Builds My 69' 55

[ConspicuousPig]

Slowly but surely.
I Spent some time with a small file shaping the hole to accept the GM key lock switch assembly in the tailgate as well as, installed more front door linkage in both the driver and passenger side doors.

 

[RUSH55]

That looks great! Nice job

 

[ConspicuousPig]

That looks great! Nice job

Thank you!

 

[ConspicuousPig]

I took advantage of a sale on Cruiser Corps website and purchased front & rear seat covers. They arrived yesterday so I begain tearing down the old. Going to have the rear back and the rear bottom sand blasted and powder coated. Dropping them off tomorrow for that service.

 

[ConspicuousPig]

 

[ConspicuousPig]

 

[ConspicuousPig]

 

[ConspicuousPig]

Going shopping for burlap, backer & foam tomorrow after work. Hope to complete the entire front seat while the rear bottom and back components are at the paint shop.

 

[DTC72]

Inspect your front seat frame closely. When I pulled everything off, the bottom front had 4-5 cracks causing the seat to sag. I had to weld a plate along the entire seat. Also had to fix several springs on the driver side.

 

[ConspicuousPig]

Several weeks later..... I finely got some seat time in.
But, a Change in plans regarding the rear seat being powder coated. The paint shop had a difficult time getting the paint color that I wanted in decen time so I opt'ed for the blast service only.
I finely began streatching leather yesterday.
The first photo is raw steel.

 

[ConspicuousPig]

The old seat had several wires in parallel. I did not want to reuse these because Honestly, I did not want thread them into the new burlap. My solution was to lay chicken wire between the new burlap and new foam. I secured the burlap as well as the wire via the use of hog rings.

 

[ConspicuousPig]

The rear lower bench seat was still in really great condition. I reused the existing materials, all except for the foam. I added 2" of new foam to every spring set regardless if it had it from the factory or not (rear back had none from factory, fron back had very little). I added some backing to both ends on the lower rear seat. I began gluing and stretching.
I did not waste any time screwing in the freshly stretched spring set to its metal frame to help retain all it tention.

 

[ConspicuousPig]

I wrestled with these for a day'n-a-half and am really happy how they turned out.
I Will be installing them soon

 

[ConspicuousPig]

I forgot to mention that I did install some heated seat pads in the front seat (drive/pass) Im not real big on creature comforts in this ol girl but a little bit heat on that lower back is sometimes nice

 

[DTC72]

I did not reuse the parallel wires from my original 1969 front seat either. I had an upholstery guy redo the seats and he said he did not want to reuse as he was building the new seats with more/better foam. Yours came out great…well done!!

 

[ConspicuousPig]

I did not reuse the parallel wires from my original 1969 front seat either. I had an upholstery guy redo the seats and he said he did not want to reuse as he was building the new seats with more/better foam. Yours came out great…well done!!

Thank you!

 

[ConspicuousPig]

 

[ConspicuousPig]

Before installing the seats I wanted to touch up the floor paint with a color that I thought would be a little more complementary as a whole.
I went from gray to "almond".
I scored the surface with 150 grit sand paper and gave it a complete washdown with acetone, twice.

 

[ConspicuousPig]

I am applying three coats of marine grade top coat paint and am do it with a 3" brush. I like the suttle texture the brush marks leave on the floor.
I have two more coats to go. Then i will install the seats.

 

[ConspicuousPig]

Cleaning up some hardware from the rear seat. 50 year old mud came our when give these parts a wash.