47-55.1 Rebuilding of front bench seat

[TX3100Guy]

Based on the condition of the bench seat in my truck, I'm considering disassembling it, finding someone who will sandblast the seat frames and springs, paint the frames/springs, and recover the seats with modern materials.

I have found multiple sources of vinyl seat covers but so far I haven't found any seller of pre-cut foam to use versus the old materials. What has everyone who has redone their bench seat done?

[TX3100Guy]

Answering my own question with this link - https://raybuck.com/product/1947-195...ver-open-back/

[mongocanfly]

Those look nice...especially for the diy-er

[mr48chev]

They say that they have the seat foam repair kit for the foam under that upholstery. There is a layer of burlap right on top of the springs and the padding goes on top of the burlap and that upholstery goes over the foam/padding.

From their page on the foam. DESCRIPTION
This bench seat repair kit will cover one bottom OR backrest area and includes one 1″or 2″ thick HR70 foam sheet and one burlap substrate. The foam sheet measures 24″ x 80″ and the burlap substrate is slightly larger. The burlap is meant to replace your seat’s worn out burlap. Place the burlap substrate between the seat springs and the high density foam.

Even though 2″ is offered most applications will only require the 1″ foam.

Kit used to come with carpet substrate, as shown in video, but now comes with burlap.

I had to buy a bunch of 4 inch high density foam for my Bayliner for the seats inside and that stuff isn't cheap at all. You don't need that thick though.

You might want to get ahold of Brandon Taylor at the Upholstery guy and More in the Dallas area. We go back and forth on FB and he does some first class serious show quality work but in the end run on a stock seat that you took him bare sand blasted and painted springs for he might be competitive on price. From the looks of it anything in the 500 dollar range is going to compete with the kit, foam and shipping.
https://www.facebook.com/TheUpholsteryGuyANDMORE/

[leegreen]

>Kit used to come with carpet substrate, as shown in video, but now comes with burlap

Over the years I have had a couple bench seats that were not too bad looking but were not comfortable as the springs had worn into the padding of the seat. A piece of used woven backed carpet put between the springs and the padding fixed them right up and cost nothing.

[jweb]

I have rebuilt a few of these seats over the years. Next time I will ditch the bouncy springs and build a seat like this. Starts at post #648 on this build

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...popeye&page=26

[TX3100Guy]

Originally Posted by jweb

I have rebuilt a few of these seats over the years. Next time I will ditch the bouncy springs and build a seat like this. Starts at post #648 on this build

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...popeye&page=26

That is one awesome seat. It's going to cause me to think much harder about what I want. Ditching the old springs and not having to get them sand blasted is such a great idea. I like the more modern approach of dense foam.

[mr48chev]

Bob Russel in Waco did my stock seat in Roll and Pleat in 1973 and it was one of the most comfortable stock seats I ever sat on. It can be done with stock seat springs.

[JDarby]

Originally Posted by TX3100Guy

That is one awesome seat. It's going to cause me to think much harder about what I want. Ditching the old springs and not having to get them sand blasted is such a great idea. I like the more modern approach of dense foam.

Funny I also have been thinking about my seating for my truck.

When I bought my truck back in 79' it had a bench seat in it but out of what I do not know, it was horrible!
Me and 2 of my buddies at the the time bought a 53' GMC and parted it out three ways, they both had Chevy's and I had my 55 GMC.
I took the seat / hood / grill / gas tank.
The seat frame from that old truck is in really great condition and I very much like the idea of ditching the worn out springs and going with the high density foam!
That was a great idea!

[TX3100Guy]

Originally Posted by JDarby

Funny I also have been thinking about my seating for my truck.

The seat frame from that old truck is in really great condition and I very much like the idea of ditching the worn out springs and going with the high density foam!
That was a great idea!

I like to very much too, but would like to know exactly what foam to use. Seems he purchased four inch for the back and six inch for the seat and then trimmed from there. But a cursory look at foam on line finds many kinds and densities. Making sure to get the correct one seems to be the first part of the trick.

[jweb]

Originally Posted by TX3100Guy

I like to very much too, but would like to know exactly what foam to use. Seems he purchased four inch for the back and six inch for the seat and then trimmed from there. But a cursory look at foam on line finds many kinds and densities. Making sure to get the correct one seems to be the first part of the trick.

If you can find a foam supplier or local upholstery shop that would be best. We use HR2533 or Q51 foam for most seats. I would recommend sitting on some foam to see what you like.

Building the seat out of foam is a far better option than the springs. You can choose the density and change the height/ shape to suit you. My current seat is 1" foam on top of the springs, I'm 5' 10" and this seems too high and I would also like to sit further back. Switching to foam I can adjust both the bottom and back thickness.

I plan to do this to my seat but I really don't have the time right now. Once I get further along on my 64 Suburban I will revisit this. I may also switch from vinyl to cloth, even in Oregon a vinyl seat is really hot.

[Dan in Pasadena]

I've posted this before but a quick FYI for those thinking of redoing their stock bench.

I stripped mine, had the springs (NONE of which were broken - a miracle after 65 years!) sandblasted and powder coated gloss black before talking to an upholsterer.

He suggested removing the springs, install a plywood backerboard instead then he used modern foam contoured to my back and it came out fantastic. Doesnt even really look like a stock '55 bench seat anymore. Very comfortable too.

[mongocanfly]

Leevons seat looks awsome, for some reason I really like my "bouncy" springs though
On my IH seat , i kept the springs and had everything else replaced, got s set of travelall seats thatll be getting covered I the future..on the fence about what to do on it..
Dan , your seat is gorgeous