67 seat rebuild

[Bradley D.]

The drivers side seat bottom had lost its support, so I took both seats apart and found someone had
fabricated the seat cushion. It was done using older foam material that lost its frimness.

I thought I would get replacement seat foam bottoms from Al Knoch and have those installed.
Will I be happy with the frimness? I feel I need a fairly firm seat, probably more firm than the original, any
thoughts or suggestions. The seat cover are reusable.

Thanks
Brad

[Gene M.]

Re: 67 seat rebuild

Brad,
Corvette America has what I consider the nicest foam. Seat covers are excellent too.

[Bradley D.]

Re: 67 seat rebuild

Thanks Gene, I have used them before for other things and found good quality and service. A lKnoch just seems to have the rep.

[Gerard F.]

Re: 67 seat rebuild

Brad,

Changing the seat foam on a 67 is really not a winter job. How do I know?

I think most of the new seat foam you get is somewhat hard and oversized(at least the ones I got from Corvette America) , and you will need to stretch the seat cover bottoms around the foam.
It is best to do in the summer when you can hang the bottom covers in the sun to make them a little soft and pliable. or do it in a hot heated area.

I redid my originals on a 67 in the winter a few years ago with new foam and covers. The backs were a snap, but trying to stretch the bottom cover over the new foam was a bear. Almost pulled my shoulder on the hog rings, and just couldn't get the sides and bottom of the seat to fit right.

So out of frustration, I reused the original seat foam and augmented it in the areas where it was compressed and worn, with foam rubber. I went to a sporting goods outfit and bought some camping pad foam (1/4"-3/8") cut it and glued it to the needed areas of the original foam. Maybe you would call this bumberizing the seats, but I haven't had a point off on the seats in judging yet.

Saved the new foam, maybe some hot summer day when I've nothing to do, I'll go legit.

[Gerard F.]

Re: 67 seat rebuild

Brad,

Here's what my original 67 seats and bottom frame looked like before I redid them:









I guess they were a little worn and rusty.

[Bradley D.]

Re: 67 seat rebuild

Thanks for the advice, I hadn't really thought of that (winter/cold). I am somewhat concerned the new foam might be bigger than the old covers.
I haven't ordered anything yet, but would like to be up an running by spring. How about putting them in the dryer to warm them up a bit? Good/bad idea?

[Bradley D.]

Re: 67 seat rebuild



Picture on left is seat foam on the right is the under side showing thickness of faom pad.

[Gerard F.]

Re: 67 seat rebuild

Thanks for the advice, I hadn't really thought of that (winter/cold). I am somewhat concerned the new foam might be bigger than the old covers.
I haven't ordered anything yet, but would like to be up an running by spring. How about putting them in the dryer to warm them up a bit? Good/bad idea?

Brad,

I wouldn't put them in a dryer, it may dry the seat covers out and shrink them. They use a steamer in the installation. I used a heat gun with mine but very carefully as it could damge the vinyl.

Take a look at this video at Corvette America:

http://www.corvetteamerica.com/video/65_67scInstall/

I did my seats about 10 years ago, so maybe they have the oversize/too stiff seat foam problem solved now. In the video the seat foam looks a lot softer than the one's I didn't use, and they make the fit look very easy.

I think I see the problem with yours from the photos in the post below. Looks like the guy before, just added onto the foam on the bottom below the springs and without tieing it to the seat cover. It wouldn't really do much to stiffen the seat.

After you review the video above, I think you may realize that you may be in for a little bigger job than just changing the seat foam. You'll need an installation kit and the special tools, rings, wires, clips, etc, and once you are in there, you might have other things with the seat frame.

But you are guaranteed to have a lot of fun doing it, whether you go with Corvette America or Al Knoch. Al Knoch also has a video, which I used.

Have fun,

[Jim D.]

Re: 67 seat rebuild

Brad,
Corvette America has what I consider the nicest foam. Seat covers are excellent too.

I agree. I bought the foam and covers for my 65 from C/A and installed them myself. They came out great.

[Bradley D.]

Re: 67 seat rebuild

Thanks, Jerry this was a big help. The 67 seats are slightly different, but the video covers the important aspects of this job. I think I can do it, I have a steamer, I just don't know if I will.

[Jack H.]

Re: 67 seat rebuild

Also, note the factory original burlap that sits atop the bottom frame springs and keeps the foam from 'squeezing' around/through the springs. Many forget that tiny aspect of factory originality and some believe it makes the seat bottom a bit more 'firm'....