New LMC Bench Seat

[lkt1954]

LMC has come out with a new custom split back bench seat, seat/tracks/frame roughly $ 1400.00.
Just got a quote one redoing the seat for my 69 C10- I furnish the foam and the cost is $ 1000.00-1200.00 using good grade vinyl. Foam- $ 250.00, seat tracks- $ 75.00-100.00 and frame blasted and powder coated $ 150.00. On the low end that's $ 1450.00.
I'm seriously considering this seat. Any thoughts on this seat and/or has anyone gotten seats from LMC and what are they like?

Thanks

[Richard]

Pretty sure the seats are from TMI https://www.tmiproducts.com/cars/chevy/truck/1972 Might want to check on ordering direct first, LMC is low on my vender list.

[lkt1954]

I would agree it looks like the TMI seat. I checked several other vendors and if I am comparing the same seat they are at $ 1300.00+ for the seat and the brackets are extra.
While LMC isn't my first choice either, why not save some money here??

[MikeB]

You may not need it, but don't expect any kind of tech support from LMC. I've had good luck with their products over the years, but when I recently asked them a technical question, a customer support lady told me they "don't have any mechanics" working there.

Obviously they do employ smart and knowledgeable folks who select the products and create all the great drawings, but I guess they keep them away from customers.

[dmjlambert]

When I have a choice between an original part restored and a new shiny part from China, I pick the original part restored. Even if it costs more. I've had too many new Chinese parts fall apart on me, often falling apart right in my hands before I can even put it on the truck, or sometimes failing within a year. So, I'm just fed up.

[1967GMCC20]

I found a nice 70-71 bench seat guy was throwing out, use it until my 67 seat is restored.

[LS short box]

In a recent Hot Rod magazine article they toured the TMI plant and it's here in the US but I don't remember where. Looked like they made most everything in house.

[dmjlambert]

That is excellent news. Disregard my rant. Now it's just a matter of does that modern style of the new seat look better than the classic style in the old truck, and that is up to the truck owner.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by lkt1954

I would agree it looks like the TMI seat. I checked several other vendors and if I am comparing the same seat they are at $ 1300.00+ for the seat and the brackets are extra.
While LMC isn't my first choice either, why not save some money here??

No doubt saving money is good. Be cautious of their shipping costs and lead times as well as customer service when an order is not in stock. Believe TMI products are made to order, so I would be very cautious.

[TKCR]

I restore seats, and I do the whole seat. Sandblasting and repairing the seat frame. Soak the tracks for rust removal. The quotes you were getting seems very high to me. I’m at $800 using the original foam, if it’s good. $1000 using new foam. And I’m supplying the core in most cases.
It’s your choice, your money and your seat & truck. But Lordy, I would consider doing the seat yourself. That will definitely save you money. Once you restore your frame & tracks, order a cover and install that yourself also. You do all the work yourself, there’s no way you’ll spend the quotes you are getting. But that is where all the money is going, is the labor. It is very time consuming and a lot of work restoring seats. Doing them the right way, not cutting corners.
Here’s some pictures of a 67-68 seat that I restored. Ended up selling it before it ever got a seat cover. The person who bought it was going to have a custom cover made for it.

[lkt1954]

MikeB- I totally agree with LMC's lack of tech support, I only order parts from them that I need no support on.
TKCR- I get what you are saying- new seat from LMC all in is $ 1732.00 and to have the original redone with tax and not including shipping on the foam & tracks- $ 1570.00, difference is $ 160.00. I agree that doing it myself would save money, but with everything left to do to have this ready by August, there isn't enough time to do it myself.

[1967GMCC20]

Interesting, I have my original 67 gmc seat, has the odd thin foam, cannot seem to locate that, always listed as not available. Needs one weld and lower seat foam.

[tdangle]

Originally Posted by LS short box

In a recent Hot Rod magazine article they toured the TMI plant and it's here in the US but I don't remember where. Looked like they made most everything in house.

Yes, they are in Corona California. I was just at an open house for them. They make everything in house. Actually bought a new bench seat from them while I was there.

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by lkt1954

MikeB- I totally agree with LMC's lack of tech support, I only order parts from them that I need no support on.

Hopefully that's the case with a complete seat.

I will say I bought a vinyl seat cover from them years ago that fit perfectly and looked great. It was for a square body truck.

[nicklear36]

Originally Posted by TKCR

I restore seats, and I do the whole seat. Sandblasting and repairing the seat frame. Soak the tracks for rust removal. The quotes you were getting seems very high to me. I’m at $800 using the original foam, if it’s good. $1000 using new foam. And I’m supplying the core in most cases.
It’s your choice, your money and your seat & truck. But Lordy, I would consider doing the seat yourself. That will definitely save you money. Once you restore your frame & tracks, order a cover and install that yourself also. You do all the work yourself, there’s no way you’ll spend the quotes you are getting. But that is where all the money is going, is the labor. It is very time consuming and a lot of work restoring seats. Doing them the right way, not cutting corners.
Here’s some pictures of a 67-68 seat that I restored. Ended up selling it before it ever got a seat cover. The person who bought it was going to have a custom cover made for it.

Do you soak the tracks in Evaporust or something similar?

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by nicklear36

Do you soak the tracks in Evaporust or something similar?

Yes, Evaporust. Then they will need repainted.

[wpsharpshooter]

I really like those seats... Unfortunately Im looking to go with the saddle color and these are only available in black.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by wpsharpshooter

I really like those seats... Unfortunately Im looking to go with the saddle color and these are only available in black.

You must not have looked close enough at their website, these come in all kinds of colors.

