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TR4/4A TR4A seat restoration

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alanjohnturner

alanjohnturner

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I am doing a full restoration on my 4A seats.

Does anyone know how much "stretch" to put into the four webbing straps that go in the seat-back?

If anyone is interested I've loads of photos taken while doing this.

Doing them in grey leather.

Al.
 
Be interested if you can get any seat foams that are moulded to the right shape. I have had to build mine up from several layers.

These seats dont use the traditional listing wires and hog-rings. The seat-covers are glued into the foams. This is interesting to do.

Al.
 
Can't help much. When I put in the webbing I got them so when clipped in they were pretty snug. I hand sewed new webbing to the old clips.

My foams were not shaped. I could not figure out how to do that or put the skins on decently and inquired fitting advice from the oldest upholstery guy in town . He asked if it was a 2,3,4 or 6.
I went and got them for him to do.
 
Is it acceptable to post a link to another forum on here.

This is a current thread on the UK TR Register.

Otherwise I'll have to do some copy/paste.

Al.
 
I see no problem with a link to another forum -- I've certainly seen other forums post links to useful discussions going on here.

If the straps are the same as the TR4 seat backs -- mine were hardened to the point of being brittle. I transfered the metal bits to nylon (or something like nylon) straps and made them as tight as my old arthritic hands could manage. I have heard of people using bungee cords but that seemed a bit of a bodge to me.
 
HarryL said:
Just getting ready to start the same restoration on my 4A seats. Hope the "pro's" come to our aid !
Harry
Click to expand...

Harry-

In my case the "Pro's" were Stafford Auto Trim not that far from you. They re-did my TR4 seats, which I don't think are that much different than yours. I sourced seat foams from TRF, covers from Moss, and I think Stafford put them together very nicely. NFI but I'll be a repeat customer.

Randy
 
Here is a link to photos of my foam build up:

https://flickr.com/gp/90670218@N04/5jzaY2/

You can see the following:

1. the way I have added extra "wedges" using white foam between the original grey layers

2. the "scrim-foam" added to the sides to help get the right profile

3. the old foam and new foam side by side so you can compare their sections

4.the 'pocket" left in the old foam by removing the old cover

5. the white foam, two pieces, generating a good approximation to the original seat-base

6. the "flange" on the new cover locked in underneath the "horsehoe" upper layer

7. the grey foam added around the outside so as to fill the cover as required


Al.
 
The straps I used in mine a few weeks ago were OTC at Vic Brit. They were fine.As to the foam, if you have a grinder,put
on a new disc(36) and shape them carefully.It is a huge mess but only takes a few minutes.When you are done put some 1/4
inch or thicker foam padding over everything. as more is better. Dont spare the glue,test fit and add more foam as needed to get the correct
shape and firmness.
MD(mad dog)
 
After a lot of effort on the foams, rebuilding the frames and learning how to work leather here is the result.

The covers came from John Skinner in the UK who supplies some of the usual outlets. These fit EXACTLY.

But the usual foams are poor and need a lot of work, especially for leather which is more demanding on the foam size and shape.

Many thanks to the previous poster for the tips he gave. ALL of these are right and ALL were used and needed.
I owe you one buddy.

It took almost 1 PINT of glue on each seat, 1 litre can in the UK these days.



all-cover-3.jpgall-cover-4.jpg
 
alanjohnturner, those are beautiful. I'd start with these seats and build a car around them!
 
Thanks for appreciation. This is the last job in a total restore of a "basket-case

You might like the wiper-jets made in brass by hand.



"wiper-1-a.jpg
 
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