Hand stitched leather interior project

[JayCab]

Also in the plan:

Brand new drivers seat cushion from AT! Unbelievably they are remaking them and I have one, with 2023 stamped on it!!!

The backrest cushions are not made anymore, but they are also not handed, so I’m going to swap them round, so the inner bolsters which had less wear will be on the outer sections getting more wear. Should balance out.

I’ve put together the passenger base with the old base cushion, which was pretty good but not absolutely perfect. Now thinking I should have bought two new base cushions…

[JayCab]

Another installment:

I’m in the trial fit / measuring / marking / stitching stages of the first backrest. The fit you see is skin to sponge with no padding. It is not yet ready for the puff.
When the skin is totally finished, then it can be installed with the puff, along with a NOS heating element ?

[JayCab]

Unexpected update:

You know when, with manual seats in old cars, the wheel gets stiff turning backrest towards you so you have to lean forward while adjusting..?

…or perhaps your seat was gradually going backwards and you thought you were going mad or shrinking..?

…well I found this dead gas spring inside mine. It’s installed in such a manner that’s it’s only purpose can be to tension the mechanism against the weight of your back while sitting, solving both of the above.

…found a company that can actually make these to order!!

so project is delayed (again)…but will end up more thorough…

[Jeffer]

Impressive leather work mate. Hand stitching taks a lot of time to get the details rights. I had mixed results with the metal clips you used, they leave quite the markings on the leather I noticed when I used them on a project before. Did they work ok for you?

[JayCab]

Impressive leather work mate. Hand stitching taks a lot of time to get the details rights. I had mixed results with the metal clips you used, they leave quite the markings on the leather I noticed when I used them on a project before. Did they work ok for you?

I’m using Rymans smallest bulldog clips. Great because they accept exactly 1cm of material to the edge, making trimming and marking very fun!

They do leave small pressure marks on the leather, but it’s also necessary to hold the leather tightly for marking etc…

I’ve found the marks go away quite soon after removal, with stubborn ones fully gone with the first application of conditioner…

[JayCab]

Might notice a slight difference…

I am attacking the drivers base now, which means car is not drivable.

[JayCab]

Also going to be replacing these bushings, along with all the bushings in the seat rails.

….with some luck I might actually achieve seats with no play that don’t rock or click

[JayCab]

IMG_4785.jpeg Working drivers base now…

cornering is freehand sketched to tension by eye…

[JayCab]

[JayCab]

Drivers base in late stages…

[JayCab]

I’ve finished the drivers base on the weekend…

[JayCab]

Now it has a friend…

[JayCab]

Backrests and gas springs:

It seems that only my passenger backrest has this forward pressing gas spring installed (and depleted long ago, not doing anything anymore).

The drivers seat frame has no gas spring, and also no mount points for the gas spring welded where they are present on the passenger seat.

I cannot work out a reason for this? Anyone seen anything similar or know why this is? I’m thinking of not replacing this now so the seats actually match in feel…

[JayCab]

Drivers backrest is now assembled…

[JayCab]

…and suddenly I can’t upload any more images. Error uploading image…