danglerb

At 30 years the foam in seats has to be getting pretty bad, any ideas on rebuilding the cushions with modern materials like gel and memory foam?

I want to keep the factory look, but get the max butt comfort and support, with consideration for BIG people in the seats.

The Patman

Here's an interesting notion; a few weeks ago I asked Mr. Budd to install new firmer (crisper) foam in my seats that he was reupholstering at the time.
He advised against it. Why?
Because the older softer foam lets you sink into the seat. newer more dense foam like in a Lexus for example would have you sitting on top of the seat...and hitting you head on the ceiling!

So...I stuck with the OEM type foam...and on occasion...still hit my head on the ceiling.

ummm...which is to say, sure enough if I had the firmer foam I would've surely cracked my top knot more often!!

77tony

High density foam for the seat cushions and lower density foam for the backs.02 T

medipedicman

I have done this with my 79. I used four different kinds of Gel infused memory foam with stock covers. The seats look "stockish", but they are the most comfortable seats in any of my 928's.
Foam dimension is the key. A little more effort on my part to duplicate the exact dimensions of the foam replaced would have resulted in a neater, more factory look. I used a thicker foam anticipating compression over time. This resulted in an overstuffed finished product.

Rob M Budd

There are new foams and ways to change/repair these seats.

The best way to do it is to bring the seat---and yourself so you can sit in it---to a shop that has the knowledge/tools/materials to do it.
Or like Brian, come up with something that is suited your particular situation.

There doesn't seem to be a one size fits all solution when it comes to customizing seat cushioning.

danglerb

Finding a good local trimmer is the trick. So far I haven't found one, but I do have a better than average guy that has reasonable prices and so far is willing to try some things, but still occasionally makes me nuts with minor but why the heck didn't you do it right flaws.

I think what I will do is start with a spare seat bottom, try some things with that until I get what I like, then look at a whole seat, but most of the time its just the bolster on the seat back with issues.

Should I expect the trimmer to source the foam, or should I be looking to buy some stuff online?

danglerb

My first whack at fixing a seat exactly. Seat felt like something in the support was bad, sinking too far down etc. Got it back from the trimmer and sits way too high, plus the seat belt chime is going all the time.

OTOH I bet I get pretty good at swapping out seats.

harveyf

I put memory foam (trade name Confor foam or Temperfoam) that I bought from Aircraft Spruce (http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...?clickkey=4682) in my daily driver F150 as an effort to reduce butt fatigue. It works very well except when the air temperature gets below 50F or so it will be very hard when you initially sit in the car. That may not be a problem in Orange Cty but it got to be literally a PITA such that I pulled it out and went with more traditional upholstery foam.

I am interested in this thread as I just ordered 3 types of foam (soft, medium, dense) from an upholstery supply house. I'm going to pull the seat and experiment with various stuffing mixes.

medipedicman

The current generation of memory foam is not temperature sensitive. For many years that was one of the key selling features "softens as it warms". Temperature neutral was big a couple of years ago and now it is "memory cool" or "Gel infused" memory foam. Lots of nice product out there to choose from. The foam that I used in the seat back was a laminate. Gel infused memory foam laminated to a traditional poly foam. Top two sections had more memory, less poly. The two lower areas (lumber) used more poly and less memory for firmer support. The seat portion was all Gel infused memory foam and they sit like a dream.

Bmw635

I know of an upholsterer that has done couple 928 complete leather interiors in Pomona that did a leather dash for my old BMW.

You can buy almost any kind of upholstery supplies (foam, leather) at Aaa ulpholstery supply or A-1 Foam , both on Main St , Santa Ana. I bought BMW grade leather and several grade of foam for bedding in my expedition trailer.

oldfrat

I suffer from a genetic defect scientifically known as noassatall. The seats on my car are in close to factory condition, but I have some pins in my hip and would be in pain if I drove it for more than a couple of hours.

Instead, I use a gel seat and get great comfort. Cheaper and easier than rebuilding your seats. The downside, since I'm tallish, is that it cuts down headroom. But it works for me, and my 928 has a sunroof.

Here's the link. I use the double gel model, but I'm sure any will work better than rebuilding your seats.
http://shop.wondergel.com/all-seat-c...FSxgMgodrHEA_Q

Brad

The Patman

While I on the other hand, suffer from the opposite condition.

and as such, needed a bit more...ummm...stable platform.

I only worry that after having my one shot at getting the seats done, that the foam will be prematurely "mushed down" (it's an industry term)...due in no small part to my ..."condition".

harveyf

Medipedicman and Oldfrat, thanks for youf info! I have a hard time sitting for very long on traditional seats and office chairs. I think I will try one of the pads to see how it works. And I was not aware that they have changed the way the memory foams work with respect to heat. Good to know for sure. Thanks again.

danglerb

Regarding the tall and sunroof part, good idea is to start with early manual seats which sit close to 2 inches lower than newer power seats.

Note about seats, something I read years ago from a ergonomics expert is that nobody has made a really more comfortable seat than the shaped metal ones used on tractors a century ago. The trick is getting a match between seat and butt.

The Forgotten On

I second this, it is the single easiest and best upgrade you can make if you can find a pair.

Combine that and not having a sunroof and you will never bump your head on the roof again, along with a nice sized loss of some lbs from losing the electronics in the seat.

Plus they are very comfortable, even for long distances, and you will never slide around in your seat again when the roads get twisty.

The only issue is 928's that had the seat belts mount directly to the seat cannot use these seats because the seat belts mount to the trans tunnel on the years these come out of.