The seat in my coupe needs upholstery. When I slide in behind the wheel, I feel like I'm sitting in a bucket. Any suggestions on building up the springs, or anybody change to another seat? I want to stay with a bench seat if possible. Thanks in advance, I don't want to spend $400 on having this one upholstered, then decide to change to something else.
The stock 40 coupe bench seat has coil springs - each individually inserted into a burlap bag and then hog ringed together. There is also other padding material on top of the springs. I redid my own using a Lebaron boney kit in 1988. My wife sewed up each burlap bag. Carefully take yours apart and you will see that you can do it yourself. Take plenty of photos. It's pretty interesting.
I rebuilt the seat in my 39 buisiness coupe same as 19fordy only using springs from an old box spring matteress to replace the broken springs I had ,WORKED GREAT,very comfortable even on long rides.GOOD LUCK,HAVE FUN...
Here`s one I did, I used foam out of a pickup seat- back and botton. Built the frame up to the propper height with wood. My customer loved it. Sombody put zig-zag springs over the coil springs, felt like you were sittin on a beachball. The seat back springs were shot, you leaned way back in the seat.
Is your seat the split-back seat used in cars with jump seats or the bench with lift-up backrest used in the regular 5W Coupes? You can buy new springs from Snyder's in New SPringfield OH or Car-Line Mfg in Beaumont TX. They may have to have your old springs for samples but it can be done and get that new car feeling again!
The Jalopy Journal
