1971 240 Z - Driver's Seat

[RolfSis]

:stupid: The more I learn, the less I know. Thought it would be easy to remove the original cover of the '71 Driver's Seat so I can repair/replace the sun damaged foam and re-stitch the seat leather or vinyl, whichever it is, but not so easy.

Any guidance or hints on how to go about this?

Thanks tons.

[MikeW]

I don't think it makes sense to try to fix/replace the foam yet retain the original seat covers. Chances are if the foam is damaged from the sun then the vinyl itself is beyond hope. If you can post some pictures of what you're dealing with that would help others give recommendations.

It's actually fairly easy to replace both the foam and the seat covers themselves. The seat back and seat bottom are completely independent so you've actually got four separate pieces to deal with if you want to do both seats. The seat cover kits should come with instructions. The only tip I can offer is to make sure the vinyl is warmed up when working with it. I carefully used a heat gun but you can probably put the seat covers inside the car and leave it in the sun for a while to achieve the same effect. Warm vinyl is softer and more pliable and therefore easier to work with.

[Arne]

On a '71, there are three main issues - the covers, the foam and the elastic webbing that supports the seat cushion. All three are replaceable, and all of it is rather affordable. Figure $450 for all new OE-style cover kit, new foam and webbing kit. With these parts, if you lack the skills to do it yourself, it's a fairly easy job to pack them all down to a local shop and have them do it for you. The local shop will probably have the webbing in house, so that won't be needed if you have a shop do it.

[BRE-240Z]

Figure $450 for all new OE-style cover kit, new foam and webbing kit. With these parts, if you lack the skills to do it yourself, it's a fairly easy job to pack them all down to a local shop and have them do it for you. The local shop will probably have the webbing in house, so that won't be needed if you have a shop do it.

Yeah, that's about right.

Around here, the going rate for an upholsterer to do two seats (with the covers supplied by the customer) is $250.

[ZCCOR#109]

Everyone maintaining an old Z needs the "How to Restore your Z" book

in there it leads you through working the seats over, as well as almost everyother fix on the car.

If you want to separate the bottom from back, it takes a special tool that is in impact screw driver to loosen the large screw on the hinge where it attaches to the ? // back. IT is a screw driver that you hit on the end, which takes that force and turns the tip.

The rest of the effort is just taking off the hog rings, loosing the strings, and working the matterial off. I thought my foam was bad, but it was the "Pa

rrelli webbing" that was toast.

Don't use something like seat belt material in lieu of the webbing as it will not give and put too much force on the foam.

good luck

[RolfSis]

BRILLIANT stuff, thank you. It's in the shop getting brake work done after which I'll get into this with thanks to you for your help. I'll get more pictures and add them to this link when updated which I hope to get loaded later today.

http://www.creativecustomizedsolutions.atfreeweb.com/240Z-inquiry_form.htm

":0) - Hopeful

[RolfSis]

Having issue publishing updates there, so some before pictures of the driver's seat are below. The passenger seat looks great, and the driver's seat for the most part looks good on the exterior as you'll see from these photos which you can enlarge. The problem is where the seams have separated, probably due to sun dried stitching and the degraded internal foam. Again, your help is top notch and appreciated.

http://asta.bizhosting.com/240z_work_in_progres.htm

Once I get the car back from the shop doing the brake work, I'll get into it thanks to your help and take more photos. I did find some excellent foam at a local frabric shop .... before asking you all here. Hrmpf (but perhaps a viable alternative if we quit putting $s into improving it and let the eventual new owner modify as they want). Always decisions.

[mally002]

I'm glad you posted this question, I just finished recovering my 73's seat using the foam from Les and it was a piece of cake...( here's a picture of the seat before the final fit), but didn't realize the difference in the seat hardware for a 71 vs 73. I am waiting on covers to be in stock for my 71 Green and then I will start on those. Throw up some pictures when your done.

PS...nice color on your Z, I have the same car only in Butterscotch interior.

Regards,

Randy

[RolfSis]

Sweet looking car as well! Thanks for the details and pics. Sounds very hopeful for sure! I will post more pics.

It's great how you got those thumbnails up there with your comment, I haven't figured that out yet. ":0)

Asta

[MikeW]

It's great how you got those thumbnails up there with your comment, I haven't figured that out yet. ":0)

When composing a message here (only in "Advanced Mode", not "Quick Reply" mode) there's a "Manage Attachments" button. That's where you can go to add a picture. It's fairly self-explanatory once you see it. Be aware that there is a limit to the size of the picture; that's what trips most people up. I usually just attach 1024x768 resolution JPEG files.

[streeteg]

if you were local I have 2 seats out of my 74 that are mint....

[RolfSis]

Thanks for the help. I'm hoping that when the Z gets back from the shop from the brake work, I can get into disassembling the driver's seat and checking things out close and personal. Once done, and I can compare my skills to the job at hand, can better judge the next logical less costly step. Appreciate the offer to explore alternative seat replacements, but would really like to be able to keep the original baby together (so to speak), in as much of its original form and format and then sell to someone who, like us, appreciate the original beauty they delivered when they created the 1971 240Z. The fact that we replaced the original 240Z with a 260Z engine is real, but don't think it detracts but rather attracts; although not the original part. That said, again THANKS THANKS AND THANKS!

I'm also currently fixing up my '88 Acura LS Integra, which has been a real gem to me, and read that their seats are nearly perfect for this series Z. A few of the stitchings have also separated, like the Z driver seat stitching, so experimenting on it to see how easy it is to mend/resew the seams. NOT EASY!!!!

Whew, so much more to do and learn.

:rambo: Asta - workin' it and learnin lots.