I got a new driver seat bun of high density foam from SOR. now my seat is 1.5 inches taller and I can't even barely drive my car, my head is crammed against the ceiling. They swear that it is factory specs but I bought this fj60 in 1990 with only 40k mi. on it and I definitely have not grown taller since then. so if you are 6 ft. or taller beware. also their shipping is ridiculous.
new seat foam fj60
- Thread starter gibydna
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I wore a 2 inch hole in mine but when I replaced it with the SOR, I was shocked at how tall it felt. It did settle a bit after a couple weeks.
georgebj60
SILVER Star
Didn't the price of these things also jump up lately? This was on my list of things to get, but not at the current price, and definitely not if shipping is killer too. The other thing I need soon is a headliner, but that also jumped in price.
I replaced mine a few years back. I am 6'1". I was also shocked at how tall I sat. If I sit straight up with my seat at 90 my head can touch the headliner. My saggy foam before made me fell like I was going to slide out of my seat every time I turned. It has settled in some over the past few years but I put my seat back one notch back and dont sit straight up. I would probably do it again given how bad my foam was for support, but I do agree that these could be an inch or two lower.
I’ve been meaning to grab both of those too. But I’m not so sure it’s that they’re rising in price... I think it’s more that the water is rising around the hull of the ship...
Is SOR the only place where seat foam is available?
I got one old oem in good shape.
I hate mine. I ended up swapping it with the passenger seat bottom. It’s entirely too tall and stiff.
I installed the SOR seat cushion back in January. I hated it on day one and still hate it 9 months later.
georgebj60
SILVER Star
Hmmm. I guess I should post a want ad for a used SOR seat cushion! Truthfully, mine is not in bad shape. When I re-did my seat I used the foam from the donor passenger seat. I always assumed the SOR would be a huge improvement being so new and firm, but maybe not. Here's my seat after I did the foam/fabric swap and frame welding.
WoodnotRust
SILVER Star
Last night I picked up my car from the reupholstery shop with my new SOR cushions. They absolutely suck. I'm 6'-1" and there's only one inch between my head and the headliner. The headrests at the highest setting provide no protection whatsoever. My old butt was sore by the time I got home and now I'm back on the Forum trying to understand if there is a solution to recover from this phenomenal mistake.
I would have preferred the OEM look that @georgebj60 has ... his seats look absolutely gorgeous, but I couldn't find anything close to OEM. Are those the SOR seat covers made from donor fabric?
Instead, I went with a combination of fabric that had some of the same stripe elements and in a color that compliments my exterior beige. I wrapped the cloth with leather and I'm really happy with he way that it looks...BUT! Is there a way to soften and shorten the SOR front seat bottoms and still keep my new covers? Has anyone shortened the seat mounts on the frame (see pictures below)?
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I feel your pain. Literally and figuratively. The tallest, hardest “cushion” ever produced. Mine has barely softened/compressed in the last 11 months of regular driving. And yeah, now the headrest at max height is nothing more than a neck-snapper.
I haven’t attempted to shorten any of the seat frame mounts or shave down the cushion and reinstall. Interested to learn what you decide to do. Best of luck to you and your rear end.
Have a new SOR cushion still in the box...jus saying. Im pretty sure im getting some Scheel-Manns
WoodnotRust
SILVER Star
I spoke to the upholstery guy and he suggested 3 options:
1. Drill numerous 1/2" to 3/4" holes to reduce the density of the foam. That way, the basic shape is maintained, but the cushion will compress a lot more due to my (not so insignificant) weight and I'll sit lower. No change to the seat covers. - probably about $100/seat
2. Cut-off 1-2" of the SOR foam off the top of the seat and rebuild the bolsters using the softer foam that they normally use to build seats. The total height of the seat in this case would drop about 1/2' to 1". Seat covers need to be shortened all around and listings rebuilt. - about $250/seat
3. Completely rebuild the seat foam from scratch - Seat covers would need to be shortened like option #2. - about $550/seat.
So...the decision is to try out option 1. They can do a test case while I run around doing errands. If it doesn't soften and lower my ride height enough, then we go to option 2. Option 3 isn't an option.
I'll let you know how it turns out.
Awesome, looking forward to hearing how numero uno turns out!
Following...while I was falling out of my worn out seats before I upgraded to the SOR a couple years ago, I am also 6'1" and it leaves me very little room between my head and roof. I like the support but need an inch or two....report back. Ask the shop for pics if you can.
georgebj60
SILVER Star
I'm following along as I was planning to get the SOR foams (eventually), but maybe I'll keep what I have for now. To your question @WoodnotRust
Your seats look great so I hope you can get one of the options to work.
I was fortunate to find a passenger seat locally that was in great shape, so I swapped foam and fabric. If you look closely, I don't have the grey felt under the recline adjustment lever that should be there. I thought of cutting that part out of the original, and stitching it in, but since this is not a show truck I moved on.
Your seats look great so I hope you can get one of the options to work.
Option #4:. Cut the foam from underneath to keep the form. Maybe some drilled holes to add comfort to the cheek and tailbone area as well.
WoodnotRust
SILVER Star
That's what I thought too!
After much discussion, however, the man who does the work said it's better to cut off the top of the foam because 1. he wanted to add about 1-2 inches of their standard seat foam so there is a little cushion above the very firm SOR foam. There seems to be an issue related to distance between the spring and the 'listings' that are built into the seat covers, which might just be a consequence of doing this work after my seat covers have already been sewn. Also, 2. there is apparently a lot of detail on the bottom that would require re-work to the bottom of the foam?
I'll ask for shop pictures.
@MoaByte ...thanks for letting me know about the spare seat foam. I'm working with the ones I have now as a pair and hope that I might be able to get the firmness of the base SOR foam with just enough cush for my tush at a reasonable ride height. That's probably what a good OEM foam seat would provide?
