73-75 Low Back Bucket Seats & Console Restoration

[TKCR]

Got the Medallions all polished up.

[TKCR]

Frames were sandblasted, rust inhibitor and the repainted. Also dropped those broken brackets off to my welder.

[Ad Cam]

Originally Posted by TKCR

Got the covers off today, and the Medallions. I’m not going to need foam, these are perfectly fine. Going to hit the bottom of the frame with the sandblaster and repaint. Now it’s a matter of waiting for covers to be made.

Are you getting them from USA1Industries? I've looked high and low and they're pretty much the only game in town for these seat covers.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by Ad Cam

Are you getting them from USA1Industries? I've looked high and low and they're pretty much the only game in town for these seat covers.

Yes most likely.

[TKCR]

I think the plan is too get Tan covers. Keep them the same as the console.

[TKCR]

Received a new little shiny piece for the console.

[hooverfish]

Any progress ?
Getting ready to start on these seats for my 84.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by hooverfish

Any progress ?
Getting ready to start on these seats for my 84.

No progress, waiting on the covers. But even if they had come, I’ve just been busy with the other seats and seatbelts.

[rodstored-72]

TKCR, will follow along just to see the transformation! your work is excellent & very detailed. I just wish I was closer to have you do some things for me. I might still have you do my seatbelts... almost at that point.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by rodstored-72

TKCR, will follow along just to see the transformation! your work is excellent & very detailed. I just wish I was closer to have you do some things for me. I might still have you do my seatbelts... almost at that point.

Sounds good.

[TKCR]

I got some of the brackets back from my welder. He got them cleaned up and all welded back up. Should have the other 2 back in a few weeks.
Before & After

[mikentosh]

Came across these guys yesterday while looking for low back bucket options. They claim that they do OE reproduction covers, however the photos for the 73-75 buckets look wrong:

http://distinctiveindustries.com/cat...-k5-upholstery

[smupser]

Originally Posted by mikentosh

Came across these guys yesterday while looking for low back bucket options. They claim that they do OE reproduction covers, however the photos for the 73-75 buckets look wrong:

http://distinctiveindustries.com/cat...-k5-upholstery

No, they look correct. 73-75 had rounded top corners and that style cover.

[smupser]

Here is a pair of original 73-75 seats that I have, you can see the pattern is identical

[mikentosh]

Originally Posted by smupser

Here is a pair of original 73-75 seats that I have, you can see the pattern is identical

Oh interesting! So the early seats didn’t have a medallion on the seat back then? And did they come with a separate color for the inserts then, like distinctlve industry photo?

I’m putting together a ‘75 Gentleman Jim, which was missing the original buckets, so been going off of photos on the net. So far everything I’ve seen looks more like what TKCR has.

[smupser]

Originally Posted by mikentosh

Oh interesting! So the early seats didn’t have a medallion on the seat back then? And did they come with a separate color for the inserts then, like distinctlve industry photo?

I’m putting together a ‘75 Gentleman Jim, which was missing the original buckets, so been going off of photos on the net. So far everything I’ve seen looks more like what TKCR has.

Yea the 76-77 square tops are much more common and used the square medallions. The earlier style didn’t always come with medallions but when they did they were the longer, thin, vertical type. I have no idea about the two tone fabric though.

[ky-donzi]

I ordered distinctive ind. seat covers in Aug. they are supposed to be here next week. I have both types of bucket frames at my shop (round top and later sq top). I will post some pics when the covers come in.

Side note ....it was a real mess getting them ordered two tone. And I’m still not sure they will come in that way

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by mikentosh

I’m putting together a ‘75 Gentleman Jim, which was missing the original buckets, so been going off of photos on the net. So far everything I’ve seen looks more like what TKCR has.

Dude! Can we see?

[mikentosh]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Dude! Can we see?

Don't want to thread hijack, but I started a build thread.

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by mikentosh

Don't want to thread hijack, but I started a build thread.

Cool, I have enjoyed your other truck builds.

Sorry TKCR, we will take this conversation elsewhere. Back to the buckets!

[TKCR]

Got the other brackets done. He did a great job on them.

[hooverfish]

Those look fantastic !

[HOTFUN]

All the 73-74 bucket seats I have or have seen there is no factory tutone vinyl just they use the same color in two different types of vinyls. Elk grain is the outer bolsters and I believe Madrid vinyl is the inset vinyl. I think they show the tutone colors as an optional look to a solid color and it does look nice.

[HOTFUN]

Tina, Have you got your seat covers for the bucket seats yet? Wanting to see how the seats look with your original seat foam. I will be talking to you soon about doing a nice set of 73 charcoal belts for my factory buckets soon. Actually have a charcoal NOS driver side retractor belt I would like to use with the other 1.5 belt set. I just ordered a set of the black and charcoal Distinctive Industries original bucket seat covers for mine. Order site said 15-16 weeks out shipped directly from manufacturer.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by HOTFUN

Tina, Have you got your seat covers for the bucket seats yet? Wanting to see how the seats look with your original seat foam. I will be talking to you soon about doing a nice set of 73 charcoal belts for my factory buckets soon. Actually have a charcoal NOS driver side retractor belt I would like to use with the other 1.5 belt set. I just ordered a set of the black and charcoal Distinctive Industries original bucket seat covers for mine. Order site said 15-16 weeks out shipped directly from manufacturer.

Nope, I haven’t gotten them yet. But when I do I’ll update the thread.

Wow! A NOS 73 Charcoal Retractor? I bet that’s pretty. I love the 2pt belts, they are cool looking. So you have the rest of the set, that is what needs restored? Just send me a PM, when your ready. Or you can contact me via the link on my Signature, for my Seat Restoration Page on FB. I need to change the title on that also, since I’m doing a lot of seatbelts too.