Seat restoration

[bbcountach]

I've got a 1978 280z, with an all black interior, and the black "basketweave" seat upholstery. The passenger seat is in pretty good shape, but the driver's is shot to pieces. I've been sitting on a thin, cheap seat cover the PO put in, but i'd really like to sit on a real seat. I've found new seat foams at thezstore.com for $80/seat, and I can get a pair of the basketweave seat upholsteries from black dragon auto for $300, which puts my total parts cost at about $460, plus shipping. Does this sound reasonable? This is a field i know little about.

-Ben

[Carl Beck]

Yes - that sounds reasonable. As long as the new seat upholstery is the same style as the OEM seats.

FWIW,

Carl B.

[bbcountach]

Would it also be wise to replace the webbing? Everything else seems ok.

Thanks Carl!

-Ben

[Carl Beck]

I'm not certain, but I do not believe that the 78's had webbing - rather second quarter 72 production switched to spring steel supports.

[Neumeier]

There is no webbing in the '78.

[MEZZZ]

Would it also be wise to replace the webbing? Everything else seems ok.

Thanks Carl!

-Ben

The '78 sits on steel springs, mine squeaked when I sat down on it, very annoying going down the road too. I redid my seats with new foam and upholstery. I have about $380 in mine. I bought the foam from MSA and the upholstery on Ebay for $180.00 including freight. I opted for the older style with the metal rivets, just because I always liked the looks and didnt care if it is correct for my year.

The squeaky springs were solved by lubricating them with graphite. You will need hog ring pliers and hog rings and I also had to get new wire for the bottoms. I got the pliers at a Tractor Supply store (after looking all over) and the wire at Home Depot.

They turned out pretty good, a few wrinkles by the side bolsters. I will probably take them back apart and stuff some extra foam up there to try to get the wrinkles out. When I finished them, I was happy (compared to what they looked like) but the more I look, the more I am inclined to tweak them.

I just sent back my Grant steering wheel to MSA yesterday because there was an extra stitch on the left side vs the right, where your thumb would rest. I know every time I get in the car, it would stick out to me. Call me anal It cost $19 to send it back and I dont want to take a chance on another of the same make, so I am swapping out for their Club Sport model that the rep from MSA recommended.