of driving a 70 year old vehicle?

If you are interested in using modern seats, many have all the features. Fran's car has heated seats and steering wheel; I think it will be a requirement in her next car as she really likes them.

See this thread for a discussion on modern seats that fit:

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...772/seats-for-a-52-3100.html#Post1485772

I’m not interested in modern seats. Just interested in a warm butt in a cab that leaks air like a sieve.

Like I said, probably never going to act on this idea. Just sounds like an easy and cheap upgrade if a guy was already in the midst of recovering his old seat.

When I've driven my '49 in cold weather ("The cab that breathes!" Yay ....), my trusty poncho liner (I never leave home without it) does the trick. A similar smallish blanket would do the same thing.

I don't like heated seats at all. The wife's car has them and if I drive it and she leaves the heat on the drivers seat, I notice it and turn it off in less than a block, even in sub-freezing weather. I value my privates.
We had a Buick with them before the current car and the seat heater relay failed on full heat one time and I drove 15 miles home with my butt suspended above the seat to keep from getting scorched. A replacement relay was over $200, so the failed one just got pulled out and tossed.

Not gonna lie. I like the heated seats in my work truck. The heated steering wheel, too.

I forgot all about my car having heated seats & strg. wheel till you all just reminded me. I recently moved to a retirement community apartment & my car sets outside.
I'll try it next time I go out in a cold morning.

George

I find the heated steering wheel annoying after just a few minutes. But it’s nice when you first start out and the wheel is ice cold. It warms up so quick.

The seats are handy even on days that aren’t that cold but my back is sore. Warm seats make the sore back feel better.

I wouldn't mind a bit of heat on the lumbar area, but definitely not on the seat bottom, for reasons I mentioned above.

I think your relay failure crisis has muddied your perceptions.

These things are completely adjustable. On the low setting, I can’t even tell the heat is on!

When it gets to 20 below zero, I'd rather have a heated transmission. That gear lube is like tar when it gets that cold. I already use one of those magnetic 250 W heaters for the oil pan but a 2nd one on the tranny might be nice.

JW,

Not answering your question directly at first, but I love the heated seats and steering wheel in my modern vehicle.

An almost direct answer to your question, I have installed seat heaters that I'm sure are virtually identical to what you're speaking of in a 99 Taurus, 97 Saturn and an older Ford camper. All worked well and installed as you would expect. If you're already doing the upholstery, adding the heaters to the seat is almost effortless.

Could be, but on the wife's Escape, even on the lowest setting I turn it off. Maybe my privates are just too sensitive.

I have used the jungle site seat heater kits in several vehicles. They work as expected for something from Amazon. I have a kit waiting to be installed in my TMI bucket seat that are in my 51.