snj5
Well-Known Member
This is excellent and answers many questions - many thanks!!!
Seat rework
- Thread starter snj5
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Russ, glad its of help ... good luck with your project
scott
scott
snj5
Well-Known Member
Quandry
More photo documentation of seat cloth - found this excellent photo of Bert35csi's cloth interior on his 72 CSi (same year as mine). This pattern also matches the pattern found on a similar year black car, and an available BMW german milled cloth, in beige.
So, the corduroy or the checks? Perhaps the corduroy was on early cars and checks on late, then changing basic patterns in 74?
More photo documentation of seat cloth - found this excellent photo of Bert35csi's cloth interior on his 72 CSi (same year as mine). This pattern also matches the pattern found on a similar year black car, and an available BMW german milled cloth, in beige.
So, the corduroy or the checks? Perhaps the corduroy was on early cars and checks on late, then changing basic patterns in 74?
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snj5
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Arrrgh!
Just received a nice note from Bert saying that material was not original to the car.
Still more snooping to do, but the best info is now looking like Scott's color card, with a corduroy/velour.
Belay that last, Bosun!
Just received a nice note from Bert saying that material was not original to the car.
Still more snooping to do, but the best info is now looking like Scott's color card, with a corduroy/velour.
snj5
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snj5
Well-Known Member
snj5
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Fish or cut bait time
Talked with Stefan after he examined the seats - he says most all the padding has disintegrated which explains the 'flat' feel.
*Philosophical commercial: At least to me, I would rather spend money on a great redone original seat with stock engine than have 100 extra horsepower and a crap seat.*
After looking at fabrics worldwide, the LeBarron Bonney TC-1/EXP-301 pair mentioned is the closest, and should very closely replicate the look, feel and ambiance of the original - of which, no photos seem to exist of the interior in the wild. While not quite as "golden" as Scott's excellent color card, I think this is about as good as I will find.
So, we will resculpt new seat padding, lower the seating height to about pre-74 levels, add a discrete seat heater and switch, and cover in the corduroy and velour per original configuration. I'm doing the best I can to return the car to it's original interior look (mine came with a cloth interior from factory) and having it as functionally comfortable as possible.
Hope this works.
Talked with Stefan after he examined the seats - he says most all the padding has disintegrated which explains the 'flat' feel.
*Philosophical commercial: At least to me, I would rather spend money on a great redone original seat with stock engine than have 100 extra horsepower and a crap seat.*
After looking at fabrics worldwide, the LeBarron Bonney TC-1/EXP-301 pair mentioned is the closest, and should very closely replicate the look, feel and ambiance of the original - of which, no photos seem to exist of the interior in the wild. While not quite as "golden" as Scott's excellent color card, I think this is about as good as I will find.
So, we will resculpt new seat padding, lower the seating height to about pre-74 levels, add a discrete seat heater and switch, and cover in the corduroy and velour per original configuration. I'm doing the best I can to return the car to it's original interior look (mine came with a cloth interior from factory) and having it as functionally comfortable as possible.
Hope this works.
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snj5
Well-Known Member
Began seat disassembly; the foam and horsehair are in pretty poor condition, but the metal is good. Will cut some new foam to re-sculpt the seats as original. We have pretty good matches on beige corduroy, velour and leather from LeBarron Bonney to re-create the original cloth interior as best we can.
In his parts for other seats, Stefan has a rotating headrest frame, shown below. It may take a little welding, but am thinking of putting this on.
And of course, also shown below, the seat warmers.
In his parts for other seats, Stefan has a rotating headrest frame, shown below. It may take a little welding, but am thinking of putting this on.
And of course, also shown below, the seat warmers.
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snj5
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test fitting
We test fit the covers today in the continuing effort to reproduce the tan/beige style corduroy/velour cloth interior original to my car. All we have had to go with are very few photos, usually of other colors. It is interesting how the shade of the velour changes depending on the viewing angle.
The bottom cushion shown has not been pulled down and tight yet, but you get the idea. The new bolsters on the squab and seat really are an improvement over the deteriorated original horsehair when I test fit it today.
Also, as mentioned earlier, both upper and lower cushions have electric seat heaters. More soon, I hope.
We test fit the covers today in the continuing effort to reproduce the tan/beige style corduroy/velour cloth interior original to my car. All we have had to go with are very few photos, usually of other colors. It is interesting how the shade of the velour changes depending on the viewing angle.
The bottom cushion shown has not been pulled down and tight yet, but you get the idea. The new bolsters on the squab and seat really are an improvement over the deteriorated original horsehair when I test fit it today.
Also, as mentioned earlier, both upper and lower cushions have electric seat heaters. More soon, I hope.
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snj5
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While delayed by my move to Ohio, the new interior is in. While it may not be perfect, we tried to replicate the original materials as closely as we could to what the car was delivered with best I can tell. We also installed several other small tweaks, such as the seats are electrically heated - very nice here in Ohio. The headrests also now include a tilt forward mechanism, which is terrific for taller folks who need to lean the seat back.
Thanks to Stefan at GTS Seats who did the work and also helped in the research.
At least to me, the new sculptured foam and cloth make the seats much much more comfortable and better fitting. And it is just so darn pretty with the corduroy and velour...
Thanks to Stefan at GTS Seats who did the work and also helped in the research.
At least to me, the new sculptured foam and cloth make the seats much much more comfortable and better fitting. And it is just so darn pretty with the corduroy and velour...
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Went the other way
The soft look is very attractive and looks very comfortable. I'm envious of your heated seats and your skill in working with details. Every time I try to one-up the guys in Germany I end up buying the original part and thanking my stars I didn't destroy whatever it was that I was trying to improve. When I had the rear seats and panels re done I had to have some pieces re-made because it the board is too thick you can't even fit the clips in :-(
Anyhow, here's what I did (going from camel leather) which was completely disintegrated.
The soft look is very attractive and looks very comfortable. I'm envious of your heated seats and your skill in working with details. Every time I try to one-up the guys in Germany I end up buying the original part and thanking my stars I didn't destroy whatever it was that I was trying to improve. When I had the rear seats and panels re done I had to have some pieces re-made because it the board is too thick you can't even fit the clips in :-(
Anyhow, here's what I did (going from camel leather) which was completely disintegrated.
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snj5
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Your seats look very nice.
I seriously thought about going to black, as it is so useable and straightforward. In the end I went with the tan as it was original to the car, and seemed to fit the Tundra with a 'soft' ambience an the goal was more a GT than a CSL.