When You Need Seat Upholstery . . .

[grey beard]

Been thuinking about my Pilothouse seat for over a year. Them what want originality use the hide of nauga-stuff like original, but it's costly to replace, and hot in warm weather - not too inviting when it's cold either. To replace the original seat with a later model unit involves chopping out cab welds and removing the pipe frame seat assembly, and there goes originality riight out the window.

I priced seat covers - $50 and up - and spoke with several of you here who have been unsatisfied with what Larry Roberts offers - and he's the only act in town insofar as Pilothouse interior pieces.

Today I went to my favorite junk yard and looked at every seat in the place - literally. What I was looking for this time was not a complete seat I could use, but a seat upholstery top I could remove and use on my original seat. High series trucks and crew/club cabs all have split front seats, as do Broncos and such. The only vehicles that still use a full bench seat are plain jane garden variety piclups.

I came home with the upholstery and foam padding from a late nineties Ford F-150. When I stretched these pieces over my original sedats, they fit almost perfectly. In point of fact, the new upholstery is a little larger all around than the original seats, and I will fill this space with foam padding that will fill out the difference in dimension and make the seat more comfortable.

Couldn't be more pleased. As soon as I get the covers installed I'll post some picsl They already look like they were made for this vehicle - same contour at the front cushiion corners, etc. You'll be impressed, AND we all know how many F-150's are in your local junk yard. Go figure . . . . . . :)

[bach4660]

Its great how people approach things differently, I went to wreckers and looked at whole seats, frames etc and never thought of something so simple as just salvaging the cover and some foam. thats a great idea.

[MBF]

I did the same thing with mine. I bought a seat at Macungie from a 50's IH that had just been reupholstered for $10. I brought the whole thing home-removed the covers. After replacing the foam, the covers fit almost perfectly on my 52's spring and frames. Nice when something works out-and couldn't beat the price. Mike

[Bouncy B]

I love the ingenuity of the members on this forum! No trailer queens here!

[MBF]

Trailer queens-are they the same as lot lizards? Hey invention is a mother of necessity when you've got kids in college! That's what I've done on the antique JDeeres that I have, my 36 plymouth. Anyone can go out and buy what they need-well most people. I like the satisfaction of being resourceful-may change the name of my flatbed to the McGiver MoPar:D ! Mike