The original foam eventually turns to dust. When moving the seat back forwards and backwards, it was like yellow sand falling out of it.
 I replaced my foam and found it was much more comfortable with better lumbar support. I didn't get a sore back after driving the car like I once did. 

Phil, you might try contacting Gil Baumgartner, who put low-back buckets in his 57. He is in his 80s, now, retired, and did not reply to my last email. Someone told me that he might take on a job now and then, but he's pretty selective. If you reach him, I'm sure he will be happy to tell you what seats he used and how they're mounted.

Anyone ever put low back bucket seats in an early TBird?

RJ — Thank you for the tips and insight on the seat. Very helpful and obviously a summer project!

Kent — Round Rock, TX
'56 F-100  | '56 Crown Vic  |  '57 Fairlaine 500  |  '57 Thunderbird

My wife and I covered the seat in our 57 T'bird a few years ago and I think it came out fantastic! We had planned to take it to our local upholstery shop on Cape Cod , Ma but were informed that he was so busy (It's a one man operation) that it would be well into the fall before he could do our car.He said we could do it  if we did 2 things. 1-buy a pancake air compressor and its hose and staple gun (reasonably priced at Harbor Freight) , plus they always have coupons.  2- You must do it 0n a  90+ degree day after letting the covering sit in the hot sun for hours. If you dont do that you will not be able to stretch the material the required amount.We bought most of our supplies from Casco, i.e., upholstery package with tack strips , hog rings, etc.  Took our time on a very hot day in July, did the seat on the first day and the seat back on the second day. I stretched the fabric/vinyl while my wife fired the air staple gun.! The whole operation was pretty sweet and I cant overstate the importance of doing it on a VERY HOT day..  Good luck    RJ Palmer

Daniel —
Sounds like you made a good choice with the leather & foam. I'm a little worried new foam would push me too high and make driving more difficult. 6'2" isn't the best fit in an early bird. Hopefully my original foam is reusable. Will have to dive in and find out.

Kent — Round Rock, TX
'56 F-100  | '56 Crown Vic  |  '57 Fairlaine 500  |  '57 Thunderbird

Don’t have a detailed invoice for the leather kit (purchased entire new interior upholstery/carpet/hardware/etc. thru a secondary outlet 13 yrs. ago), but I do remember it wasn’t cheap! I sprung for leather though because my car had new vinyl seat covers when I bought it, and it only took 10 years to wear them out. 
Orig. foam was really shot, and the new seats not only raised driving height slightly, but especially also put me in a decidedly more upright posture.

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

Sounds like he really knew the tricks to a great job. Hard to beat fresh leather.

Kent — Round Rock, TX
'56 F-100  | '56 Crown Vic  |  '57 Fairlaine 500  |  '57 Thunderbird

When I had my 55 done years ago, I used the leather seat cover from Larry's Thunderbird, along with a whole interior kit. The local upholstery guy did the seat bottom and back first, then went thru the rest of the interior, carpet, etc. I used new foam. He stretched the seat every morning (in a heated shop). He said if you had time to do that it was the best way to get a proper fit, and worth the money for him to do it 3 or 4 times. It still looks good for fit 18 years later so he must have done something right.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Yes sir, I'd planned on purchasing the DVD first. Hopefully it doesn't scare me from the job.

The car is a manual seat. I believe the original foam is serviceable. Guess I'll find out if/when I get into it. Nothing feels saggy or broken. Cover is just old and started splitting on the seams from use. Definitely don't want something that will make me sit higher and close the gap between the steering wheel and bottom cushion. I'm 6'2" so that's already pushing it — especially with the top on.

Car is a late production (July '57) but I want to keep the embossment that the current cover has. Not worried about it being 100% correct.



Kent — Round Rock, TX
'56 F-100  | '56 Crown Vic  |  '57 Fairlaine 500  |  '57 Thunderbird