MSA seat covers

[Dave WM]

I installed the bottom cover over new foam. I noticed there was a flap in the middle of the bottom and a corresponding slot (not cut all the way thru) on the foam bottom. I decided not to try and attach it thru the slot since the old OE cover did not use this attachment point (no middle flap). The seats look great, just wondering if others use or did not use the flap. It seemed like even if I was going to use it, the fit would be real tight, perhaps that is the way it suppose to be?

Edited September 12, 2016 by Dave WM
added pic of seat style

[S30Driver]

I vote for the flap.

I think the flap helps the seat retain its shape with the seat foam long term.   Also gives the pleat in the seat more definition.

The flap with its rod get pulled thru the foam slot & hog ringed to the seat spring assembly.  I used a hole punch to put 3 holes just past the rod & large tie wraps thru the holes to help pull the flap up to the spring assembly and fasten with hog rings.   Same for the seat back flap.  

Hardway's seat threat has a great pictorial for a guide.

[jfa.series1]

Hi Dave,

The OE covers for both seat back and seat bottom each have a flap.  When the flap is pulled thru the foam, a metal rod slides thru it and is secured to a longer rod.  The purpose is to create the deep crease in the seat back or bottom.  Yes, it is tight fit for the install but IMHO well worth the effort.  Here's a pic of the metal rod installed and pig-ringed to the longer rod that holds it in place.

[jfa.series1]

Here's a sequence of pics for the seat bottom flap install.  A similar process is for the seat back.  A completed seat shows the effect of the tucks.

Edited September 13, 2016 by jfa.series1

[Dave WM]

note the orientation of my seats, Not sure how that will work. Did those style seats have an OE flap? that is what really threw me (no flap on OE).

[Dave WM]

here are some pic comparing the pass (OE) and the driver (MSA)

[Dave WM]

here is the OE foam and seat cover, note there is a factory slot in the foam but no factory flap to fit into it. There was even a factory wire on the bottom that looked like it was there for connecting the flap, just not used.

1st pic was some test fitting of the cover and new foam on the seat frame. Last pic shows the OE cover bottom, no flap to be found. Middle two pics OE foam showing unused slot.

Edited September 13, 2016 by Dave WM

[Patcon]

I don't know the history of your car, but are you sure the seat covers are OE?

[Captain Obvious]

In this pic... I think that brownish stuff hanging from the metal wire (known as a "listing wire" or "listing rod")? is what is left of your original flap. Most of it has turned to dust and it's hard to believe that it ever used to go all the way through the slot up to the seat cover, but I think that's the remains of the original flap.

[Dave WM]

10 hours ago, Patcon said:

I don't know the history of your car, but are you sure the seat covers are OE?

pretty sure based on the pics I have seen.

[Dave WM]

5 minutes ago, Captain Obvious said:

In this pic... I think that brownish stuff hanging from the metal wire (known as a "listing wire" or "listing rod")? is what is left of your original flap. Most of it has turned to dust and it's hard to believe that it ever used to go all the way through the slot up to the seat cover, but I think that's the remains of the original flap.

I think you may be right. I went back and checked the OE seat cover, there does seem to be evidence of material not unlike what was left on the rod shown in the picture (its pretty much gone but there is something in that seam). It was pretty much completely gone but something was there. So now I will have a reason to go back and try the flap out. It will of course NOT match as well to the existing other seat, which means I will just have to do the passenger as well. My orig intent was to leave that one be, since the match was so close. Seems odd they would have used a material for the stressed flap that would so completely disintegrate, but then again I am sure no one thought it would be on the road 40 years later.

[Captain Obvious]

Yeah, I think that shred is what is left of the flap. What threw you off is that you were looking for vinyl, and that's not how they did it. And you know the only reason that your new cover (with the unused listing rod) looks the same as your passenger side is because your passenger side flap turned to dust as well! 

And you're right... 40 years is a long time for something like that. I'm surprised at how well the foam has held up!