Old Midget MK I seats - rust - how bad is too bad?

[RickB]

I have new replacement foam. The foam that was in these seats is not a keeper.

Here is a pic of the pvc thing I am talking about.

 

[Billm]

Rick-
Now that I see it I agree with Apbos's idea of splicing a chunk of plywood onto the steel pans. I agree that this would give you the best of structure and drop you an inch or two.
Bill

 

[RickB]

I'll have to think about that, maybe it will look better in the morning.

 

[jvandyke]

I'd just make them out of wood entirely. Mine aren't even bolted to the floor mounts and I love that I can remove them easily for better access under the dash.

 

[mk2sprite]

Rick
On the original bottoms they used 2 pieces of flat foam to compensate for that V wedge in the middle, then the seat cushion goes on top. Be careful about cutting the foams as the upholstery may not fit tight enough.
Mike

 

[Whitephrog]

Just removed the original foam from a 1959 Bugeye. The foam was one piece with an egg crate looking bottom.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Rick,

Take that base and dunk it in some wahing soda with the battery charger trick and see what you've got left with that appears to be sound metal. It will be interesting to see what you can save. and then augment with some marine plywood. Since all of this will be unseen and unless you are going for concours fix it and drive it. Only you will know it is there and in the meantime you can be on the lookout for a better pair of seat frames if your goal is a concours project.

 

[RickB]

No, I'm not going for concourse.

I would like to park it in the local car shows and not feel embarrassed, seat pans don't matter for that.

Mainly I'd like to drive it around and enjoy it.

Sometime during the night the word "masonite" popped in my mind, I'm going to look into that.

Seriously, the leading edge of the bottoms is gone so I really don't think they are usable. Basically looking at the picture above, the other end from the end that looks so bad, flip it over and that's the edge I'm talking about. Its supposed to go down and bend - that's all gone.

The foams I removed seem to have the wedges attached, could be glued though.
The new foam seat pads have the wedges attached, or it's all just one piece like it came out of a mold that way.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Masonite = chopped wood that readily absorbs water. Not good for this application. Marine / exterior plywood. Someone provided a brand name for something used for exterior signage i.e. Realtor signs. Hey that's the ticket, part from a realtor sign. A little midnight skullduggery..... and the neighborhood is rid of those ugly signs. Not that I'd advocating breaking the law or anything.

 

[RickB]

I'll be using wood of some sort, I'll seal & paint it up good of course.
I like the idea of stapling into it and all and it's easy to cut to size.

For today (nice sunny day outside) I need to do stuff that can't be done indoors like pull the Midget seats out of the Sprite and replace the carpet at least under and behind the seats and over the tunnel.

Who knows, I might get the whole carpet replaced today. I plan on taking it slow & steady, get it done right the first time.

 

[Billm]

I would avoid Masonite like the Plague!! It is just pressed paper with some white glue thrown in. Absorbs water like a sponge.
Marine plywood of common plywood and lots of oil-based paint are much better.
If I recall correctly the plastic sheet is one-piece (cast) and doesn't accept staples too well and doesn't glue too well either (is there a special glue for it?), so I would go with wood.
Bill

 

[RickB]

I'll take a look at Home Despot and see what kind of waterproof materials they have now that can take staples and glue. Sounds like a miracle material, but who knows?

Now I'm going out to start removing those Midget seats from the Sprite!!

 

[George Zeck]

Rick -

I like Apbos's idea of a partial wood plate. I wish I had done the same.

To answer the original question -- your backs are fine. Bottoms are worse than mine and I tossed them entirely. Just used a piece of plywood and stapled onto it.

I'd try the partial piece and go from there. If you don't like it (not sturdy, too high ?), toss it and just do a plain piece of plywood with new hd foam.

Your making good progress.

Geo

 

[George Zeck]

Part 2 -

Masonite is good if your replacing the int panels. It just won't offer the strength you'll need for the seat bottoms. Use the plywood and paint it with exterior paint (good enough for your house in a hurricane, good enough for your car) - you'll just have to play around with the cut / fit.

I used masonite for all of the new int panels. If it get's too wet - that's probably a sign that it is not a submarine. It's cheap anyways.

Geo

 

[JPSmit]

Rick -

I like Apbos's idea of a partial wood plate. I wish I had done the same.

Old car partial plate - hehehe

 

[RickB]

I'm just going to use plywood, unless I can find the miracle material I mentioned above. I'll paint it up with exterior grade paint and then assemble my seats.
I'm getting close now, see my carpet thread for more pictures!

 

[RickB]

I put them in the Sprite, I think they are going to look and work great in there.

I had to replace the side bolts (pivot point) on one of the bottom frames.
I drilled it out to the point where I could thread a hardened bolt thorough.
Works & looks real good.

 

[jvandyke]

Why the concern with water proofing the seat bottoms? Mine have been in for 20 years and are fine.

 

[RickB]

Does yours ever get rained or otherwise precipitated upon??

If so, please tell us the secret of how you keep the water out. :wink:

 

[JPSmit]

Why the concern with water proofing the seat bottoms?

driving around transport trucks
sudden emergency stops
corners with gravel
tire blowouts out speed