I have been told my ComfortWeave Decor interior is Grade A. But, as we all know, our seat foam doesn’t last forever. My original foam is no exception.
This next episode of Separate George From His Money may very well include addressing this with Jalapeño. Whenever I drive at speed with the windows down, that crap’s flying all around inside my car. So I’m looking at a few different options that vary in cost, comfort and originality. I’m hoping you guys can vote in the poll and and tell me why in the replies!
Option 1 - Simply replace the existing foam using the original covers. This is the least expensive option, improves comfort a bit, and maintains original appearance. I’d only do the fronts, since the rear seat is fixed and nobody sits back there - ever. The problem with this (as I see it) is that my car is a 12-month driver. I’ve put almost 5,000 miles on it in about 18 months! How long will it be before my pristine seats (at least the driver seat) becomes a Grade B or C? They’re only original once!
Option 2 - Remove and store the original seats - whole (and store with the rest of my original take-offs). I’d buy some beater seats, and basically create entirely new repro (or at least period-correct) seats - with new foam, hardware and leather. The most expensive option for sure, but it improves comfort the most, and I’d keep my originals seats as they are - Grade A. I’d sacrifice a little originality in appearance, and I’d have to do the rear seats so it wouldn’t look mismatched, but I’d have the full original set to go with the car, when I’m too confused to drive.
Option 3 - Remove and store the original covers, replace the foam and reupholster with new leather covers This is kind of a hybrid solution. It’d cost somewhere in between, improve comfort a little, and keep my originals covers… Again, I’d sacrifice a little originality in appearance and still have to do the rear seats.
I’m a big fan of the original look of the '70 decor seats with comfortweave. Sadly mine were long gone before I got the car so I used the not quite correct repo covers on new foam. I think they look great despite not being true comfortweave nor having exactly the right treatment at the headrest.
If I had your car, I’d keep the original seat upholstery and replace the foam. Make sure that whoever does the work bolsters the top of the repo foam to properly fill the OEM headrest area.
As for the wear and tear, I use a very light weight terry cloth seat cover that Amazon sells which is marketed for people to throw on their seats when coming home from a workout. I like it because it’s got a soft rubber backing that keeps it in place without having to be strapped down so I can easily snatch it off at car shows.
Same dilemma on my car. My front seats aren’t perfect, but are not bad and they are original. But the damn foam crumbs blow all over the place with the top down. Back seat is still good, so I decided to replace the front foam and covers. The new foam pads look great. But when I finally received the covers (after 7 months), the vinyl didn’t match, the padded strips were uneven, the headrest was not padded enough, and the seat back boards were too thin and flimsy. So I am currently trying to source matching vinyl and leather and will just have my local upholstery shop make new front covers using the old ones as patterns. The problem you will have with reusing your current covers over new pads is the stitching and edge fabric gets pretty rotten and rips easily. But I would be tempted to give it a try!
I would say to reuse yours and replace the foam but have a backup plan incase your OE covers dont survive the swap. They may be brittle and getting them swapped out could be the end of them due to age
I can see this as a remote possibility because they are 51-years old no matter what else you say, but these covers are mint. Supple, no cracking or splits anywhere. I’ve had some pretty knowledgeable experts be pretty blown away. The thought of them being damaged on reinstall makes me lean toward option 2, expensive as it would be.
I did foam and new seat covers, but my covers were pretty roached out already. The Issue I see is removing and replacing the Hog rings that hold the covers in place. would be a delicate operation in my book to not damage the original seat covers.
But you will never get rid of the “yellowstuff” until it’s all completely gone. every time I sat in the old seats there was a new pile of it in the carpet.
I voted #1. Maybe just the seat bottoms. The seat backs may still enough good foam to not have to take apart the upper seat back. I have a 71 seat back that was saved many years ago from the junk yard that seems to still be solid after all these years.
That’s a pretty good option. As I think about it…the big driver of this whole seat thing is the foam dust, which is coming entirely from the front cushions, not the seatbacks. Doing seats at all was never part of the plan. I wish I knew how to add that to the poll!!
A couple years ago I had a shop do the bottoms of the seats in the 70 Convertible I use to have. As well as some other repairs. It worked well, and was not that expensive. But I had the foam.
Would you mind posting some photos of how it turned out? Did you just take it to a shop and tell 'em what you wanted…or did you buy pre-made 68 foam and leather from someone like WCCC or John’s?
FYI the interior guy I used to modify my mustang rear cover to fit my cougar seat is on your side of town. I brought him the raw materials seat cover I wanted modified and he did a bang up job for a fair price. I also had him install my headliner before that.
Speaking of rear seats and foam, is it possible to find these from a vendor? There doesn’t seem to be any shortage of front foam but those tears are a different story!
I’d gather up that seat foam dust in some sort of container and peddle it on eBay as NOS seat foam replacement filler, with key words SHELBY, COUGAR, MUSTANG. Put it up for auction with a starting bid of $250; you’ll be amazed at the number of bids!
Option #4
Pull seats. Turn over & spray foam w/ spray glue. Place material (like a cut up sheet) over area w/ more glue. This stops the foam crumbs/dust, and no need to repair. NOTE: rear seat do not have foam.
My interior thread should address all your questions. If not just let me know.
