Yesterday I bought two 4 door Ford Fiesta ('08 plate ) front seats to fit to the bus.
Thought I would throw it up here too, kind of as a how to help guyde, or at least to show it can be done.
If I had gone the Capri seats route, I was quoted £500 for reupholstery.
I would say £70 for the two seats and a day spent playing in the garage is a much better price to pay.....
I hope this is kind of helpfull.
Today, we did bootfairs, and Fathers day, then lunch untill about 2pm...... at which point I started on these seats in earnest.
They needed to be reduced in height by about 3 inches to work sensibly in the bus.
Below are a few pics of the process, which included carfefull disassembly, and reuse of many bits, then welding part of the old rails into the cut and reduced frame below the seat..... keep in mind this is angle grinder and welder territory, and with nylon type upholstery, I had the seats covered in old duvet and masking tape.
After I finished at 21.30, I have to say I am actually pleased with what a decent welder AND tools can get right.
Starting, try figure out what is connected to what...... where can I cut and where not and what would see the seats destroyed .
Once all the peripheral stuff is stripped away, like plastics, gearing for the height adjustment etc, I welded the front and rears up above the point where I planned to cut, as the frames are made up of sections of pressed steel.
Scored, measured, checked, and checked again, also wrapped tightly to protect the fabric, seat awaits its fate.
Moment of truth, grinder in hand, another self portrait in the interest of sharing ;D
All over.....
I used a pair of locating pins from the stripped bits which I welded into the rear ends of the frames, the plan is to use them to locate the seats, and then use 8mm nuts and bolts up front, so that the seats can be removed with 2 bolts undone for when major service is needed to the engine.... making access easier.
Tried for size..... seating felt good too, just a bit higher than I remember the old seats.
Once I was sure everyting fitted, I welded the rail to what was left of the chassis..... and checked it alongside the passenger seat which of course was next for surgery..... seems a bit lower to me.
Process repeated for the 2nd seat, and then both trial fitted.... everyting feels good.
I will still paint the frames as they are now covered in welds, grinding etc.
Once that is done, I plan on adding some of the plastics that were removed, to tidy up the sides of the seats. Interesting how unfinished it looks without the plastics.
Last pic shows just how much stuff came off the seats to get them where they are now. Plastics will be modified to fit where appropriate.
Chuffed I am, Yes.
Thought I would throw it up here too, kind of as a how to help guyde, or at least to show it can be done.
If I had gone the Capri seats route, I was quoted £500 for reupholstery.
I would say £70 for the two seats and a day spent playing in the garage is a much better price to pay.....
I hope this is kind of helpfull.
Today, we did bootfairs, and Fathers day, then lunch untill about 2pm...... at which point I started on these seats in earnest.
They needed to be reduced in height by about 3 inches to work sensibly in the bus.
Below are a few pics of the process, which included carfefull disassembly, and reuse of many bits, then welding part of the old rails into the cut and reduced frame below the seat..... keep in mind this is angle grinder and welder territory, and with nylon type upholstery, I had the seats covered in old duvet and masking tape.
After I finished at 21.30, I have to say I am actually pleased with what a decent welder AND tools can get right.
Starting, try figure out what is connected to what...... where can I cut and where not and what would see the seats destroyed .
Once all the peripheral stuff is stripped away, like plastics, gearing for the height adjustment etc, I welded the front and rears up above the point where I planned to cut, as the frames are made up of sections of pressed steel.
Scored, measured, checked, and checked again, also wrapped tightly to protect the fabric, seat awaits its fate.
Moment of truth, grinder in hand, another self portrait in the interest of sharing ;D
All over.....
I used a pair of locating pins from the stripped bits which I welded into the rear ends of the frames, the plan is to use them to locate the seats, and then use 8mm nuts and bolts up front, so that the seats can be removed with 2 bolts undone for when major service is needed to the engine.... making access easier.
Tried for size..... seating felt good too, just a bit higher than I remember the old seats.
Once I was sure everyting fitted, I welded the rail to what was left of the chassis..... and checked it alongside the passenger seat which of course was next for surgery..... seems a bit lower to me.
Process repeated for the 2nd seat, and then both trial fitted.... everyting feels good.
I will still paint the frames as they are now covered in welds, grinding etc.
Once that is done, I plan on adding some of the plastics that were removed, to tidy up the sides of the seats. Interesting how unfinished it looks without the plastics.
Last pic shows just how much stuff came off the seats to get them where they are now. Plastics will be modified to fit where appropriate.
Chuffed I am, Yes.
;D
