Seat back repair,...

[wetminkey]

Well, I'll need to do some minor foam rubber repair on these buns. Only a minor repair on the passenger's side, but the driver's will take some work.
Chris Obert got back to me several times already, yesterday and today. He repairs and braces seat back frames. Sometimes he has some completed ones available,...
Tomorrow I should hear more.

[wetminkey]

Boxing the frame up, for shipping, as we speak,...
Multiple responses from Chris Obert, but no response at all from Bent Wrenches or Fun Imported Autos and Toys, so far.
And I was thinking that even if I were to buy a replacement frame, it would STILL need to be reinforced.
Chris fixes them and sells them already fixed with new bracing. Not cheap, but he's sure he can repair mine (he's viewed pics) and will brace it so that it will not collapse again,...
Perhaps I'll give the other folks a call tomorrow, but I think Chris has won my business already,...!
Again, more soon,...

[wetminkey]

Again, no response from Bent Wrenches and Fun Import Autos and Toys, via their contact form,...not sure that I want to bother trying to call them.
Chris Obert sure didn't have any trouble answering up right away.

[aj81spider]

I have some experience with Fun Imported. Danny is not much of a computer guy. If you really want to contact him the phone is the only reliable option.

[dinghyguy]

Ditto for Bernie at bent wrenches...…
he might also be away.
best to call and check, but if chris O is already set up I would suggest he will be as good if not better for you since no border shipping issues.
cheers
dinghyguy

[wetminkey]

I agree, dinghyguy. And Chris Obert is in California,...a lot closer to me. Shipping there, and back, would be my cheapest option. Chris also seems to be quite personable,...and I can see some of his work available on his website. Looks good,...I think I'd like to give him my business.
Time to box this up nicely and contact him again,...

Thanks, guys!

[DieselSpider]

I agree, dinghyguy. And Chris Obert is in California,...a lot closer to me. Shipping there, and back, would be my cheapest option. Chris also seems to be quite personable,...and I can see some of his work available on his website. Looks good,...I think I'd like to give him my business.
Time to box this up nicely and contact him again,...

Thanks, guys!

I have dealt with Chris and really appreciate the way he packs things. I ordered a used CS1 front bow from him and he did a lot to ensure the bow was not damaged in shipping even using hard cardboard tubes to protect the ends of the bows and to keep the box from being crushed so easily.

[wetminkey]

Wow,...! He'll REALLY love how I package stuff! Box in a box.
Super heavy (3/8" cardboard) interior box 'sleeve' with top, and an outer box for shipping. And I built mine so that he can reuse BOTH, to send back!
Engineer at heart,...hate math

[wetminkey]

Seat back is off to California, via USPS.
Chris has confirmed my sending,...he's quick to respond.
More as things progress,...

[wetminkey]

COOL! Chris has the frame in hand. It got there safely,...
His repair usually covers the tabs at the lower back of the frame that hold/tension the seatback-upholstery's plastic strip:

He tells me that he does not usually retain these in seats he repairs,...
Can anyone tell me if their upper seatframe is covered differently?
How else might the vinyl for the seatback otherwise finally 'fix' into place? Exposed hogrings?
Thanks, Todd.

[wetminkey]

Well,...without any further information, Chris will 'hole-saw' his repair plate to accommodate the four upholstery tabs. That will retain the factory method for attaching the upholstery, no matter how the new upholstery comes,...
I'll post all about this, as I re-assemble the seats.

[wetminkey]

Well,...yes, the frame COULD be fixed.
It's repaired, braced, and on it's way back to me. Damned if it wasn't expensive! But it's also the only '79 driver's upper seatback frame available,...and now it's properly repaired and braced.
Pics sent look good,...I'll get pics when it arrives.
Todd.

[wetminkey]

I must say that I'm truly impressed with the repair and bracing to my original driver's upper seat-frame! The cost is represented in the obvious amount of welding done to repair the cracks, the wallowed out bolt, and brace the frame:

1/8" steel plate. Chris Obert even retained my factory upholstery attachment tabs,...
Expensive? Yes. Worth the cost? Yes. This frame WILL NOT bend again!
Prepped, primered, and finished with satin black, it's drying upstairs right now. Gotta figure out how to repair my upper seat foam next,...
And time to start a "Re-upholstery" thread. Not rocket science, but easier if the info is searchable, and reviewable, ahead of time,..especially with pics!
More soon. Happy Holidays!

[PaulC]

Found this book to be a great help with the upholstery
https://www.amazon.com/Automotive-Uphol ... oks&sr=1-3

[wetminkey]

Thanks, Paul.
I've reupholstered a number of vehicles before,...it's an easy task, if you know a little about it. Mostly, you need to know where to place hog rings so that the contours come out properly, and the vinyl lies smooth.
Otherwise, you place the wires in the upholstery and hog ring the stuff down,...pretty simple.
I've got step-wise pics of the seat bottom dis-assembly,...I'll start the new thread.
Nothing more on "Seat back repair". Except that this frame is really repaired/braced nicely!
Best of luck with your seat frames, guys!
Todd Compton.

P.S. 16 FEB 1979 stamped on the bottom of my driver's lower seat frame. 3/79 build date on the doorjamb. Cool,...history.