Bench seat reupholstery

[Manche757]

I have bench seats in an 87 and 89 which I prefer.  I can not find a thread on repairing sagging ribbons springs on the driver side and reupholstering/upgrading.  The seats and original seat covers seem pretty whimpy for noble little trucks. Anyone have experience/suggestions for keeping bench seats but tweaking them up?

[Dzimm]

I've seen people stuffing that egg crate foam stuff between the springs and seat cushion to firm it up and fix the sagging.  

[Dando]

I’d be interested in this as well, my drivers side is finally sagging and I prefer the bench for the wife, dog, and I 

[lcoutback]

I like bucket seats in a go-fast machine, but prefer the bench seat in my Comanche.  Older American made cars often had burlap between the springs and the foam.  I've also seen folks use card board (more layers = more firmness) worked up between the foam and spring for a 'poor mans' fix.  I'm at the point that I'm soon to be re-assembling the interior in my '89 and would love to know if there were a better solution than paying $400 to the local upholstery shop.

[rokinn]

I doubled up the springs with zip ties.  Do a direct overlay and use small zips to hold it in place.  I interlaced longer zips through the springs reducing the ability of the spring to extend downward.  I gave a better description of how I did it in an earlier thread.  Sits quite comfortably now.  If I were to do it again I might even add stiff pad on top of the spring and under the foam.  Good time to run the seat covers through washing machine too.

[Manche757]

Come on guys, both genders included. We are dying here riding on our ratty bench seats.  Cardboard stuffing to the bench and next the seat of our pants.  No CC perfectionist have done remarkable work to them?  I see the awesome work done  by the metalheads. In particular by the Comanche Metalheads.  A moniker of merit for those producing great metal restoration and improvements.  If Chuck Liddell paints his toenails pink, Rosie Greer knits, Mohammed Ali floats like a butterfly, are the CC tough guys done in by some foam rubber, ribbon springs and seat covers?  Share a few pics!

[HOrnbrod]

Years ago when I had a bench. Pulled the ratty covers and had the interior material replaced and kept the original gray vinyl. While they were being recovered I glued another 2" foam pad on top of the spring bed. Turned out great.

[Manche757]

Thanks for that!  That is the original seat frame?  Replace any ribbon springs?  rokinn, see above, added some springs and tied them.  Maybe he will post a pic of the in process.  I am surprised vinyl at that age could be restitched without ripping.  You have any pics of your in process esp before you had the seat covers put back on.  Increasing the density/thickness is of interest. Kinda, sorta like the F150 seats.

 

Any kin?

[HOrnbrod]

I pulled the covers myself then fitted and reinstalled them. All the upholsterer had to do was replace the original tweed pieces so it only cost a bit over $100 to get it all done. I also tied all the springs together with tie wraps on top (they were decent), then covered it with a 2" hard foam piece I got from the same upholsterer. The seat was comfy when done, but I much prefer the side support on the buckets.

 

Nope, no kin. 

[Manche757]

You have a pic of what your are calling hard foam?   

I am convinced you know more of a complete history of Comanches than anyone else, including Jeep Kaiser, AMC, and Chrysler all put together. That is not as outlandish as it might initially seem. A relative had worked in the GM tech center testing prototypes.  Less would be known about new installs than you know about what was installed in Comanches.  Historical perspective of course.

 By chance do you know if the thick headliner in a F150 (or similar) could be installed in the Comanches?  And with a source of decent headliner shells all but gone from junkers, is there no source for new ones?

A wag (wild asse guess) tells me that you know off top that Grand Cherokee wheels will fit a MJ?

[Manche757]

.

[HOrnbrod]

1 hour ago, Manche757 said:

1. You have a pic of what your are calling hard foam?   

 

 2. By chance do you know if the thick headliner in a F150 (or similar) could be installed in the Comanches?  And with a source of decent headliner shells all but gone from junkers, is there no source for new ones?

 

3. A wag (wild asse guess) tells me that you know off top that Grand Cherokee wheels will fit a MJ?

 

1.  The upholsterer called it high density foam. It's not HARD hard, but harder than the normal seat foam and retains it's shape better.

2.  No idea on the F150 head liner. There used to be a guy, maybe still is, named Steve, SMS Headliners. Don't know if he's still active, maybe someone will chime in.

3.  All 15" ZJ wheels fit our MJs. Same bolt pattern and offset. See them HERE

[rokinn]

I had SMS make me a headliner about 3 years ago.  Fits well, looks good, easy to install, highly recommended.  He has a lot of colors to choose from.  I googled SMS headliners and it appears he has a 15% off until August 31.  I did not take any photos of the seat process unfortunately.  Something I should get in the habit of doing   It's pretty straight forward. 

