TR6 TR6 seat back webbing material source

[SpannerMan]

Hi there folks -
I'm looking for a cheap way out of spending $80-90 for the kit to replace the webbing on the back of a TR6 seat. There are 7 or 8 strips, which terminate in the clips which attach to the frame. I don't need the clips. As far as I can tell the kit is a roll of webbing plus a bunch of clips (which as I said I don't need). I think I can figure out how to make the straps, using a pop riveter and something to spread the load, if I can find some material for the webbing. It should have some more give to it than seat belt webbing, I think. Long shot, I know. Thanks.... Pete

 

[Jerseygirl]

I had the same problem when I reupholstered the seats in my Spitfire last year.

I don't know what the seats in a TR6 are like, but I replaced the stock webbing on the seat backs with short bungee cords. I think the bungees for both seats together cost me no more than $10.

With the seats reassembled, you can't tell the difference.

Good luck with your project.

 

[SpannerMan]

I had the same problem when I reupholstered the seats in my Spitfire last year.

I don't know what the seats in a TR6 are like, but I replaced the stock webbing on the seat backs with short bungee cords. I think the bungees for both seats together cost me no more than $10.

With the seats reassembled, you can't tell the difference.

Good luck with your project.

Hmm - interesting idea! Food for thought- I might experiment with that idea. Thanks!

 

[71tr]

While the bungee is a novel work around I would opt for something with a bit more width to it. The TR6 webbing looks like a rubber material about 1.5-2 inches wide but with very little elasticity.

 

[sail]

For my 4A I got nylon webbing from the local canvass shop ($6) as wide as would fit in the old clips and sewed them with button thread. Not pretty but strong. I just eyeballed about a 1/4" shorter than looked right and they are in there good and snug. I don't think you want stretch or in would put you back into the metal frame. Take a good look at your old foam as mine was shot and I am having to take a guess on how to trim the new foam being slightly larger than needed. My best guess there is the seat should be as large as possible and then trim the back to fit.

 

[TR6oldtimer]

I used seat belt straps for the top, they might work for the seats.

 

[DougF]

I had an upholsterer make them as he was redoing the seats. Seats and top on the TR 6 are the only things I didn't do myself.
This upholsterer does phenomenal work and is reasonable. Unfortunately, he is not taking in work now. Probably booked through the summer.

 

[guzzul]

Pete - I used standard 1-1/2" seat webbing to make new straps as needed. Cost was about $5.

Where the old straps still had some tension in them and were not too distorted, I reused them. For the others, I made new ones using new nylon webbing.

To make the straps, I cut off the old rubber strap and then sewed webbing onto one seat-frame clip, using strong thread, as mentioned by sail above.

I installed the clip on one side of the seat frame, then stretched the webbing through a clip on the other side as tightly as I could and marked the needed length with upholsterer's chalk. I then removed the newly measured strap and sewed it tightly onto the other clip before reinstalling. When you reinstall, you should need to give the strap a solid tug to stretch it across the frame, don't leave it too slack. Once its on, it will work as well as the original rubberized strap.

You may notice in the attached that the top right-hand clip is not the same as original. Somehow when I took the frame apart I lost one clip, so I made this one out of stout coat-hanger wire. Works pretty good.