Replacement seat upholstery

Does any one know if there are any seat upholstery kits available for a 62 CJ5 with original low back buckets? I have seen some inexpensive replacements but the originals are very comfortable but getting worn.Thanks T.J.

 

The holy grail. I know of none but it seems like it would be a item much in demand, along with the cushion springs.

I finally broke down and bought lowback Smittybilt seats which were inexpensive and I'm very happy with them.

SMS has every auto fabric imaginable, although I experienced extreme delays in my dealing with them. http://www.smsautofabrics.com/

 

I guess when new seats can be had for 99 Bucks there probably isn't enough demand to make an upholstery kits that probably would sell for more than that. I will have to dissect my seats when the time comes and see what kind of shape the frames and springs are in. T.J.

 

IMO the factory buckets are very comfortable, and worth saving. An upholstery shop can rebuild as needed and recover them, and they will look great. But it will cost considerably more than the replacement Smittybilts.

 

I really can't imagine a seat of much better quality than the Smittybilts, especially for the price. I like the lowbacks in my Jeep so much that I put the highbacks in my van.

 

Very True.........Older factory seats actually had suspension systems of varied types........most had multiple springs stretched across the open frame, backed up by a generic filler, then foam and the final cloth or vinyl on top.

Today most modern generic seats produced for the aftermarket and in modern vehicles are lighter in weight , void of any real suspension and use a specific type of memory foam as a means of comfort that really do a pretty good job.

But the big difference in comparison between old and new seating is not so much the materials used but more about how much refinement has been done to the suspensions systems in the modern vehicle.............Fact is , Newer vehicles just ride so much better as compared to your 65 year old Jeep...........hence the need to get suspended in a seat has been diminished.

Point is if your wanting to calm down that bucking board style ride that most Jeeps have...........you need to have a decent seat suspension system.............There are plenty of "NEW" aftermarket seats out there that still have valid suspension systems...........plan on paying at least $500 and up per copy...........or you can take your old suspended seats and have a competent upholstery person rebuild and re-upholster at a cost of about $275 per seat...........

And while your there put a set of seat heaters in..............you'll be glad you did.

 

Great analysis by tarry99.

The new foam seats conform to your butt, but don't provide deep shock absorption the way coil springs did.

 

The Smittybilts are not comfortable for some folks which I'm one. If you want something originalish then having the stock seats re-covered is the best bet. Aftermarket seats can be good IF you can sit in them first and see how they fit and see how they will fit in the Jeep also.

 

Walcks carries them. Here they are in grey/red (http://walcks4wd.com/body-panels-attaching-parts.html?cat=24&limit=24&product_fit_in=4).

 

That being said, they don't carry every style which were ever produced. As Howard said, SMS has the original basket weave fabric which was the fabric used on many early CJ5s and other Willys. We obtained that exact fabric from SMS for my brother-in-law's Willys pick up truck restoration. Here is a shot of the close-to-finished product

 

Guess I forgot about Walcks seat covers. CRS strikes again.

But we still need someone to make repop seat frames and springs. Don't lose your old ones.

 

Thanks for the info When the parts truck comes home next month I will see how the frames look Walck's it turns out is about 45 minutes from me.T.J.

 

Walcks makes the bottom springs (http://walcks4wd.shopgate.com/item/3136373433)

 

Well I'll be hornswoggled.
Pretty nice, but painfully pricey.

 

There is a guy on the Jeepster site that has lots of different ones to chose from, that might fit?
http://www.jeepsterguru.com/jeepster-commando/

 

I like the looks of the upholstery at the Jeepster guy it looks more like my seats, thanks T.J.

 

My Tux has a split bench in it, I wonder if it is the same as the station wagon? It is comfortable with three regular size people, or two people and a kid in it. The seat springs take up the bumps better than the Jeep springs.