Recovering Early Seats - Need Pics

To take a brake from working on the wiring harness, thought I would get one of the seats taken apart and clean and paint the frame in prep for getting it recovered. I had thought the original covers looked rather good for their age and then found out they were all vinyl so that can't be the original covers (were all seats in 67 leather?). As I was taking off the covers, trying to note how they were attached and a few things seemed odd.

The rear flap of the seat bottom was wrapped around the back support tube backwards, i.e., wrapped so the back side of the vinyl showed. This was hidden with a thin piece of black vinyl.

The bottom flap of the seat back was pulled back and stapled to the cardboard backer which seemed odd.

In the process of finding someone who can rebuild the seat but it would be nice to know how the seats were originally put together.

Does anyone have some pics of how the flaps were attached to the tubes on the seat bottoms and backs? I've checked several links but all were for later model seats and the backs have an extra support tube for the flap.

Many thanks in advance,

Ron

Ron:

I just finished my seats for my 66BGT. I heard several horror stories about the diaphrams for them -- in fact Gordon at the BHive does not sell them any longer because unless the tension in even the hooks rip out of the rubber. SO...

I took my seats apart and cleaned up my frames with a wire wheel on the end of a drill. It worked really well...but my frames were not rusty at all. Maybe I was lucky!
I also cleaned up and repainted all of the hog clips.

I took all of my pieces and parts including my new leather covers from Moss and new foams to a local upholstery shop. I asked for the oldest worker they had there to discuss putting my pieces back together. Out walked a 75 year old man that has been doing seats for the last 50 years. We discussed things and he was familiar with MG seats and knew how to put them back to original but also improve on some of the weak points. So I had him do it because I did not want to rip my diaphrams or tear the leather == I would have been pissed. It was a good investment and he did both seats for a about 100.

Yes, I could have done them myself...but having someone do it protected my investment in the materials for minimal cost. The piping is strainght and the leather is perfect and I did not have to buy another set of diaphrams either!

He used hog clips where they are visible merely for looks and then some super heavy duty staples where you cannot see them. This was in addition to upholstry glue he used as well. The result is the appearance of a period installation, but with modern glue and fat-daddy staples to make sure the covers do not move over time. I am very happy with my choice.

Ron,

I'm in the same camp with Chris on re-doing seats. It's not that we can't do a decent job if we're patient, it's more that the pros are good and don't charge a lot. I went that route with mine and have never regretted it.

Speaking for myself, I was worried I'd get it right on the second seat.....

Steve

Ron,

I think I paid $125. That was 10 years ago, in Massachussetts. Probably not much help.

Steve

Here is my documentation of an early set, I don't know if it has the exact image you need but it might help:

http://motorcar-garage.com/gallery.asp?action=gallery&subaction=gallery&pid=63

Guys,

Many thanks for your input. I'm definitely not going to attempt to recover the seats myself. I had found a local auto upholstery shop a few years ago who did a great job on the seats of my 73 GT but he as since closed up shop. So, I am looking for a new shop and had intented on taking them one clean and painted frame, new foam, diaphram and Moss leather covers also with the other seat so they would have something to go buy just in case they weren't familiar with the MGB. My concern is that the complete seat had a botched job when it was recovered by the PO and that the upholsterer would do the new covers the same way.

Ed - your seats look great. Same as the ones I have - black with white piping. I'm putting them in my red 67GT which was not an offered color combination but one I think looks nice.

Would you mind taking a quick look at the back of your seats and tell me if one the bottom, the cover was wrapped around the outside of the frame tube in the back? I know it's that way on the front and sides.

Also, if you can see it, how is the front flap of the seat back attached to the frame? As I mentioned in my post, mine was folded under the seat back and stapled to the cardboard backer.

Again, thanks to everyone.

Here is the seat front...it is wrapped around and glued with hog clips. Sorry for the cruddy images trying not to wake up the wife and kids.

Here is the seat back...in this one you can see the mac-daddy staples that were used. But when the seat is in operating position you cannot see them at all...it is nice and neat.

Last one...here is a close up of the corner where in addition to the hod clips and staples they used a rivet....it is actually covered by the hog clip. These seat backs are not going to move.

Chris,

Many thanks for the pics. Very helpful. Yep, your guy did a great job.

Here are pics of my seats which don't look just right. Insted of wrapping the rear bottom flap over the bar, they went under in the middle.

The bottom of the seat top doesn't look right either.

Yes -- that is strange....

I have to say when I found the rivet in mine I was at 1st not all that happy...but it certainly will hold it in conjunction with the hog clip. I suppose the next owner will have to deal with it...40 years from now. Then I will have earned...."WTF did the DPO do that for!"

I would for sure have the shop slide the covers over the frames like they are supposed to be.

Here is my original 64 seat back.

have you considered Moss's complete, out of the box and into the car, leather seats. Perfect, 100 point Concours correct for about 2 grand. No fuss, no hastles. Done. It first sounds expensive but not so when you consider all the bits and pieces and very experienced labor. Moss has a sales on them once a year, iirc.

Not to highjack the thread...but I considered the compelete set from Moss....but I figured it was way too much considering all that was needed were the foams, the diaphrams, and new moss leather. All complete for way...way...way under 2K.

I suppose there is a market for a complete set though, if you do not have any parts which to re-do.

All,

You forum guys are the best. Based on Bill's picture of his original 64 seat back, at least I know how the material should be folded/attached.

I got the leather seat covers, foams, diaphrams and seat backs from Moss through Chris Roop so got them at a good price. This particular set of seats is being problematic since the recover job by the PO was done incorrectly.

Again, thanks to all for your help.