As the title says - is there a tipping point where seat are too far gone to be worth holding on it? I know that you can rebuild just about anything but is there a point where it's just not worth it?

To be more specific - how torn/missing chucks can be bottom seat cushion be and still be usable?

You can cut new foam for the bases as well as plywood to replace particle board. You will need the metal catch for the front of the base. The foam on the bucket can be repaired. For the most part they are all rebuild able, just some will require more new content than others.

^^ It's fiberboard and readily available in 2' x 2' cuts, though deleting it gives you 1/2-1" lower pad for....

The foam bottom can be shaved to a lower profile and works well with the new found side bolsters as an AutoX seat.

Hi - thanks for jumping in. Doesn't that really mean that "yes", there is a point where you need to just ditch what is there and start over?

I'm trying to figure out when the existing foams are too far gone.

Thanks!

I think a lot of seats are being trashed that could be pretty easily saved. This might give you a idea of what can be done:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?s=&...t&p=2684884 Details continue on the following page.

I’m hoping 914rubber will make new foam for the bolsters. Most of the core seats on the east are coast are generally worn out and smell from humidity. All new foam (when reupholstering the seats) would pretty much cure that issue.

Fiberglass can be fixed but I’ve seen some seat bases that are so cracked, they are trash. Always check the left side of the driver seat for cracks at the middle of the bolster. They crack from holding onto the shoulder area while getting in and out of the car.

Thanks for the discussion.

So how about this one as a real example - that foam to my eyes needs repair before being recovered, no?


Click to view attachment

Mikey sells new foam seat bases or go to the craft store, buy the dense foam and cut with an electric carving knife $15 on ebay/amazon.

Save the seat base board. It has a little metal clip you need and it makes a good pattern to make a new base. Make sure you save the 2 angled wires in the bolsters and the one short straight one in the bottom of the backpad.

I recovered a pair and they came out great. It will take more time than you expect. Always wait twice as long for the contact cement to dry as what's on the directions. Trial fit each part before glue. Gently use a heat gun to remove wrinkles. Do one seat at a time so you can refer back to an assembled one.

You could just use a little foam and fill in the damaged part. Then shape with the knife.
It’s not that bad. If collapsed add a layer of foam
I’ve got base vinyl if you need it as well as hounds tooth and plaid should you decide to change it up.

And if the foam is all there....steam it and it will soften up almost like new. Mark

For that one, I would replace the foam completely. Even if you patch it, that foam has to be saturated with farts so it has to go. I actually wound up completely rebuilding my seat bottoms. The press board was shot so I cut new panels from some 1/4" birch plywood I had left over from a cabinet project.

BTW, there is a nice article in the classics forum on seat re-upholstery that is worth checking out. It doesn't cover trussing down the seat bottom to create the front kick up but I covered it in the thread I linked above. It's a PITA but adds a nice touch and improves thigh support.