Tomorrow is going to be a big day. Spent the last week taking apart and restoring the front seats. Very difficult work for a newbie such as myself. Project came out great! I just need put the backs on and sinch up the bottom cushion lanyards to put the bucket in my buckets. I used a heat gun, elbow grease, lots of hog rings and lots of patience. It helped that both the covers and foam were a good match to the originals. I have to do the rear seat as well but might take a few days off until my hands and arms stop aching.
Thankfully I took my time when taking everything apart. I was able to salvage the burlap and rim padding that protects the foam. I sprayed it down with some oxy cleaner and “Odor Bully” to neutralize the old funky smells.
Here’s an interesting find. It seems the box springs were shipped by American Airlines from Michigan to California. I’d think that odd as air freight for heavy objects can be costly vs truck shipments. My Cougar has a very late 1968 build date (7/29/68) so they might have been moving parts around to build out before the change over to 1969 model year production. Are the 68 and 69 seats different mechanically? Then my suspicion would make sense. Depends on what the normal seat build logistics actually was. Anyone know “A Lot” about Mercury Cougar seats?
Update - I did a little google search on Hoover Company and Stubnitz. Hoover was making ball bearings for the automotive industry and in 1960 acquired Stubnitz that manufactured seat frames and foam. Over the decades Johnson Controls (JCI) ended up acquiring them and is still in the seat making business to this day. JCI was one of my customers in my former career. Small world.
Bookmark this thread! Great pictures. You just keep blazing new paths through this restoration; congratulations.
That AA air freight sticker is quite the find. I recall both new 707 freighters but a few DC-6 freighters in that period; I picture that assembly going on one of the two.
Thanks for the comments guys! It’s good to hear. I am grateful to be contributing when I can. Here’s the finished product. I hung a laundry dryer sheet inside each cushion. No rodent issue to speak of in my garage but it’s cheap insurance. Rear seat next. Should be a little less work as there’s no foam that needs to be compressed.
Was able to knock out the rear seat in the last few days. The original covers were not in too bad of shape as was the rear back pad. Unfortunately the rear bottom cushion had much deterioration and mouse damage. I cut up an old kids sleeping bag and used it for additional padding.
Lastly the rear bottom seat pictures. This spring had some significant rust/rot that I cut out. I replaced the burlap with speaker grill cloth as I had some around. Used more bailing wire to reconstruction some of the wire frame. The second picture shows the sleeping bag plus two layers of foam. That proved too thick. In the end I used the sleeping bag with a single layer of foam. If at all possible try to reuse the original batting or purchase reproduction molded cushions. This bottom seat was plenty of work to get the shape right using a standard foam sheet.
Not too many people willing to take that job on… Are your hands sore? The pivot pins would break on those seats so I can see needing to get air shipping on a warranty seat. In time they finally recalled them.
Yes. Sore hands after the numbness went away. Ha! Took my time though and things turned out great. A certain sense of accomplishment but also a better appreciation for upholstery shops.
You raise a great point about the air shipped seat frame. My pivot pins were in good shape but I should have inspected them more closely. I had read about the recall some time ago but kind of pounded though this project. I do remember somethings a bit odd. Per seat, one pin had a spherical head but the other was flat. Also one of the four clip pins was missing. I launched one across the garage so can understand how they could get lost easily. I have a bin fuel of cotter pins and used one of those. Might be evidence that the recall was performed.
Got everything put back together today. Both front and rear seats look and feel awesome. Smells great too! I provided two package trays to the installer that did the headliner some time ago to help with the C-Pillar / Sail panel fitment. By a stroke of luck the one I made from 1/8" Masonite was a very close color match to the carpet. So I chose the darker over the more natural color of the OEM/Reproduction type. Seems to blend in well. My original plan was to color or wrap it. However I was able to polish it up and remove some fine scratches using ultra fine steel wool and furniture polish. Things went smooth today.
You did a great job on those seats. I am going to be doing mine as well, same color, 67 XR7. Where did you get the foam for your bucket seats, and which one if the site has more than one? Also those seat covering look perfect, did you buy those from WCCC? I have some sitting in my wishlist on their site for a later purchase.
Thank you so much! Both front seat foam and covers were sourced from WCCC. Be sure to order the covers intended for the 67 XR7 trim. Here the description from WCCC for mine “Seat Cushion Foam - XR7 / Decor* - EACH - Repro ~ 1968 - 1969 Mercury Cougar” Note that 1967 wasn’t included. Unsure what the difference might be but my guess is the pattern.
Sometimes a single foam supplier sells through various companies like WCCC and Mustang shops. The trick with the Mustang shops is to understand if the part is truly correct for the Cougar. WCCC provides way better descriptions.
There are a handful of material shops that make car vinyl for Ford cars. SMS, Auto Custom Carpets, MustangMarket.net etc… In my experience the SMS material has been a better match to original but 2X the price so…
If you have any questions about the job let me know and I will help if I can. Good Luck!
I have commented on your intended subject, the seats. They still look great. I have another question about the vinyl for your door panels and back seat panels. Mine are cracked from sitting in the sun. Are they original, or did you find someone who makes them?
