Hi. Maybe someone can help. I'm trying to get a set of 71 bucket seat recovered in my 69 pattern. It looks like the backs are a very slight higher than my 69's only by 3/4 of an inch. My question is should I by new foam from 71 and will my new 69 covers I bought run into any problems. Not sure if anybody also has run into this situation. Thanks so much for any help!!!

 

You can pick out your own foam and do it that way I'd do memory foam only cause that stuff is cool

 

Everything I've ever heard said the 69-72 seats were the same except for the seat cover stitching. Now, different manufactures may be more or less accurate. I have a buddy who works in an upholstery shop and he's commented some covers and foam biscuits don't fit right without modifying them. He hates when a customer brings in his own covers/foam and asks him to make them work.


John

 

Just judging by the spec's for the sale items on Epay, it looks like the 69 foam is a different animal. That being said, can you not shave some foam off the top?

 

I will be very interested in how you fare with this as I will be going through the same issues soon. I picked up a set of 71 seats with new sienna covers which I'll be switching to 69 black. Did you restore the springs or having any tips for us?

 

1. No the seat backs are NOT different heights between 69 & 71.

2. 71/72 seat foams are different due to the lack of channels for the bolster listing sleeves used in the earlier seat cover designs. It has nothing to do with size. You NEED to buy the matching foam for the style covers you are going to run.

3. Make sure the only buns you are looking at are made by AMERICAN CUSHION INDUSTRIES (ACI) if the vendor won't say who made them, don't buy them.

The other available seat buns are not even close in quality to the ACI ones.
PUI, TMI & the "no-name" chinese ones from Original Parts group- These are all are way too firm, and your head will be in the headliner. Additionally- The TMI ones have a funky embedded wire structure that is totally different to insatll than stock.. The OPG ones flat out need to be carved with a knife to even get the covers on...

4. RE: Springs- Unless your original springs are absolutely rusted to hell, Don't buy the full reproduction spring assemblies either- they are mega stiff. Repair your original ones. GM didn't paint or coat their seat springs or frames in any way- so a coating of rust is to be expected- what you are looking for is scaly rust that has whittled down the springs & surround wires to toothpick size- thats when you need to replace with new spring materials.

 

Thanks so much for all the excellent advise.

 

X2 - Checked out your seat restoration website. You do nice work! Thanks again.

 

Thanks!
I really enjoy the work, but I also enjoy helping others avoid the problems that I've run into in the past.

I really need to build a FAQ page to list out some of this stuff I've got rolling around in my head.. I wind up re-writing it a lot

 

Thanks again. Also how do I find your seat restoration website?

 

Click on the link Classic Seat Resorations in link #6

 

Here, I made it easy:

http://www.seat-guy.com/

 

Thanks!!!