Seat pans for my coupe

[John Buchtenkirch]

I’ve made quite a few seat pans for motorcycles but these are the first I’ve ever made for a car. I just figured the seat springs were always going to cut into the rubberized horsehair or foam rubber so this was the only solution that made any sense to me. Making these pans is what I consider rough work (they are hidden under inches of foam) that doesn’t have to be perfect enough to paint so it’s almost relaxing work for me.

After I got them to be the right shape I covered the underside with torch down roofing so the springs can’t touch the pan & squeak.

I used an acid brush to push ultra thick tank track grease (seriously, my friend’s father liberated it during WW2) into all the clips and retaining points that hold the springs just to further eliminate any chance of squeaks.

I installed the seat pans over the springs and bent the perimeter tabs over the springs to retain the pans. I installed the rubberized horsehair over the pan and covered that with a layer of new foam which I shaped with a sanding disc on a pneumatic grinder. The whole thing was kind of a messy crude job but something I don’t think an upholstery guy could handle --- well at least the seat pan part. I reinstalled the seat covers, they don’t look too bad considering I’m a metal worker, not an upholstery guy. ~ John Buchtenkirch

 

[Blinkling]

Indeed.

Marvelous. Do you suppose the resulting seat bottom will feel stiffer than stock? What gauge metal did you use for the pan?

 

[John Buchtenkirch]

Marvelous. Do you suppose the resulting seat bottom will feel stiffer than stock? What gauge metal did you use for the pan?

I’m sure it’s a bit stiffer than stock because the rubberized horsehair can’t push down between the springs anymore. Having said that the springs in the seat still work and of course there’s the foam rubber. Till BMW or someone reproduces the rubberized horsehair cushions I don’t know what other choices I had. Most upholstery shops would just cover the springs with heavy burlap, felt or a piece of carpet and then foam rubber and hope for the best --- you just have to wonder how long that lasts before the same problem occurs. I have a pair of black cloth Recaros with vertical pleats I could swap in for down the road but for right now I would just like to get the car on the road with what I have and sort it out from there. Every one of these cars I’ve sat in I feel like the lower seat cushion is collapsed and I’m sitting too low, I shouldn’t have that problem anymore. ~ John Buchtenkirch


P.S. I almost forgot your request, I used 20 gauge.

 

[Blinkling]

Thanks, John. The seats are one of my upcoming projects so I appreciate the tips. The floor of my car is constantly covered in loose horse hair.

 

[John Buchtenkirch]

Thanks, John. The seats are one of my upcoming projects so I appreciate the tips. The floor of my car is constantly covered in loose horse hair.

David, I don’t know if it’s a repair for everyone because most people don’t have access to metal shaping equipment but it’s possible to make the same seat pan easier (for most people) in 3 pieces if someone has use of a spot welder. Oh yes, the shedding horsehair problem that I was forewarned about, I forgot to mention that after the seat bottom was finished I turned it up-side-down and sprayed the edges of the horsehair that had swung under the edges of my seat pan with 3M spray adhesive, hopefully to minimize that shedding problem . ~ John Buchtenkirch

 

[John Buchtenkirch]

Some more on the seats - plus ?

I also repaired some cracks in the leather by gluing another piece of leather behind the crack and then filling the crack with special crack filler that can be sanded. Then I plan on dying the interior. I have no idea how all this is going to hold up (it’s my first attempt at leather repair) so you better ask me in 2 years or so if your interested.

A question, has anyone come up with a source for the plastic covers for the tabs that lock the seat backs ? The tabs are on the lower seat frame. I’m playing with the idea of covering them with 1 or 2 layers of shrink tubing but doubt :confused: it will hold up that well. Thanks in advance. ~ John Buchtenkirch

 

[Stevehose]

Try carl nelson, coupeking, coupeguy, double02 salvage.

A question, has anyone come up with a source for the plastic covers for the tabs that lock the seat backs ? The tabs are on the lower seat frame. I’m playing with the idea of covering them with 1 or 2 layers of shrink tubing but doubt :confused: it will hold up that well. Thanks in advance. ~ John Buchtenkirch
View attachment 3163

 

[HB Chris]

Those rubber covers are still available, just bought some from BMW thru Mesa Performance, around $5 each. Had to use the 2002 part number though, didn't show up under e9 for some reason. Prior to that I glued a piece of thick rubber from a vent hose (from an old MB).

Chris
(now in Santa Fe and heading east)

 

[John Buchtenkirch]

Those rubber covers are still available, just bought some from BMW thru Mesa Performance, around $5 each. Had to use the 2002 part number though, didn't show up under e9 for some reason. Prior to that I glued a piece of thick rubber from a vent hose (from an old MB).

Chris
(now in Santa Fe and heading east)

THANKS Chris, once again you are the man. I have already ordered those pieces called distance rubbers this morning. Who would think you have to order coupe parts from the 2002 parts list but hey, if it works I’m loving it :-D:-D. ~ John Buchtenkirch

 

[rsporsche]

one of the things i was going to try, whenever i get my seats apart was to use a residential upholstery trick of tying the springs together, to keep them from separating and allowing the horsehair pad from digging in between the springs. the next thing is to then cover the springs and retop the horsehair pad with some relatively stiff foam. the metal pan seems like a nice idea, but i'm not the metalworker that John is.

this project is on the back burner until i decide whether i'm going to have custom leather done or buy a kit from world uph. or GAHH. i have good sources for aviation leather, and i have a great match for the tan interior.