seat foam too high and too thick
#1
Race Director
Thread Starter
seat foam too high and too thick
for my 63. I have lost 2 1/2 inches in headroom. If I sit up, my head is at the roof.
What have you done to fix this problem.
What have you done to fix this problem.
#2
Team Owner
This is pretty typical of an amateur seat restoration - worse in C1s.
The foam may compress over time; if not - the fix is to do it over and do it right.
Pictures would help - maybe the seat was trashed and is now actually correct and you don't realize it...
The foam may compress over time; if not - the fix is to do it over and do it right.
Pictures would help - maybe the seat was trashed and is now actually correct and you don't realize it...
#3
Instructor
seats to high....
I see by your address you do not have the option of driving to El Paso but maybe you can work something out over the phone. Good luck! Bill
#4
Le Mans Master
The new foam looks the same but is denser so you do sit higher. Has nothing to do with your work, it's the nature of the beast unless you get a local shop or Al K to rework it for you. I'd give them a call and ask if they might be able to hook you up with a "thinner version" of their seat foam, they may have some already made up. Pilot Dan
#6
Le Mans Master
#7
Racer
BTW Some here have trimmed them if you like the density (check archives)
#10
Safety Car
This is fairly common. I can't believe how much higher I'm in my '58 with the new seats. Actually I can't believe how bad my original foam was. Then again it's been over fifty years.
Here's my interior restoration blog.
It's impossible to get new foam to act like 50 year old foam. This is something to consider when you contemplate restoring your seats.
I know restoration shops that use a hole saw to bore holes in the foam. You have to be very careful. If your bore too many holes you're sitting on the floor.
Richard Newton
Here's my interior restoration blog.
It's impossible to get new foam to act like 50 year old foam. This is something to consider when you contemplate restoring your seats.
I know restoration shops that use a hole saw to bore holes in the foam. You have to be very careful. If your bore too many holes you're sitting on the floor.
Richard Newton
Last edited by rfn026; 05-05-2015 at 07:10 AM.
#11
Instructor
#12
Race Director
Thread Starter
I have measured the headroom and it is 34 1/2 should be 37. The seats were rebuilt by a nationally recognized upholstery guy. There was some problems with the seat frame. I have adjusted the height but the problem with that adjustment is that it only works for front of the seat.
I have left heavy bags of concrete on the seats for 4 months and the seats did not compress any at all. .
I am to the point that, if I slice 2 to 2 1/2 inches off the foam height and there is a gap, I will just have to live with the gap. It is more important to me to drive the car comfortably than to have perfect seats.
I have left heavy bags of concrete on the seats for 4 months and the seats did not compress any at all. .
I am to the point that, if I slice 2 to 2 1/2 inches off the foam height and there is a gap, I will just have to live with the gap. It is more important to me to drive the car comfortably than to have perfect seats.
#13
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2003
Location: Greenville, Indiana
Posts: 26,118
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I see Al Knoch(k) foam is being discussed here. How about Corvette America? Is it too dense also?
#14
Race Director
#15
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2003
Location: Greenville, Indiana
Posts: 26,118
Received 1,843 Likes
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#16
Picture below is a comparison of my Corvette America foam (purchased 10 years ago) and my original foam from my '66. The CA foam is about 1 1/4" taller at the front, but I'm sure the old foam has "settled" over the years. I'm about to send my seats out to be recovered and will ask the upholstery guy if he can shave the foam, but I'm wondering how the covers will fit if he does that.
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#17
Race Director
Thread Starter
Picture below is a comparison of my Corvette America foam (purchased 10 years ago) and my original foam from my '66. The CA foam is about 1 1/4" taller at the front, but I'm sure the old foam has "settled" over the years. I'm about to send my seats out to be recovered and will ask the upholstery guy if he can shave the foam, but I'm wondering how the covers will fit if he does that.
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#19
Le Mans Master
Nature will cure the problem....
#20
Melting Slicks
When ordering new foam from AK (already bought AK covers off their eBay site) I too was concerned with the same issue so I asked the gal about a lower density foam that I'd heard could be had from them. She said she'd check and put me on hold. When she came back she stated that yes, they can send the foam I was requesting.
I had a local shop do the install after I rebuilt and painted the frames and while I do sit a bit higher and closer to the front (I'm 6'1") it's still quite tolerable and is to be expected with new covers and foam. They're only a few months old so I expect them to settle in a bit more over time.
Gary
I had a local shop do the install after I rebuilt and painted the frames and while I do sit a bit higher and closer to the front (I'm 6'1") it's still quite tolerable and is to be expected with new covers and foam. They're only a few months old so I expect them to settle in a bit more over time.
Gary
Last edited by Gary's '66; 05-10-2015 at 01:10 PM.