Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

I am also about to recover 69 seats with headrests to put in my early 67. It looks pretty straight forward. Use the wire inserts from the old seats so that the bent over metal pieces that hold the covers to the frames do not tear through. I want to touch up the frames with some paint on the parts that show. Black, I suppose, on the base. The headrest "legs" seem to be a silver color. Any suggestions on type of spray paint to use or hints on installation? Thanks, Mark

I have never done any roadster seats but have done several Z seats. They are similiar in design. Once you have removed the old uphosltery you can get a better look at things. Usually you will find the bottom webbing stretched and sagging a bit. Victoria Brithish sells a kit to re-web your seats. Too Intense Restoration as well as several of the vendors sell similiar kits. It is well worth the effort. Depending on what kind of shape the foam is in you might want to add a bit here and there to compensate for wear. You can buy the foam in various thicknesses depending on your needs. Cut it and glue it on using 3M adhesive. You will also need a good set of hog ring pliers and a few dozen hog rings to install the new upholstery. As to the frame and paint the Eastwood Company sells a lot of excellent restoration products. They have paint for everything. Check out there web site.
Good luck.
Steve

The roadster seats don't use hog rings for most of it. There are tabs welded to the frame that hold the upholstery down. Nathan Ruffcorn did a nice photo essay of how to do this, but I think that it is off the web now. If you contact him, he may still have the pics. His were early seats, but the assembly is very similar to the late seats.

It is a good tutorial.

Sid

Thanks, Sid. A tutorial would be awesome, but who and/or where is Nathan Ruffcorn? I found the now extinct seat installation link and a few references to Nathan living somewhere in Illinois. Can anyone be more specific. Thanks, Mark

Nathan built a couple of cool cars. One is an early 67 that has a 2000 in it. He is on the roadster mailing list. I will send him a note to see if I can get him to cough up the pics....

Sid

I am trying to redo my seats. I have the new material, and have stripped and painted the frame. The foam is no good. Does anyone sell just a new foam insert? Are there any other seat foams that are interchangeable, or one that is close enough for a 67.5?

If i try to piece on some new foam and glue it to the old stuff, how will that end up looking after the new vinyl is put over it. Will it show, and look bad, or does the vinyl keep it in the proper shape?

JohnnyRoadster

I recovered mine and put a 1/2 inch layer of new foam all the way around. I used spray glue and it turned out pretty good. I need to tighten up the bottom driver's seat, but I was pretty satisfied all the way around. Since I covered the whole seat with foam I don't think you can tell it was redone. Good luck. Mark

You should be able to get some foam and cut it and glue it together to get something very close to the original shape. Buy a piece close to the original size thickness and then buy some 1/4" and some 1/2" to build the spots that need built up. Make sure you get the correct density of foam for seat cushions. The 3M adhesives are the best The foam will not seperate once glued. As long as you do not have any bulges in the foam the seat covers should fit nicely. Did you replace the bottom seat webbing? Now would be a great time to do that as well.

Steve

A little trick that I have used on previous restos that the moulded foam was not available. Use an electric carving knife, yup like the one you have used over the holiday 'turkey carving' season. You can shape pretty well, then used a heavy cotton batting spray glued over the top to smooth the shape out. I recommend a bit of practice first, but is fairly easy to master. Pat Mahoney '69 2000 snow bound in Idaho