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installing new seat foams

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BlueHealey1951

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Hi guys, I have a long term restoration finally comming to an end. Many years ago I purchased a how to video about installing a new interior for a BJ8 from Moss Motors on VHS tapes. ( Yes, I still have a VHS player that works ) The video describes using muslin cloth to form a skirt around the seat foam to attach it to the seat pan. It also reccomends using muslin cloth where the leather seat cover is glued to the seat foam and where the leather cover is glued to the seat back. The seat foams have been recently purchased from Moss and don't seem to be quite the same as those pictured in the old DIY video. Do the new foams still require the muslin fabric to aid bonding the leather to the foam and the foam to the seat pan?
 
Since your on the Island I would take it to Automat their in Hicksville and see how much they want to do it ,its not that easy a job and since your at the end you might not be happy with your resuilts
 
I tried to do my own front seats on my BJ8, new leather covers and foams from AH Spares . Well after rolling around on the basement floor for about two hours trying to wrestle what seemed like a slippery squealing pig and loosing about 5lbs in sweat and using every curse word known to man I said %#!? this for a game of soldiers and took them to a professional upholsterer . I think he charged me 150$ to do them .......best 150$ I ever spent .

You spent how much on the covers and foams and the restoration , don't cheap out at the last hurdle and screw it up . JMHO
 
Hello Blue 1951, this is quite a coincidence since just today I started to replace the seat covers in my almost finished restoration. I have owned my BJ7 for at least 15 years and today when I pulled the covers off of my seat bottoms there was no muslin wrapping the foam. And my foam is still in good shape. (the wife says its nice and cushy too) so I don't think I will replace it. I have never installed leather covers, but I have done at least a few Corvettes with vinyl which all worked out quite well. The original vinyl in my Healey was glued to the foam in that inner perimeter stitched seam. Well having said that maybe it was not original. I don't know, someone might have replaced the seat vinyl before I got the car. I am just changing these because they have something like cigarette burn marks in them. Anyway the way it was installed worked very well because they were tight and well shaped for 15 years and the foam is still in good shape. The vinyl seems to stretch over the foam nicely. You have to muscle it around alittle bit to get the seams and shape where you want them. One tip is to turn the new covers inside out then place the seams where you want them then pull the covers from inside out to outside while pulling them around the foam. Leather may not stretch as easily but I have seen video of using a heat gun to stretch leather covers. Just be careful not to heat it too much. Well for what it's worth, Dave.
 
I replaced the foam a few years ago and had to sort out the seat pans as well. As this was to be a temporary measure the rust was cut out of the pans and new metal welded in. The original ( home made and not very well ) vinyl covers were mended and reused. Now the skirt was not made correctly on these covers so it was easy to re-fit, but the centre of the covers was stuck down to the foam and once the glue had taken hold, it was a matter of rolling down the skirts. I can imagine that with proper covers that are tapered down to the base it could be a struggle getting over the top of the foam. Maybe it is a case of 1) cutting/ profiling the foam to suit the base. 2) placing the cover upside down on a table and sticking the centre of the foam to the cover then once all is solid ease the skirt over the foam then 3) slipping the pan over the foam and under the skirt? I would try a dry run on that if I was doing it.

:cheers:

Bob
 
Think you made a wise decision. The seat pans are actually pretty easy but getting the seat backs done correctly is difficult. I have done about 5 Healey interiors over the years and best seat backs were the ones done on my 100M by a pro trimmer here in the small town of Beaufort, SC. Always got the seat bottoms looking good and the backs looked okay, but to get the "horseshoe" portion of the seat back done right was the real challenge. Doesn't help that my now 66 year old hands do not have the strength they once had ! Believe I paid $250 for both backs and maybe a little high but end result was worth it.
Regards
Mike
 
Wow, I never thought of that HealeyNut. Loosing weight reupholstering the front seats. Well I have tried other seemingly wacky weight loosing solutions. Maybe I should do my front seats but they are original and in good order. I guess I will have to wait till I need new.

Good luck,
Ray (64BJ8P1)
 
BlueHealey1951 said:
Thanks for the help guys,,Think i'll take them to the local car upholstery shop. They did a beautiful job with my dash and arm rests.
Click to expand...
Having a pro do the seats is a wise choice. They are not easy and even Pro's can make mistakes. Be sure the seat cushion foam is "right". Some foams sold are too stiff and that can be a problem in comfort and seat height. The seat cushion and seat back piping/pleats should line up together. I did a complete Heritage interior on my BJ8 and I'm glad I had them do the front and rear seats!
 
before the rebuild of seats on my AH 100/6 -as usual- I have collect some photos of the work from the web, MAGNUS and RANDY photos was very helpful for me,
and also my friend FABRIZIO that wanted one young, old experience in a upholstery shop, helped a lot,
is not easy job and require hand-power, at the end of the journey your hands are stiff- but with a lot of satisfaction when the job is finished, and you are sitting on your own work
my suggestion is ....take the challenge
here the album https://picasaweb.google.com/112770819864514987162/AUSTINHEALEYFrontSEATSREBUILDING?noredirect
and my work https://picasaweb.google.com/112770...LEY10061958BeginningMayJune2011endMayJune2013
I hope this help
 
Contact David Knock he wrote an article that sorts out most of the problems using aftermarket seat cushions and kits during re upholstery.
 
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