Updating TR6 Seats

1. Updating TR6 Seats Mike Sabelhaus RRTC, ms

2. Goals • More comfortable ride • Seats just weren’t very comfortable • Project on the cheap • Two kids through college and one going in doesn’t leave much for the TR6 • Reuse upholstery – outer covering was still in good shape! • Clean frames and add new foam RRTC, ms

3. Project notes: • This was done on a ’75 TR6, other models may have different seat configurations • Winter is probably a better time to do this project but it was foremost on my mind and I can be single minded at times • I did one seat at a time since I was not sure what I was getting into • A seat will take the better part of a couple days especially if you are repainting the frames or need to make that extra trip to the parts store • Materials I used: • New seat foam (Roadster Factory, Victoria British, Moss includes seat bottom border pad, bottom foam, seat back foam, headrest foam • Additional foam Hancok Fabrics • Seat diaphragm includes rubber seat pad, C clips • Various grades of sandpaper, 3M Trim adhesive, One Step rust prep, Rustoleum black paint, rubber/vinyl gloves, Acetone, Paint thinner and Lacquer thinner • Total cost <$300 • Materials I reused • Upholstery • Upholstery clips • Seat back straps RRTC, ms

4. Removing the seats • Two bolts hold the seat on the slide in the TR6. • Once removed an old table or work bench keeps the back bending to a minimum RRTC, ms

5. Old seat • Bottom view show foam deteriorating and rubber pads cracking • Previous owner had used fabric hooks on the upholstery • Remove clips and gently remove upholstery RRTC, ms

6. Disassembled seat • Gets messy here as the old foam had disintegrated • Quite a bit of rust, old cement and foam was left after initial disassembly • Bottom rubber pad is held in by simple “C” hooks • Note the back straps are still attached. They are easily taken out by unclipping from the holes in the frame RRTC, ms

7. Seat back clips • Bottom back seat strap and clip easily removed from holes • Rust accumulation in the corners of frame RRTC, ms

8. Checking the mechanisms and cleanup • At this point I tested the seat recline mechanism to make sure all of the mechanicals were in good working order RRTC, ms

9. Mechanicals • Rusted but in good shape • On to cleaning and repainting RRTC, ms

10. Cleaned and painted • I cleaned the frame with various chemicals (acetone/paint thinner) to get the old foam and glue off • Sanded frame • I used a chemical call “One Step” sold at English Color that turns rust into a black oxide • Repainted frame with Rustoleum Black • Alternately a good sandblasting would have saved some time RRTC, ms

11. Cleaned and repainted • Repainted and rechecked frame recline mechanism RRTC, ms

12. Repainted frame • Definitely much better! RRTC, ms

13. Reinstallation of seat pad and back straps • Cleanup of seat back straps and reinstallation • New seat bottom attached to the frame with C clips RRTC, ms

14. Purchased foam • From upper left clockwise - Seat back, bottom seat (2 pieces), seat bottom border pad, headrest RRTC, ms

15. Strongly recommend gloves • Gloves were essential • You will want to make sure you have enough adhesive for the project • I used approximately 1 can of adhesive spray per seat • Directions indicate that both surfaces be sprayed before attaching RRTC, ms

16. Seat bottom border pad • Spray adhesive on edge of pad and around the front leading edge of the seat frame RRTC, ms

17. Fitting the seat bottom pad • Fitting the seat bottom pad - note the beveled edge • I notched the pad in back to fit around the upright portion of the frame • Apply adhesive to the seat frame and bottom of lower seat foam and assemble RRTC, ms

18. Fit up of seat bottom upholstery • Next few slides show a multi step process in order to get the upper seat foam, seat bottom foam and seat bottom upholstery in place • Center seat upholstery • Fabric wings under the seat covers should be spread out RRTC, ms

19. Attaching seat upholstery to back of frame • Pull seat cover material through the back of the frame and over the tension bar • While maintaining the cover centered on the seat, apply adhesive and screw seat cover brackets in place RRTC, ms

20. Attaching seat upholstery to back of frame • Close up view of bracket RRTC, ms

21. Gluing fabric wings on seat bottom • The seat bottom upholstery has fabric wings that, when glued, will hold the shape of the seat • Making sure seat bottom upholstery is still centered, pull back seat bottom material and tape to hold together • Apply adhesive to wings and seat bottom foam RRTC, ms

22. Applying seat bottom top foam • Apply adhesive to upper seat bottom foam and top of lower foam where cloth wings were glued • I applied some weight and let the glue dry for a while RRTC, ms

23. Pulling upholstery over seat bottom • After the glue dried on the seat bottom foam, the upholstery was pulled over the foam • Straighten out and make sure upholstery is centered • Apply adhesive around the bottom of the frame • Pull material, wrap around bottom and use clips to hold in place RRTC, ms

24. The seat back • At this point I positioned the seat back foam to insure correct fit • I also pulled the seat back upholstery over the foam to get an idea if I needed to add extra foam • Remove foam • Apply adhesive to back edge of foam and to frame • Note the slit in the center of the foam, we’ll get to that in a moment RRTC, ms

25. The seat back foam glued to frame • With the seat back foam glued to the frame we will next put the seat back upholstery over the foam • Not shown here but I added an extra layer of foam for two reasons: • Additional padding • Seat back upholstery had stretched and the additional foam filled the seat RRTC, ms

26. Seat back upholstery fabric wing • Set the seat frame to full recline • Pull the seat back upholstery over the seat back foam • While doing so the fabric wing attached to the seat back upholstery should be slipped through the slit in the seat back foam • Once totally fitted I wrapped the fabric wing around one of the seat straps. This will help hold the shape of the upholstery RRTC, ms

27. Seat back upholstery front flap • Pull the front seat back upholstery flap through the frame • Apply adhesive to material and frame • Clip in place RRTC, ms

28. Seat back Front flap attached now do back flap • Set seat frame to the full upright position • Apply adhesive to seat back material and over material just completed in previous step RRTC, ms

29. Seat back rear flap • Remove brackets that were used in seat bottom application • Pull seat back material down • Punch hole • Reapply seat brackets as shown RRTC, ms

30. Side stiffeners • With some leftover fiberboard I added some side pocket stiffeners to help dress up the material RRTC, ms

31. The headrest • The headrest easily pulls out of the top of the seat • Shown here is the headrest exploded • Two screws hold a base plate to the headrest assembly RRTC, ms

32. Headrest • Cleaned headrest of old glue and foam • Unfortunately the wood that is used to attach the metal base plate was rotted so I replaced the wood inserts RRTC, ms

33. Headrest - Installing new wood inserts • Simply cut new inserts from pieces of 1/2 to 3/4’” plywood, bend tabs on end and insert wood RRTC, ms

34. Finished headrest • I applied new foam to the headrest • Refitted headrest upholstery • Repainted base plate • Reassembled with new screws RRTC, ms

35. Finished seats RRTC, ms

36. Seats reinstalled RRTC, ms