Bench Seat Restoration

[The_Eman]

I need to either have my bench seat recovered or swap it out with another. Since I drive my 68 F100 regularly I need the existing bench seat's springs replaced or restored for firmness.

Do uplolstery shops go do that level?

[Brett6269]

if the springs have had it i would look for another , better seat, and have it reapolstered.. but im sure they can fix your springs.. for a price....

[FORDification]

My father has been an upholsterer since I was six years old and replacing springs was one of the most-common repairs he did to truck seats. Replacing the springs is a very minor thing, once the cover is off....and the cover is only hog-ringed on. You could actually replace the springs yourself...it's a LOT easier than you might think.

[The_Eman]

Keith,
I've been thinking about your reply and tackling the job myself. Where do I buy the springs?

[seattle67]

These guys have all the parts and tools you will ever need to repair your springs, good prices too. Look under "S" for spring.

http://atrim.com/

Good luck and have fun!

[1971ford]

im not sure if this will help much, but a local fabric store has good padding. if you tore apart your bench seat and replaced the springs, threw on some new padding and found a way to make or buy an actual cover (not just one that goes over old seats) then that would be awsome. i was planning on doing something like that for my future 4x4 if it has bad seats. plus my dad embroiders at his work so he could embroider into my actual seat cover. my

[The_Eman]

I just got a quote yesterday to reupolster my bench seat...$800. I did everything I could to hold back my astonishment at the high price. I asked him if that included replacing the spring and cleaning the frame. He said that would be extra.

So... I will be tackling this job myself. He also wanted $295.00 to infuse a plastic dash pad on top of the existing cracked one and that price included a dash pad to protect it from future damage. I didn't tell him I could by a new one from DC for 310.00.

If I were to have all my work done outside I'd have a $25k truck. What's the point.

I need to find a cover that matches the original bench. My interior color is parchment. I'll take a look at LMC to see what the have and buy the rest of the supplies, springs and foam from the above mentioned upolstery supply shop.

I'll be posting pics soon of my job from start to finish.

[seattle67]

Hey Eman,
I just finished reupholstering my bench seat. I used small U-bolts to repair the springs, I just spliced the broken ends. I also had a few spots of bad foam where the broken springs had gouged it out, I just cut it out and glued in some new foam that I got from a fabric store. The seat cover I got from NPD.

Seat cover - $180.00
U-bolts - $5.00
Foam - $4.00

[Darlingtonpride]

Nice job

[Supermike]

I just got a quote yesterday to reupolster my bench seat...$800. I did everything I could to hold back my astonishment at the high price. I asked him if that included replacing the spring and cleaning the frame. He said that would be extra.

Is there only one upholstery shop in Tucson? If not, I'd call around... I haven't gotten any estimates for mine yet, but this guy seems pretty high. I'd expect that this could be done for @ $500, including the springs!

[fordman]

that is too high. i would go some place else or do it your self. if you need used springs i got a seat im getting ready to trash. i can remove as many as you want from it.

[seattle67]

Fordman rocks!!

[1971ford]

hey seattle67,
about that seat cover,
it looks really nice and im thinking about doing it but i have a few questions,
so you took off the factory cover and put in some new foam where neaded and that cover you got goes over the whole seat just like the factory one?

[Banjo]

that price quoted on recovering a bench at 800 just shows the guy didn't really want the work, in my mind. i had an idiot quote me 1800 to install a rebuilt turbo 350 in a GM I had and I wound up buying $50 running one, and a harbor freight trans jack for maybe 70 bucks and installed it myself. I'm with the guy who did his own for around 200, that's what I'm going to do.

[seattle67]

Ryan,
Thats pretty much it.

The back cover fit almost perfect. The bottom fit the cushion well, but the points for tying everything down didn't match up so good. I had to use a stainless steel wire to bridge the gap and tie it down in some spots. There were a few other odds and ends that made me have to think, but nothing too hard. The whole thing only took me a couple hours from beginning to end.