2295 Black Vinyl
#6525 Charcoal Black
#6525 Charcoal Black
#958 Black Sierra Grain
#958 Black Sierra Grain
#2302 Light Blue Metallic
#2302 Light Blue Metallic
#3598 Dark Blue Madrid
#3598 Dark Blue Madrid
#2309 Brite Blue
#2309 Brite Blue
#3297 Medium Blue Metallic
#3297 Medium Blue Metallic
#16 Grey
#16 Grey
#21 Charcoal
#21 Charcoal
#955 Charcoal Vinyl
#955 Charcoal Vinyl
#972 Titanium Grey
#972 Titanium Grey
#3048 Red Vinyl
#3048 Red Vinyl
#3597 Red Madrid Vinyl
#3597 Red Madrid Vinyl
#957-Bright Red
#957-Bright Red
#7300 Red
#7300 Red
#4063 Vermillion Red Corinthian Grain
#4063 Vermillion Red Corinthian Grain
#2920 Red Sierra Metallic
#2920 Red Sierra Metallic
#971 Dark Red
#971 Dark Red
#509 Brown Distressed
#509 Brown Distressed
#3025 Granada Gold
#3025 Granada Gold
#3295 Parchment Pearl Metallic
#3295 Parchment Pearl Metallic
#3307 Ivy-Green Gold
#3307 Ivy-Green Gold
#3603 Medium Green Madrid
#3603 Medium Green Madrid
#3606 Dark Green Madrid
#3606 Dark Green Madrid
#510 Buck Distressed
#510 Buck Distressed
#506 Camel Distressed
#506 Camel Distressed
#986 Camel
#986 Camel
#2651 Cellar Brown
#2651 Cellar Brown
#965 Oxford White
#965 Oxford White
#2305 Ivory-Bright White Madrid
#2305 Ivory-Bright White Madrid
#3047 Parchment-Off White
#3047 Parchment-Off White
#4088 Hugger Orange Vinyl
#4088 Hugger Orange Vinyl
#3049 Light Yellow Metallic
#3049 Light Yellow Metallic
#3046 Turquoise Metallic
#3046 Turquoise Metallic

[TKCR]

https://www.tmiproducts.com/gallery/...10-white-sport

Here’s a picture of a tan

[wpsharpshooter]

Originally Posted by TKCR

You must not have looked close enough at their website, these come in all kinds of colors.

2295 Black Vinyl
#6525 Charcoal Black
#6525 Charcoal Black
#958 Black Sierra Grain
#958 Black Sierra Grain
#2302 Light Blue Metallic
#2302 Light Blue Metallic
#3598 Dark Blue Madrid
#3598 Dark Blue Madrid
#2309 Brite Blue
#2309 Brite Blue
#3297 Medium Blue Metallic
#3297 Medium Blue Metallic
#16 Grey
#16 Grey
#21 Charcoal
#21 Charcoal
#955 Charcoal Vinyl
#955 Charcoal Vinyl
#972 Titanium Grey
#972 Titanium Grey
#3048 Red Vinyl
#3048 Red Vinyl
#3597 Red Madrid Vinyl
#3597 Red Madrid Vinyl
#957-Bright Red
#957-Bright Red
#7300 Red
#7300 Red
#4063 Vermillion Red Corinthian Grain
#4063 Vermillion Red Corinthian Grain
#2920 Red Sierra Metallic
#2920 Red Sierra Metallic
#971 Dark Red
#971 Dark Red
#509 Brown Distressed
#509 Brown Distressed
#3025 Granada Gold
#3025 Granada Gold
#3295 Parchment Pearl Metallic
#3295 Parchment Pearl Metallic
#3307 Ivy-Green Gold
#3307 Ivy-Green Gold
#3603 Medium Green Madrid
#3603 Medium Green Madrid
#3606 Dark Green Madrid
#3606 Dark Green Madrid
#510 Buck Distressed
#510 Buck Distressed
#506 Camel Distressed
#506 Camel Distressed
#986 Camel
#986 Camel
#2651 Cellar Brown
#2651 Cellar Brown
#965 Oxford White
#965 Oxford White
#2305 Ivory-Bright White Madrid
#2305 Ivory-Bright White Madrid
#3047 Parchment-Off White
#3047 Parchment-Off White
#4088 Hugger Orange Vinyl
#4088 Hugger Orange Vinyl
#3049 Light Yellow Metallic
#3049 Light Yellow Metallic
#3046 Turquoise Metallic
#3046 Turquoise Metallic

I only see part#s for black on LMC's site. TMI's site has all of those but the price is 1k higher

[eisbaer63]

Originally Posted by Richard

Pretty sure the seats are from TMI https://www.tmiproducts.com/cars/chevy/truck/1972 Might want to check on ordering direct first, LMC is low on my vender list.

As of May 1st, 2024, LMC Truck was about $1000.00 cheaper - for the same seat - than TMI.
$1099.85, vs. $2569.99

[Shifty One]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

When I have a choice between an original part restored and a new shiny part from China, I pick the original part restored. Even if it costs more. I've had too many new Chinese parts fall apart on me, often falling apart right in my hands before I can even put it on the truck, or sometimes failing within a year. So, I'm just fed up.

[jocko]

I’d say using one of these aftermarket seats shrinks your resale pool because folks (like me) don’t want to have to take that time to find an original seat to restore the truck. Seems money ahead and better looks to stay original. But that’s just one person’s opinion. I’m sure they are nice and they do look comfortable. Good luck with your decision.

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by jocko

I’d say using one of these aftermarket seats shrinks your resale pool because folks (like me) don’t want to have to take that time to find an original seat to restore the truck. Seems money ahead and better looks to stay original. But that’s just one person’s opinion. I’m sure they are nice and they do look comfortable. Good luck with your decision.

I agree 100%. No way I’d put anything other than an original seat in any of my trucks.