The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Help replacing seat cover in a 54

I have my seat cover in hand along with freshly painted seat frame and springs. I bought foam to replace the padding. I need advice on the best way to trim the foam so the seat will look right.
When the back and bottom are in the frame the back just touches the top of the bottom springs.
Any thoughts are welcome.
Thanks
Steve

First, you should put some burlap material on the springs then the foam. This should keep the seat springs from riding into the foam.

Got an old electric carving knife, they work great for foam...

Upholstery shops also have rolls of cotton batting, sometimes this works good if you are having problems with the seat cover fitting properly. If you roll it out over the foam, before installing cover it will fill in the corners nicely.

Just my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

RT1
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Thanks for the advice. I hope to get the cover on this weekend.
Steve

The current issue of Custom Classic Trucks or Classic Trucks has an article on this. I get the impression that the upholstery world would not exist without hog rings!!

For the purists: hog rings were not used on 1954 seats. Little curved clips hold the material into grooves in the seat frame (Jim Carter sells the clips). Of course, most upholstery shops and restorers would now use hog rings (faster and easier).

RT1 gives good advice about using burlap, cotton-batting, and foam. I only used burlap, batting, and felt padding (as in the original) and I can still feel the springs (if I redo my seats, I will add another layer of felt and a layer of foam). I am fairly certain there is enough space/material to cover over these layers.

Tim

I have been trying to find the clips. The some of the old ones were rusted I cleaned and painted the rest. I found a shop that had used ones and he gave me a few. One of them had a small curl on the edge. After practicing with a sample piece of
material I found that the original clip cut the material. So I am trying to find more of the odd one that I have. I am not after a show truck but trying to do it right.
Thanks
Steve

I didn't have any Burlap so I used a piece of carpeting that I had laying around. Also the clips that I got for an automotive trim supplier also cut the cover but there are enough of them that I am not worried about the cover ripping out.

Good luck

Brian,

Burlap and felt padding (plus cotton batting) did not do a good job of "hiding" the springs on my seats. I think the use of carpet in place of the burlap is a good idea.

hourhand,

Jim Carter's clips for the '54 has the curved edges and I only ripped the material twice when covering 10 seat cushions on a Suburban (I would not use the v-shaped clips).

Tim

Thanks Guys. I found some clips with curves locally. Got the seat cover on Saturday and it turned out well. Yes the clips cut the material a time or two but there is enough to keep it in place.

Thanks Again
Steve