Pilothouse Seats

[grey beard]

Have any of you gents been successful at transplanting a later model bench sweat into a Dodge Pilothouse? Can anyone share how they accomplished this, given the welded-in nature of the original seat base? I've seen bucket seats sitting on a plywood frame and other such Amish enegineering. Just wondering if anyone has found an elegant alternative to Roberts upholetery kits. My locak upholetery shops want to talk about the five hundred dollar range just to recover the seat so it looks like a school bus seat - not the best decision ini my book.

What are you folks sitting on when you cruise?

Thanks for sharing your local wisdom.

[Young Ed]

Dave gotta find someone who can do it on the side. I got both seat pieces redone 2 door panels made and covered with matching seat material for 375. Only part I supplied myself were the special C shaped clips that hold the material to the seat frame. I did POR the frames myself before sending them giving them back to be reassembled.

[bach4660]

I am on the wait list a the local Tech college they offer automotive upholstry classes and will do the seat for material cost as a practice. Originally when I talked to them they weren't interested, but when I told them it was a 1950 original they got excited.

[Merle Coggins]

What are you folks sitting on when you cruise?

Sorry Dave, I couldn't resist.

I like the Tech School project idea though...

Merle

[Tony_Urwin]

Dave, I don't know how your local salvage yard operates, but around Cincinnati, the biggest yards have huge metal buildings where they warehouse all the parts they salvage.

I visited a local yard for an A/C condensor last week, and I looked at their stock of seats. They had at least a hundred set out in rows. You could simply measure your truck seat, and visit your local yard with a tape measure.

[grey beard]

Never visited any "local" yards, cause my brother has a nice yard ninety muiles away in North Jersey between Washington and Hackettstown. He sez Ranger pickups are about the right width. Anybody ever try one 'a these in their Pilothouse? There sure are a blue million of those around . . .

[Rodger S-11]

Hola All

My neighbor across the street has an very original looking 1949 truck that has the very original worn out seats. I have spoke to him about doing an up-date on his truck to some type of more body forming seat. His reply to me is that he will not change to some other make of seat ( aka chebby, furd or the like ). Sooo, if one of you has an MoPar knowledgable seat, please let me know. The local pick & pull wants $10 for an seat ( that means $20 if it is an set of buckets ). This could be his next christmas or b-day present.

Rodger & Gabby

COS

[MBF]

What I did was bought a set of reupholstered seat cushions ( I believe they were from an IH). The seller told me that the cushios were the same size as the Dodge PH cab. Since he only wanted $10 for both cushions with the new covers I took a chance. I ended up taking off the newly made covers and reupholtering my seat springs. I didn't use hog rings, I found some of those long c style clips to attach the covers to the frames. Came out pretty damn good-no wrinkles, and the new foam make the seat firm-even the air adjusment works. Mike

[41/53dodges]

okay, just how wide is the seat? every time i measure it its different sized!

[Dave72dt]

Most of the minivans have a bench second seat that is probably narrow enough.

[41/53dodges]

i had a good one at picknpull today, but they tried to rip me off. i told them where they could stuff that and left it there

[Dodgeb4ya]

I am just re-doing the original seat in my 1952 dodge. The original seats done right are good for even a long drive if padded correct for the driver. I added the optional "Air Seat" Valve and frame assembly and correctly replaced the cardboard bottom panel which requires separating spot welds holding upper to lower seat frame assemblys-only way to replace the cardboard. Then I had to reweld it all back together and replace 7 seat coil springs and a few smaller springs. I used a heavy grade truck seat material I got from "Perfect- Fit McDonald" a wholesale upholstery suppy company out of Seattle and Portland Oregon. $18.00 a yard. Kinda a tan with slight tiny black lines through it. The welting cord I made is black, not tan-not original but to what I wanted -a bit custom! Matches the door and kick panels already done.

Now on to the upper seat back and Visors!

Bob

[41/53dodges]

wow, no way i have that kinda patience and/or talent, i just returned to pick n pull and got the one i found earlier. any good way to patch small holes in vinyl?

[DollyDodge]

Dodgeb4ya Do you have a supplier for the upholstry clips that go on the seats? T

[Dave72dt]

Is that a regular upholstery sewing machine or the common garment type?

[HanksB3B]

Wow!

