Seat tear down

So far, so good.

Boy, THAT looks like a PILE of fun!

Tons...

Actually it went pretty fast - the dried mold flying off it in the process was a nice bonus though.

Got the other side done too.

Be sure to keep the seatback foams if at all possible. They differ from MGB.

Wait a second - I thought the seat covers and foams where the same!

Got my frames back 2 weeks ago after having them dipped to remove rust. Primed and painted and moving parts greased up they work great. Almost hate to cover them they look so pretty.

Tom,

While you've got them torn down, could you measure at the front of the seat the distance from the bottom of the front tube to the top of the front cross tube? I'm starting to think my seats my be more B than C. I haven't grown in my old age, I've shrunk! I used to be able to wear my Hat [not cap] in my B-GT, now the button on my cap smacks the roof at the slightest bump.

Just rebuilt the C seats starting where Tom is today. The frames were blasted, primed and painted. If the frames are blasted, make sure to blow out the blasting medium before painting. Make sure all moving parts move freely like Randy said. It's to late once the seat covers are installed.

I used 1969 seat foams from Moss that were made in Great Britain. They fit fine, but are probably a little thicker than the originals. The seat bottom cushion may be slightly taller too. MGOC supplied the 1969 seat covers and they were a very good fit. The seat back covers slid into place with some effort and with the plastic bags, supplied with the seat back foam, placed over the entire seat back assembly. The plastic bags were removed once the seat back covers were in place. The 1969 C seats came with a lumbar support pad that is often missing. I have directions for making the lumbar supports if anyone is interested. Mark Saylor has the directions and will put them in the AMGCR newsletter when there's room. The difference in low back comfort is very noticeable with the lumbar supports in place.

The seat bottom cushions are "handed" so make sure you mark them as soon as you remove them from the packaging. The seat bottom cushions and covers are easy to install; just take your time to align the seat cover's seat back and seat bottom upholstery patterns.

I also rebuilt the headrests using capet pad for filler. I have pictures of that process too. I'm really happy that this job is done and that the seats are in the car...big improvement in comfort and appearance. Chuck

Sorry, posted wrong picture. See next post.

This picture shows the soft rubber O-ring that was floating on the floor of the C's gas tank, closng off the pipe and causing gas starvation.

Here's a picure of a MGB seat and MGC seat for comparision. With no bottom hardware attached to the rails, the top of the B seat was approximately 4 1/8 inches tall when measured from the ground to the top of the front rail. The top of the C seat was approximately 2 3/4 inches tall when measured from the ground to the top of the front rail. Hope this helps. Chuck

Bill - I'll be happy to take measurements.

So the frames are clearly different, which I knew going in. I have the head rests careful tucked away too.

I think the "big" question is if, with the added lumbar support, will the standard MGB foams work then?

I can totally understand why once they are all cleaned up it take some effort to put the covers on themThanks for all of the help!

Tom, I'll send you some pictures later today. The lumbar support fits into a dead space and is not noticeable to the eye when installed. It's when you sit in the seat that you notice the improved back support, and the lack of support if the lumbar support is not installed.

Bill - you still need measurements or did Chuck nail it for you?

OK guys - I'm going with MGB foams and covers, with some custom lumbar work I guess.

Thanks!

Chuck,

Thanks a lot, that will make it very clear which I have. Maybe it my rear that is thicker! :) or it is the cushion itself!

Tom et al,

I think Chuck covered the frames, now I'm worried that maybe the B cushion [seat base] might be the issue. Thanks for offering anyway. I'll go make some measurements and see if that tells me anything.......... It looks as though my frames are correct, about 2.75" from the top of carpet. I also measured from the top of the carpet, depressed / flattened, to the top of the white piping, in the middle of the seat, on the seat cover and it comes out to ab out 6.5". I'm pretty sure that Ed put new ones on just prior to my purchasing it from him and they are still in great shape, no sagging in the middle or at the front edge. It will be interesting to see how this 6.5" dimension compares with others.

Thanks again to all.:thumbup:

Bill, it has always been a complaint after redoing the MG seats that you sit too high or the seat is too hard. Comes from the difference between the old collapsed foam, stretched and possibly torn diaphram and all new ones.

I'm changing to '72 pattern MGB seats in my C GT and simply cut down the legs on the driver's seat frame and welded it back together to duplicate the original MGC seatframe. I think the jig I made up for the welding was 1 3/4" from the bottom of the cross tube to the bottom of the leg. They are made out of 3/4" tubing, so the front would be about 2 1/2" tall. Haven't done the passenger's seat yet, may not.

Not too sure if my C GT seats had the extra rubber lumbar support as Chuck describes. Haven't taken them apart. Redone in vinyl before I got the car in 1980, so may not have. Not entirely happy with the '72 seats, maybe the lumbar rubber is missing on them, or never had. Always felt like later MGB seats were just not right. Altering slightly to suit myself. I just like the head restraints better. Had intended to add an air-adjustable lumbar support, but wonder if the extra rubber would be a good idea also? Will look into it.

C Ya,
Mark

I have to get mine going soon.

Mark,

I kind of miss the headrests or at least a higher back on the seat. It isn't that is it less comfortable than my 74 BGT seat it just seems to sit higher. The drive to Auburn last year went well with no discomfort from the seats just the occasional bumping of my head on the roof. I do like to sit in the seat rather than on it which is how it sometimes feels, and that may be due to higher or newer cushion foam pieces. Hmmmmm... Maybe an electric carving knife and I could carve out the foam with a small depression to lower myself just a bit?

Bill

Yes, Bill, that is exactly the best way to carve the foam. My father did that decades ago while helping my mother reupholster some chairs. Works better that anything else but a hot wire.

And if you are comparing the MGC GT to your MGB GT: if they were the same year the top of the seat should be in the same place in the car. I have compared my '69 MGC GT to a fellow Willamette MG Club member's '69 MGB roadster and they look identical. That is why the front legs on the MGC seat are shorter - to compensate for the floor being higher in the body shell.

I think the later MGB seats may have a lower profile center section to the cushion, though.

C Ya,
Mark