'69 Seatback install?

[694spdRT]

Has anyone installed new bucket seatbacks?

I bought the repo cardboard panels and need to apply the vinyl material. Was there adhesive used or staples?
Also is there any padding under the vinyl?

Thanks

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

buy an entire new seatback from legendary

[Troy]

buy an entire new seatback from legendary

Sooooooooooooooo, you've never done this before have you?

I bought the repo cardboard panels and need to apply the vinyl material.

694spdRT: I think it's held on with adhesive - staples would go all the way through. I don't remember any padding at all but I'll have to go look.

Troy

[694spdRT]

buy an entire new seatback from legendary

Sooooooooooooooo, you've never done this before have you?

I bought the repo cardboard panels and need to apply the vinyl material.

694spdRT: I think it's held on with adhesive - staples would go all the way through. I don't remember any padding at all but I'll have to go look.

Troy

Thanks Troy

That is why I thought there might be some padding...to keep the staples from going through. The vinyl must fold over at the corners or maybe there is a V cut? 

BTW: I bought the Legendary seat backs and it ain't that easy. You need to apply the vinyl and the metal retainer brackets from the old ones. 

[694spdRT]

I decided to take one of the original seatbacks off the '68 to see what was going on. There is a piece of metal channel that runs along the very bottom that the cardboard sits on. The brackets slide in to the seat frame and then 2 screws hold the metal channel to the bottom of the seat frame.

It appears staples were used originally to hold the brakcets and the vinyl on. Not sure how they got the vinyl on without going all the way through. 

I will probably just use 3M adhesive and rivet the brackets on. Still cannot tell if there was a padding under the vinyl.

[Dale The Bold]

I took mine apart recently for a '69.  It had padding there as well as staples.  I'm a little scared to just start stapling, because the staples seem to be slightly shorter than regular ones (maybe it's my imagination).  But there was definitely padding, probably to protect the vinyl from the sharp edges of the staples.

[694spdRT]

Well the seatbacks are done and in....for the record I have now added redoing 68-69 seatbacks to my list of things I hate. 

[SpudRacer]

My 69 R/T SE front seats don't have headrests, nor does the other 69 base charger in town.  Other pictures of 69's I've seen DO have the headrests.  Should my car have a headrest on the front seats or not?

Many thanks.

Tom

[JimShine]

Tom, I believe it depends on when you car was made. Pre-January 1969 cars had them available as an option, post January they are standard.

[#s Matching]

It is likely to late for 694spdRT, but I have a pic of my seat back from my 69R/T.   There is foam padding, although it is fairly thin.   It is likely only intended to soften the look of the seat back.

PS: this is the first pic that I have attached. so hopefull it works  

[#s Matching]

My seat backs also had two layers of colored vinyl covering the foam and wooden backer.  This second layer of vinyl will make it easy for me to match up the color for my replacement covers, etc.

[694spdRT]

Thanks for the pics...I went to the local variety store and spent of few minutes in the arts and craft section. I used a double layer of thin padding material similar to what you posted. The metal brackets still show a little, but it worked good enough.

[phat69charger]

My friend is an upholsterer and they have several length's of staples for the different thicknesses on pieces, my panels are padded glued and stapled.

[jaak]

My 69 R/T SE front seats don't have headrests, nor does the other 69 base charger in town. Other pictures of 69's I've seen DO have the headrests. Should my car have a headrest on the front seats or not?

Many thanks.

Tom

My Charger was built on August 9 1968, it did not have headrest, and another intresting note was it had a 68 (auto) shifter knob in it... left over parts were used on early built cars also

[Spartan]

If you buy the seat covers from year one or legendary, do they come with the material for the back panel? My oriinal ones are in pretty good shape but not sure how closely they match.  I have the front bucket seats and rear bench covers  but they are with the car at my dads. If not, I will have to add that to my list of things I need......

[694spdRT]

If you buy the seat covers from year one or legendary, do they come with the material for the back panel? My oriinal ones are in pretty good shape but not sure how closely they match.  I have the front bucket seats and rear bench covers  but they are with the car at my dads. If not, I will have to add that to my list of things I need......

The seat covers I bought from Legendary came with the seatback material. It would be a good idea to remind them to include it though.

[Needa68]

All,

Here is a detailed account of our experience with seat back fabrication and repair on our 68 Coronet. Also here are some tips and tricks for the rest of the seat. We had 68 Coronet seats which aren't too different to 69 or 68 Charger buckets. We will have to repeat this process all over again for our Charger. Good times! 

SEAT REPAIR:

http://www.geocities.com/robertmitchell32000/seatrepair/index.html

Mitchell & Mitchell 1968 Dodge Coronet R/T Restoration Home Page:

www.geocities.com/robertmitchell32000