Hey guys,
I have decided to restore another set of bucket seats for my 68, paying a lot more attention to the details than I did first time around. Mine look great but are VERY HARD, even after 15 years of settling. They were done with PUI covers, cheapest foam available, and all reproduction springs.
For the new set, I want to add headrests, best foam available, good covers, and keep the original springs. I am aiming for comfort first.
I have researched the forums and other sites, but it seems information is dated. So, with all of that said and the last time I rebuilt a set was 2001.
What is the current state of restoration parts for buckets?
Are quality parts available?
Who makes the best covers?
Are the aftermarket headrests nice/good quality?
Are the aftermarket tracks good quality?
I have read ACI foam is the way to go and I am looking at Legendary covers..... any advice is appreciated.
From what you wrote, it sounds like you are on the right track.
* Fix broken original spring assemblies!
* ACI Buns!
* Legendary Covers! (my personal preference, but for 1968 pattern covers, PUI or Distinctive would also be decent quality)
I have a set of reproduction headrests here right now that are going on a customers seat- these came from legendary (no idea if there are more than one MFG making these, i'd guess not) and they are very nice quality- but only come in black.
The reproduction seat tracks are a nice alternative to buying rusty used tracks- however they are pricey @ $90/seat!
If you have usable originals, i would hit them with a 3m stripper wheel, paint em, grease em, and run.
for a 68, the repop headrests will work but are the 1969/70 style notches(one inside one outside), and nobody makes the correct 1968 bezel/lock the headrest, so you'll have to re-use your originals (if you have them) or run 1969 ones (i think the 70-72 style are ugly as sin)
Glen: Looks like you did a fine job last time. What happened to those seats or is this a different car? The only thing I can add to what Ben said is the following. If you have any broken springs, which is a very common problem, you may want to do what I did. I purchased an entire bench seat on Craigslist. Think it was from a 4 door, 62 Impala. The price was only $50.00 and all the springs were excellent. Gave me both gauges of springs used in 60's/70's era GM seats and enough of each to do several seats. Just need a couple tools to reform them or improvise and reform them with a vise and a hammer. I would prefer original tracks to repo but would come down to a cost thing. If already have original then repair,restore and reuse.
... If you have any broken springs, which is a very common problem, you may want to do what I did. I purchased an entire bench seat on Craigslist. Think it was from a 4 door, 62 Impala. The price was only $50.00 and all the springs were excellent. Gave me both gauges of springs used in 60's/70's era GM seats and enough of each to do several seats. Just need a couple tools to reform them or improvise and reform them with a vise and a hammer. ....
Love this idea. Had never thought of it. Thanks for the advice.
Ben, I had asked you some of these questions over PM awhile ago. Nice to see the answers haven't changed much. Where did you get the headrests?
I too do not like the escutcheons for 70-72, I was thinking of buying a 69 (used) set and painting them black to simulate the 68 style headrest locks. Think I can make them look right?
Legendary gets my vote!:thumbsup: They used the seats from my 68 convertible as patterns when they started producing A-body stuff. Legendary did the installation of the new foam and covers to insure the correct fit. I was very happy with their service as well as their products!
OK guys, thanks for all of the responses. Now I am going to take a GIANT LEAP into the future......Has anyone ever added cooling fans to their seats? Like a modern day Cadillac or GMC Acadia? Just a wild thought.
I actually looked into it a couple years ago. I am not saying it cant be done but it would be difficult. I believe there is only one company that makes the systems for new vehicles that have that system. I contacted a factory authorized upholsterer in my area that installed them in new cars that the system is offered but that particular car wasn't built with that system. He wouldn't even discuss selling me the parts needed to install that system.
So at that time the cooled seats were offered in approx. 30 models of new cars. One would have to find one of those models with that option that was wrecked and remove the system from the totaled car. Then one would have to get a set of custom seat covers made that would allow that system to be used and supply the electrical portion to run the system.
So it would be difficult to acquire the system and install it but a nice thing for cars without ac.
The system in the link uses a fan. The system available as an option in certain new cars uses a minature heat pump IIRC. The same system can cool or heat. It does.have ducts within the seat. If you every noticed a new car with the heated and cooled seats the covers have hundreds of small holes to distribute the heated or cooled air from the ducts.
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