Hank

P.S. What did you use in lieu of the horsehair padding (probably NPC these days).

[Dodgeb4ya]

Well to answer the above questions... Yep I've got a lot of patience- and enjoy doing all my own work, here is a pic of the box of "Au-ve-co" seat clips I used-available through any upholstery shop or Upholstery supply company. The sewing machine is a industrial Pfaff machine used for any type of automotive or commercial heavy type of work.

As for horse hair-can't get it any more including rubberized horse hair-at least that I know of. I had to take apart another old seat to get springs and some horse hair out of plus I also used high density foam/cotton batting and some Dacron batting to get the firmness/fill out that I felt I needed. Seat is firm and flat and even. Welting was made out of 4 strand alarm wire-.112" diameter! I didn't have the right diameter proper welt cord on hand.

[DollyDodge]

thanks for the information on the seats. The reason I asked was when I had my seat done the company didn't want to use the old clips and wanted to remove the vent and cardboard (which is still in good shape). the wanted to fastenthe upholstrey with hog rings. I talked them into using the old clips, but they didn't put as many back on as came off. I don't know if they lost some or some broke. Anyway, I want to put more on. Thanks again and your seat is perfect.

[Young Ed]

The clips get weak with age and rust. The guy who did my seat used all new ones after I found a source for them. Bob probably has a lot of leftovers and if you ask nice he might sell you a few. I've still got at least one truck in the works so I'm keeping my leftovers for now.

[Merle Coggins]

I bought a box of 500 from American Trim & Upholstery Supply at http://www.atrim.com/index.html

Here is the direct link the page their on. http://www.atrim.com/Page160.html

Item # A7578 on that page. $30 for a box of 500 or $0.11 each.

Merle

[Jerry Roberts]

wow, no way i have that kinda patience and/or talent, i just returned to pick n pull and got the one i found earlier. any good way to patch small holes in vinyl?

In the past I have seen vinyl patch kits at the auto parts stores .

[DollyDodge]

I found a box of 100 for $15 at perfect fit. Think I will order them. Does a person push them on by hand, that is what I did with some that have come off, or is there a tool to install them?

Here is the link to the ones I found.

http://www.perfectfit.com/15290/154160/Trim-Clips--Auto-Fasteners/Upholstery--Headlining-Clip.html

Rob

[Dodgeb4ya]

I found a box of 100 for $15 at perfect fit. Think I will order them. Does a person push them on by hand, that is what I did with some that have come off, or is there a tool to install them?

Here is the link to the ones I found.

http://www.perfectfit.com/15290/154160/Trim-Clips--Auto-Fasteners/Upholstery--Headlining-Clip.html

Rob

Those are the ones to use. I use pliers with soft plastic caps over the jaws to install the clips-kinda tough on the old hands and fingers installing a lot of them.. I also use a bit of windex/water to help them slide on the vinyl material so as not to tear it. Use plenty of them too.

Bob

Edited September 2, 2010 by Dodgeb4ya

[Reg Evans]

Well to answer the above questions... Yep I've got a lot of patience- and enjoy doing all my own work, here is a pic of the box of "Au-ve-co" seat clips I used-available through any upholstery shop or Upholstery supply company. The sewing machine is a industrial Pfaff machine used for any type of automotive or commercial heavy type of work.

As for horse hair-can't get it any more including rubberized horse hair-at least that I know of. I had to take apart another old seat to get springs and some horse hair out of plus I also used high density foam/cotton batting and some Dacron batting to get the firmness/fill out that I felt I needed. Seat is firm and flat and even. Welting was made out of 4 strand alarm wire-.112" diameter! I didn't have the right diameter proper welt cord on hand.

Bob,

I have a Pfaff machine just like yours and have a question. Mine seems to run at an all or nothing speed. In other words I can't get it to sew slowly with the foot pedal. Can you creep around corners with yours or is the speed always FAST like mine ? I'm afraid I'm going to sew my hand to a seat cover The man I purchased this from was going to teach me how to use it but He passed away before that happened.

[HanksB3B]

Now you can add "sewing" to your list of household chores while your wife is out "bringing home the bacon". That would be alright except for the fact that you actually make her do your sandblasting (in shorts no less) on the weekends while you sit in your lazy boy chair smoking a cigarette and having a cold one.

Hank

Edited September 2, 2010 by HanksB3B