Hello again,
John here again, last week I posted a request for info regarding installing new seat covers on my 914 and was met with a lot of good and friendly advice. Taking the first seat apart resulted in a need for more info and parts. First I stripped a hex nut. Then I went on to destroy it. So I am in need of a couple ( have not taken the other side out yet ) of those dual nut/piercing things. I would also like to purchase a few of the single piercing things. Sorry for the poor description but I don't know whtat they are called. Then I was thinking about buying a whole new seat but my wife says she is happy with hers. Any info anyone has would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again,
John

I am not familiar with the 914 part in questions but ACE Hardware carry a lot of automotive type hardwares. Free bump so may be some one else can provide specific answer.

I’m pretty sure he is referring to the metal plates on the seat bottom that do double duty to hold the seat rail to the fiberglass and hold the vinyl on the bolster. They are riveted to the fiberglass seat bottom. It’s one of the reasons I keep some core seats for parts because it’s not an item available new but maybe 914rubber could make a run. If you buy an east coast car, they are usually very rusty.

@mikey914

If they are the part I think they are I may have already done that.
If you post up a picture I'd be happy to let you know.
Mark

@shag

Hi guys, The piece I am referring to is the same piece that mepstein is referring to. I just don't what they are called. There are two sharp " arrows " on the on one side and and they are riveted onto the seat. The other is just a single " arrow " with a single rivet. I ruined one when I took the seat apart by drilling it out. I am afriad more will break when I try to re-install the cover. Thanks to all of you again.

Mark,
I am ashamed to let you know that I do not know how to post a picture on line. I am recently retired and had no interest or time to learn. But I am eager to learn now. I can take a picture with my phone but I have no idea of what to do after that. So if you have the time and patience perhaps you could walk me through. I surerly understand if do not.
John

I don’t have time at the moment but just send the pics to mark@markepstein.net and I’ll post

These are what he's talking about.


I had a couple of those pawls (the single spike ones) break and just cut new ones out of sheet metal. Worked perfectly. The are soft metal. The double prong would obviously be trickier to fab.

Bingo
@Mikey914

Yes, Yes, Yes, that is what I am talking about. Where can I purchase some of these? With the little bolts that they attach to the seat with? Does anyone know what they are called? Thank you very much, all of you, I really appreciate it.

Aren't these held in place with pop rivets?

Yes

I had one come loose on me during my seat recover and without a rivet gun handy, I used a small nut, bolt and some washers.

If you need some of the single spike pieces, buy a metal tack strip, drill the holes and then cut the pieces. The spikes on the seats only bend 3 to 4 times before they break so try to handle as little as possible.

Hi Mark, That seems like a great idea. First I would like to ask bbrock if he would like to sell a few of those little clips and if not could he tell me where he bought them.

H
I'm pretty sure he made them from scratch.

Oh, OK, do you think anybody has any for sale?

I should, Ill check

Thanks

IIRC, one of the single prong ones in that pick is one I cut out of sheet metal (18 gauge I think) and the others are originals that had come off the car. They look new (sort of) because I zinc plated them. Sounds like you've gotten some hits for sources here, but I'll bet if you place a WTB in the classifieds, somebody will have them. There has to be a lot of trashed seats out there for parts.

I had thought about making them ,but an upholstery guy turned me onto just using some commercially available ones. They were cheap

https://www.sailrite.com/Flexible-Metal-Tac...rip-Medium-Duty
Not to say I may not make some ones you don't have to mess with but these work.

Hey Mikey914, Thanks very much forn the info. Now I have to decide which style I want to buy, if I cannot buy the type bbrock has. Mark Epstein, which style would you purchase?

The Sailrite : flexible metal tack medium duty or upholstery tach strip?

The ones I got were pretty cheap. Maybe a dollar or 2 on ebay.

I'm actually running numbers on what it will take to make these like factory. I have to admit I did have to modify the part I had and it was kind of a pain.
Stand by

I am standing by. Thanks
John

Ok pulled some off of a seat and working on drawings

More to follow next week. Will probably post up a GB, I'm pretty sure we can get enough interest to make these, but want to have my numbers together before we look at going forward.


There are some tricks we can use to reduce cost......if they work. Unfortunately, I will not know until I try.

I have an old ratty seat that I threw into the junk pile the other day. I could be convinced to strip the ratty upholstery away and retrieve those particular pieces for you. PM me if interested.

Bill

MidshipMadness, Thank you for offering to take out the clips from your old seat. Right now I am waiting to see if Mikey914 can come up with some new ones. If he can't then I will ask you to remove them from your seat. The cost will be more for your time and effort to do this for someone than Mikey914's will to make them.
Thanks again,
John

mepstein, Did you ever receive the pictures I think I emailed to you?

Yes but I didn't post since Brant posted his images.

It's great that we have folks willing to help by salvaging parts. I'm all for that. It was one of the reasons that I had not made these before. However since I acquired a group of seats I was noticing that some of these parts are a bit rusty, and the metal will fatigue if you bend it enough and it's compromised.

This is why once I started thinking about it These made more sense. The small clips are simple, but the other two have spacing specifically to allow for mounting and foam width, so they are more complicated animals. Once I make the die I might as well do all of them, so yes I will be doing these, just need to figure out how inexpensively I can sell them.

Mikey914, How long of a time period are you allowing before I could purchase a few of these? What I really need right now are the double style clips. I will purchase more than what I need because I have not disassembled the other seat.

Mikey914, Hi Mike, just wondering how long I will have to wait for the clips? The seat is sitting here in my living room all torn apart and I would really like to get it back together. Please just give me an idea of an approximate time.
Thanks,
John

If these go as planned with plating looking at 2 -3 weeks.
Mark

OK, Please let me be your first customer of these. How are they going to sold? Different quantities? How much are they are they going to cost?

Well may be closer to 2 weeks. Plant to sell as a seat set for best price 2 seats complete, next tier down individual seat kits, lastly ala carte.
Pricing depends on how efficient I can be at making tooling and the number of takers on a Group Buy to share cost.
I will post up a GB thread just as soon as there are less variables and my estimate can be closer.

Mark

Well longer than 2 weeks.
we are making 2 versions, the carbon steel that will be plated and stainless. Pictures tomorrow and I'll start a GB thread