From earlier post:  "I also got the two seating springs from each side.  I zip tied the new springs overlaying directly onto the old one in my seat.  I think I used close to 100 ct bag of the mini zips at every conceivable point it might shift out of alignment.  I then used longer zip ties in an interlacing pattern so the convolutions in the double spring setup wouldn't allow for much separation between them.  I then covered that with a heavy fabric, put the foam back and the seat covers on.  The sag was reduced dramatically resulting in much better support.  Finding the second set of  springs for this is the challenge but I can imagine there are a few just sitting around left from those who have switched to buckets.  Just another possible option for those wanting to keep a bench."

 

You'll want some hog ring pliers and rings for the lower seat cover installation.  I have buckets I will eventually install but for now the little dog needs a place to sit too and the middle of the bench is good for that.

[Minuit]

Agreed on SMS headliners. Had mine since 2012 (it was one of the first things I bought for my truck!) and no signs of any sagging or any damage. It's been in and out of the truck SEVERAL times since then, so it's definitely been handled. Looks just like it did 6 years ago, except for a small nick under the sunvisor that's completely my fault.

 

I talked to him not too long ago and he responded to my messages. As far as I know he's still making headliners, although I think his son was taking over the business.

[Manche757]

Thanks for the replies. I like the way some of you put words together.  Like this:  "I like bucket seats in a go-fast machine, but prefer the bench seat in my Comanche." or this: "I’d be interested in this as well, my drivers side is finally sagging and I prefer the bench for the wife, dog, and I."

 

On 8/23/2018 at 1:35 PM, Minuit said:

Agreed on SMS headliners. Had mine since 2012 (it was one of the first things I bought for my truck!) and no signs of any sagging or any damage. It's been in and out of the truck SEVERAL times since then, so it's definitely been handled. Looks just like it did 6 years ago, except for a small nick under the sunvisor that's completely my fault.

 

I talked to him not too long ago and he responded to my messages. As far as I know he's still making headliners, although I think his son was taking over the business.

 

Minuit, curiosity is killing me, what are you hiding up there?  Why in and out several times?  

 

[Minuit]

3 hours ago, Manche757 said:

Thanks for the replies. I like the way some of you put words together.  Like this:  "I like bucket seats in a go-fast machine, but prefer the bench seat in my Comanche." or this: "I’d be interested in this as well, my drivers side is finally sagging and I prefer the bench for the wife, dog, and I."

 

 

Minuit, curiosity is killing me, what are you hiding up there?  Why in and out several times?  

 

That's where I keep my secret stash of MJ tail lights 

 

Once because I screwed up putting it in, once to sound deaden the roof, and again to pull wiring for an overhead console... just in case.

[Keyav8r]

His intergalactic communicator antenna is hidden above his headliner.  He uses a converted 1986 MJ radio to talk to the aliens.

[Minuit]

On 8/25/2018 at 4:53 PM, Keyav8r said:

His intergalactic communicator antenna is hidden above his headliner.  He uses a converted 1986 MJ radio to talk to the aliens.

[Manche757]

I have been living a sheltered life.  Connections beyond the Milkyway and a cache of MJ tail lights.  Wow

 

On 8/19/2018 at 9:53 AM, saveevryjp1998 said:

Why not either find a better lower bench frame 

 

Any suggestions?

[Manche757]

saveevryip1998.  I thank you for the kind offer but with shipping and thus and such, I would likely spend what I might pay an upholsterer to do it all.  I probably will do that but have fielded suggestions for what might work the best.   Great moniker.  Many thanks.

[Manche757]

On 8/25/2018 at 5:17 PM, Minuit said:

That's where I keep my secret stash of MJ tail lights 

 

Once because I screwed up putting it in, once to sound deaden the roof, and again to pull wiring for an overhead console... just in case.

Very small print, Minu:  Once because I screwed up putting it in, once to sound deaden the roof, and again to pull wiring for an overhead console... just in case.

   

How did you deaden the roof?   Any pics?                                                                                                                                                                                                           

 

 

[Minuit]

Big sheet of Dynamat (or similar material) covering as much of the roof panel as possible. The roof is the only place I recommend going crazy with it. If you really wanted to do it right, you'd also add as thick a layer of sound absorbing foam as possible, but I didn't do that. The main benefit is that I literally can't hear raindrops hitting the roof anymore.

[Manche757]

13 minutes ago, Minuit said:

Big sheet of Dynamat (or similar material) covering as much of the roof panel as possible. The roof is the only place I recommend going crazy with it. If you really wanted to do it right, you'd also add as thick a layer of sound absorbing foam as possible, but I didn't do that. The main benefit is that I literally can't hear raindrops hitting the roof anymore.

 

You attached it directly to the metal of the roof?  Won't the heat of summer sun fry any sticky adhesive? Any pics?

[Minuit]

Yes, as you'd do with any other vibration damper material. Never heard of the adhesive failing due to heat with Dynamat, anyway. Just make sure the surface you're applying it to is clean. It's been up there for a while and is still in place. No pics, but it's just a full sheet of Dynamat stuck to the roof.

[Manche757]

Many thanks