Disco II front seats into my 1993 defender and re upholster the rear seats

[2234jones]

Work in prgress
Well here we go here is the landy with the old tired seats.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/52.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/53.jpg

Here are the Discovery II seats I had just purchased off ebay.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/54.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/55.jpg

I need to measure the fittings and get ready to strip the new seats so they are able to fit into the defender. First here are the bottoms of the seats before the mod.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/56.jpg

Protect the seat with cardboard, as I didn’t want to burn the seats, I then have cut the extra bits to make a flat surface to work to:-

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/57.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/58.jpg

I have the seats correctly in position, but i will need to remove the centre cubby box to allow access and room to work, this was only held in by four screws and took about 10 mins to remove.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/59.jpg

Well it was the most difficult part fitting them in as they are wider and higher, The next thing to do is to remove the old seats.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/60.jpg


Once the seats are removed, they are only held in by four 13mm bolts, the next part is to mark the holes on the seat box. I have used the rear inside bolt hole and kept the rails as far back as they can go. I have then drilled the new holes and had to get some heavy duty plate to strengthen the floor, I have gone over board, but a 100mm x 100mm plate of 2mm steel plate. I then removed the centre plate covering the gearbox to allow access to the underneath to access the bolts. Once drilled place the seat in and using the original spacers, bolt the seat in.

Here is the picture of the front mount.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/61.jpg
an a picture of the rear mount, see I have had to cut the top part to gain access for the socket to tighten up the bolt.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/62.jpg

Now the seats are bolted in, check the running of the seat belt, I have placed the passenger seat too close to the door pillar restricting movement as I used the outside holes. So I will have to alter this to use the inside mounting holes.
The seat box has been placed back, however I will need to make another one as this will need to be narrower to cater for the controls on the side of the seat.

I will next tackle the rear seats, but I have measured and the old seats are 140mm and the discovery rears are 147mm, might get away with it, and I will have to modify the rear mounting to utilise the Discovery locking points.

First I cut and unstitched the panels and purchased some cloth which was as near as I could get. I then measured the seats in situ and made panels using the sewing machine and upholstery thread for strength.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/63.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/64.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/63.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/65.jpg

Once I had made the panels I removed the seats from the defender, they were only held in by 2 bolts, so they were out within 10 mins.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/66.jpg

I then dismantled the seats by unbolting them, and removing the base cover and panels stripping it down to bare bones.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/67.jpg

I then stripped the side panels and placed onto the new material and make sure they are the right way around, as I wasted some material this way. Then draw around and then cut out of the new material.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/68.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/69.jpg

Once you have cut them out, place the panels on the seat and mark where the side panels will go.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/70.jpg

Once you have done that, sew the sides on, and once sewn, turn inside out and start to fit to seat, I did the base first then the back afterwards.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/65.jpg

I then clipped the cover onto the base with metal clips and then recovered the bottom of the base with the panel, this is only screwed on.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/71.jpg

I previously cut the old head rest fittings from the discovery II rear seats.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/72.jpg

I then measured, I allowed 100mm from the edge of the seat and welded the fittings into place, make sure this is a good weld.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/73.jpg

Once welded I added a bit extra foma to make the backs more comfortable, and to compensate for the head rests. I then fitted the top cover and then installed the head rest.

I then checked the finish and then fitted the seats back in.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/74.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/03/668.jpg

And here we are the finished product, the wife loves them.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/03/668.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/03/669.jpg

In all it took about a full day in hours to do, but its best to use new than old materials.

I hope you like it and then landy is alot more comfortable and appealing to the missus.

Mark:D

[Barra1]

Mark, that is a fantastic job on two accounts:D

Firstly the project itself - those seats - front and back - will transform the Defender. Although you don't need me to tell that.:D

Secondly, the photos and instructions you gave are fantastic. ;)

I daresay your thread will cause envy within the Defender ranks - and possibly initiate several Disco seat installations.:D

[JDNSW]

Any problems getting engineering approval for the modification?

John

[jerryd]

A good job well done by the looks of it ;) I'd be interested in the old rear seat if you are anywhere near Brisbane and you are going to sell it.

Have you had the seats checked by an engineer ?? and a mod plate fitted ??

[jerryd]

Ooops :angel: after reading a couple of more times I can see now that you've retained the original seat.

[87County]

.....great!

.............just wondering about access ..... to the battery etc ????

[LRT]

I know this is an old post but I’m wondering if the Photobucket photos can be recovered?