good mid-year seat cushions?

[Craig Nicol]

I've replaced the seat foam on 3 mid-year cars using cushions from my regular vendor all with terrible results: The seats are way too firm and sit too high to drive. (No room for legs under steering wheel) I'd be really pleased to hear from others who replaced these items and were totally pleased with the result. My '65 is currently virtually undriveable as my head stretches the convertible top and I have to leave the visors off to see out. (I'm an "average" height guy at 6') Am I correct in recollecting that the leather seats allow one to sink in slightly and that the surfaces are soft and yield to gentle pressure? (My seats are about as soft as a football) Any direct experience will be greatly appriciated. Thanks

[Craig Nicol]

Is no one happy?

I am astounded that no one has anything to say, good or bad, about replacement seat cushions!

[Craig Nicol]

Is no one happy?

I am astounded that no one has anything to say, good or bad, about replacement seat cushions!

[Patrick H.]

Re: Is no one happy?

Craig,

Maybe a couple of questions and/or comments are in order:

1. Who is your "regular supplier." While I have never seen a great set of seat cushions, yours sounds unduly firm and tall. And how close were you to the top before the seat re-do?

2. I have yet to see a replacement cushion where the "center panel" portion of the seat bottom was not too tall/puffy. If you ever have the pleasure of seeing a low mileage original midyear seat bottom, you will notice that this center portion is slightly "sunken" compared to the outer portions. NCRS judges do, in fact, look for this and deduct for "puffy" centers as reproduction.

The increased height of the center portion of your seat may (?) account for hiting the roof, but were you within an inch or two before? And could the increased firmness be due to stuffing too much cushion into seat covers patterned after originals?

Just a few thoughts, I hope they help. Once again, the Corvette world is reminded that there is no such thing as a correct reproduction in the hobby. (And if you think our parts are bad, just try and get quality parts for an old VW Bug. The repro/aftermarket stuff there is nothing but junk, but that's another story (Redid one 10 yrs ago and sold it to buy my 71 coupe)).

Patrick Hulst

[Patrick H.]

Re: Is no one happy?

Craig,

Maybe a couple of questions and/or comments are in order:

1. Who is your "regular supplier." While I have never seen a great set of seat cushions, yours sounds unduly firm and tall. And how close were you to the top before the seat re-do?

2. I have yet to see a replacement cushion where the "center panel" portion of the seat bottom was not too tall/puffy. If you ever have the pleasure of seeing a low mileage original midyear seat bottom, you will notice that this center portion is slightly "sunken" compared to the outer portions. NCRS judges do, in fact, look for this and deduct for "puffy" centers as reproduction.

The increased height of the center portion of your seat may (?) account for hiting the roof, but were you within an inch or two before? And could the increased firmness be due to stuffing too much cushion into seat covers patterned after originals?

Just a few thoughts, I hope they help. Once again, the Corvette world is reminded that there is no such thing as a correct reproduction in the hobby. (And if you think our parts are bad, just try and get quality parts for an old VW Bug. The repro/aftermarket stuff there is nothing but junk, but that's another story (Redid one 10 yrs ago and sold it to buy my 71 coupe)).

Patrick Hulst

[Gene M.]

Re: good mid-year seat cushions?

Craig, I've used Mid America seat foam and their covers. There is always hard flashing that requires removal on the foam. The foam always needed to be "shaved" to contour the rim of the bottom cushion to fit and look correct as installed. The bottom edges always needed triming too. The seat cover bead was always a task to align with the crest of the seat cushion. I try to put it at or slightly below the edge in attempts to appear as originals. The hooks for the center seat area always needed to be the short ones (dificult to pull down to hook in) in order to look factory like. Make sure you have extra short hooks. It seems an acceptable appearence can be achieved using all shorter hooks under the center panel. The problem then arises in that the out side panels (3) will not lay smoothly in the front corners untill a lot of fanny time is performed. I would suggest getting the center portion of the seat correct and let fanny time help you out with the front outside corners. The vinyl or leather will give some over time. The firmness of the seat when done has approximated the original, allowing for age of the originals.

[Gene M.]

Re: good mid-year seat cushions?

Craig, I've used Mid America seat foam and their covers. There is always hard flashing that requires removal on the foam. The foam always needed to be "shaved" to contour the rim of the bottom cushion to fit and look correct as installed. The bottom edges always needed triming too. The seat cover bead was always a task to align with the crest of the seat cushion. I try to put it at or slightly below the edge in attempts to appear as originals. The hooks for the center seat area always needed to be the short ones (dificult to pull down to hook in) in order to look factory like. Make sure you have extra short hooks. It seems an acceptable appearence can be achieved using all shorter hooks under the center panel. The problem then arises in that the out side panels (3) will not lay smoothly in the front corners untill a lot of fanny time is performed. I would suggest getting the center portion of the seat correct and let fanny time help you out with the front outside corners. The vinyl or leather will give some over time. The firmness of the seat when done has approximated the original, allowing for age of the originals.