The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Seat Restoration Instructions

I am restoring my 1951 3100 bench seat cover and stuffing. A prior owner recovered the seat with a new seatcover kit but appears to have used the original stuffing. The seat is very uneven and bumpy. I would like to take it apart and start over but I don't have any plans or instructions on how to restore it properly and what materials to use for the stuffing. Does anyone have any advice of how to go about this rebuild or know where I can get on-line instructions on seat restoration?

Its a pretty simple process to do on your own. I redid both pieces of mine not too long ago. I ordered a 'seat rebuild kit' from LMC because they were the cheapest, but when it arrived it was only enough for one side. My suggestion would be to save some money and just get the materials locally.

The kit came with Hog ring pliers and rings, a metal rod to fix broken springs, a piece of 1 or 1 1/2" foam that was a little bigger than the seat and a piece of carpet the same size as the foam. It also came with some really basic instructions but they were not much help. Since the kit only came with enough material for one side, rather then ordering another one i just went to Michaels for the foam ( i got a piece that was a little thicker for more cushion) and a home salvage place for the piece of carpet. Most of the vendors sell the hog ring pliers and rings individually, not sure where you might get them locally.

1) When i rebuilt my seats i pulled all the old padding out and cleaned up the springs, fixed a couple that needed some love, and then repainted it.
2) Next the layer of carpet goes on and gets fastened to the springs with the hog rings. The carpet is what keeps the springs from coming through the padding and poking you in the butt.
3) The foam goes on top of the carpet and also gets attached with hog rings. The foam i used overlapped the edges of the seat some which gives you a nice soft edge on your seat.
4) The seat cover goes on last. My seat cover was attached originally with little "C" shaped clips that clipped around the rod that runs around the entire edge of the seat frame. You could probably make your own by cutting a piece of tubing the proper size not quite in half. Ive also heard of people just using the hog rings for the cover too, but feel like they are more likely to tear out and rip your cover.

Hope this was helpful, theres some pictures on my blog if you click the link in my signature, just scroll down a bit. If you click em they will get bigger.

Chooglin

Chooglin,I'll have to agree with your good instructions 'cause that's pretty much how I did mine with the exception of the carpet addition. I used heavy, black, woven, yard covering instead. And looking at your "Old Man" web site, I'll also have to say really nice work. I have never seen a wood interior trim like yours. Very clever and unique.

These pictures might give you a clue. Thumb thru them by
pressing 'next' at the top right. This was an upholstry
kit from JC I bought back in '07.
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/120777347
Sorry 'bout that, was early you know.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Denny,

The "kit" I got from JC had burlap and cotton batting (and, maybe, the "barrel" clip). It did not have the heavy/firm coir-like material.

What was in your kit? When we see your pictures (again), maybe that will be clear. I think you addressed this in a post on this topic (a while ago)?

Yep, I believe we did discuss it recently Tim and some time back we had a very lengthy
discussion.
The barrel clips which are used to fasten the actual upholstery cover to the
frame did not come with the upholstery kit, they were a separate item as were the hog
rings and pliers, which I already had.
The original ‘coir’ pad on mine was in good shape on my ’50 and the seat had never been
the winter home to any critters so I re-used it. But……..during my discovery, I did find a
source for the rubberized coir hair padding. It isn’t the neutral color of the original one, it
comes blue but since it’s “under cover” it shouldn’t make any difference to even the
pickiest of people.
Here is the only source that I know of that still carries it and the material is ¾-1” random
thickness: http://www.perfectproductsonline.com/rubberizedhair.html
They make note on their web page that it’s a “resilient padding equal to foam rubber and
plastic polyurethane, suitable for most upholstery applications.”

The burlap and cotton material was in the padding kit. I might add at this point that the
seat is quite comfortable in all kinds of weather and I’ve heard the same thing from lots
of people, even my “big old wife.”

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL