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Seat foam replacement.

Discussion in '308/328' started by Andy 308GTB, Aug 25, 2018.

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  1. Andy 308GTB

    Andy 308GTB F1 Rookie
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    #1 Andy 308GTB, Aug 25, 2018
    The foam in my seats is almost 40 years old & pretty hopeless. I am thinking, that this winter, I'll pull the seats out and replace the foam. I can't see an obvious supplier in the UK of pre-cut foam for these cars (Superformance have a kit for the 246 but it is eye wateringly expensive).

    Has anyone DIY'd this? There are plenty of outfits in the UK that will cut foam to a variety of sizes but they are generally angular shapes for sofas etc. I guess, if I am clever, I could get the basic shapes and either cut them back to shape or build up the shape using several layers. I'm sure an upholster would do this without batting an eyelid but I'm way too mean to consider paying someone.

    I won't be starting for a few months (the sun is still shining here) but I like to start thinking about this stuff well in advance!

    The best thing I've seen re shaping foam so far is this:
     
  2. Brian A

    Brian A F1 Rookie

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    1983 US 308 GTS QV
    #2 Brian A, Aug 26, 2018
    Can't say I've done it, but it doesn't seem too difficult: the kind of thing though that takes a practiced pro 1 hour to do and a hack amateur 1 week. My big fear would trying to get the leather stretched back on properly.

    Go for it!
     
  3. sltillim

    sltillim Formula 3
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    #3 sltillim, Aug 27, 2018
    I have been getting interested in this, as well. I have a heck of a project list that I am working on (the list... I haven't started work on the car yet). I am going to try and refurb my leather as much as possible but I need new piping at the very least. the seats are very old. I think it would be worth removing the leather to see the state of the foam underneath. Hopefully there is something there you can use as a template. Or, maybe its not really that bad and you can reuse it. I am sure today's foam is probably better though. note that if you do have built in patterns for the the seats, it might be worth a professional forming the foam. My GT4 just has the tuck and roll center pieces not requiring any special humps to be formed around....
     
  4. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #4 BigTex, Aug 27, 2018
    There was a good "How To" in the Dino Section once.
    From memory, they did sandwich the layers, front to back..cutting each different contour from slab.
    So much like the appearance of a wooden styling buck, the complex contours were formed by the top curve of the various layers.

    Have no idea is that is how the OEM cushions were made, but they matched it spot on with this method.
    Hacking it out of a single piece is going to be a real challenge, I would think!
     
  5. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 BigTex, Aug 27, 2018
    That video is exactly as I described.....amazing it "sands" when finished!
    Goo tip there!
     
  6. Andy 308GTB

    Andy 308GTB F1 Rookie
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    #6 Andy 308GTB, Aug 27, 2018
    I will report back in a couple of months, when I take the car off the road. Once I pull the seats and remove the leather covers, I'll know what I am up against.
    My foam is almost 40 years old, I think new foam would transform the seats.
    I will probably re-colour the seats using Leatherique while I am at it.

    I have a huge list of jobs to do during the winter, this forum will be peppered with questions from me!

    Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk
     
  7. ragtop1

    ragtop1 F1 Veteran
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    Larry Warren
    #7 ragtop1, Sep 2, 2018
    here's a more detailed video restoring a bucket seat
     

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