Re: Larry's 1951 Club Sedan Project
Posted by Larry51 On 2014/7/15 8:43:21
Thanks Dan for the good wishes. We are coping with the cold down here - not too bad - only gets to about minus 3degrees C at night where we live, so a bit below freezing. Nothing like the kind of cold you get in the US!
Well, the seat springs and frames were much in need of a good clean-up and some paint. There was a little rust here and there but nothing very serious. The reddish colour seems to be the glue colour as far as I can tell . . . it just scrapes off and is very powdery.
There is a lot of work to replicate the way the seats were done originally. The upholsterer reckons he can do everything the same as it was, including using the large plastic squares from the back of the front seat squabs, that were a feature. These seem to be in very good condition and are plastic, not vinyl. He reckons vinyl would not have lasted 60 years but the plastic has done well and is still ok to use.
I stripped all gunk and surface rust off (stripper disks) and then treated the whole frames with phosphoric acid. Didn't prime the springs, just painted them, but primed the frames and used black zinc coating (gloss paint) rattle can on everything. Was assured the paint has lots of zinc in it despite it being black(?). Can't figure out why it isn't gray or silver if it contains zinc . . . .
Took the frames and springs to the upholsterer over a week ago and just got the first pieces back from him.
Below also are first pics of my reupholstered seats, but not all of them.
The upholsterer ran out of the gray broadcloth so I've just ordered more from SMS Fabrics. I thought I had enough of the gray because I ordered an extra yard, but am a yard short. Guess it was a bad estimate.
Very pleased with the job, and the dark blue and light gray combo (- which is exactly as original) go well together IMO. There is nothing fancy, like pleating etc but by being plain and basic it kinda looks like a true 1951 car interior I think.
Front seat frame of fold forward seat
Frame with remains of the glue used way back when
Springs just needed a touch-up with black zinc spraypaint
Primed, ready for the cloth
The first of the reupholstered bits to be done.
Another view
Well, the seat springs and frames were much in need of a good clean-up and some paint. There was a little rust here and there but nothing very serious. The reddish colour seems to be the glue colour as far as I can tell . . . it just scrapes off and is very powdery.
There is a lot of work to replicate the way the seats were done originally. The upholsterer reckons he can do everything the same as it was, including using the large plastic squares from the back of the front seat squabs, that were a feature. These seem to be in very good condition and are plastic, not vinyl. He reckons vinyl would not have lasted 60 years but the plastic has done well and is still ok to use.
I stripped all gunk and surface rust off (stripper disks) and then treated the whole frames with phosphoric acid. Didn't prime the springs, just painted them, but primed the frames and used black zinc coating (gloss paint) rattle can on everything. Was assured the paint has lots of zinc in it despite it being black(?). Can't figure out why it isn't gray or silver if it contains zinc . . . .
Took the frames and springs to the upholsterer over a week ago and just got the first pieces back from him.
Below also are first pics of my reupholstered seats, but not all of them.
The upholsterer ran out of the gray broadcloth so I've just ordered more from SMS Fabrics. I thought I had enough of the gray because I ordered an extra yard, but am a yard short. Guess it was a bad estimate.
Very pleased with the job, and the dark blue and light gray combo (- which is exactly as original) go well together IMO. There is nothing fancy, like pleating etc but by being plain and basic it kinda looks like a true 1951 car interior I think.
Front seat frame of fold forward seat
Frame with remains of the glue used way back when
Springs just needed a touch-up with black zinc spraypaint
Primed, ready for the cloth
The first of the reupholstered bits to be done.
Another view
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