Rivets & Steel Wheels

Umm another question if I may, and sorry to keep annoying.

Apparently, the 'new car' arrives this weekend, and I already have an itch (or two).

1) can anybody refer me to a body shop in Sydney (or close by) that can do quality aluminium welding? Yes, I have a few holes in the fenders that i'd like filled. Have seen those ally magic melting rods that are all over the web too, so that could be an option if I can't find anyone recommended in the art of Ally welding, and

2) the seats in the car are not original, so they will be gone quickly. Can anybody say what colour were the FACTORY fitted seats on a 74 SWB light green landy? Mine are light brown at the minute, and i have not found replacements anywhere in light brown, they only appear to be available in Black. This begs the question, was the factory colour black??????

Many thanks,

Adam

Most general engineering shops will have a competent aluminium welder on staff. Failing that (and depending on where you are in Sydney), ask at a local boat shop. They should know someone who repairs/modifies tinnies.

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Originally Posted by acf321

Can anybody say what colour were the FACTORY fitted seats on a 74 SWB light green landy? Mine are light brown at the minute, and i have not found replacements anywhere in light brown, they only appear to be available in Black. This begs the question, was the factory colour black??????

Many thanks,

Adam

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Hello from Brisbane.

They were brown. This was the case from the later S2A models through the S3 run in this country.

The black is a UK colour - about all that is on offer from there. Unless you want elephant hide grey which was an earlier colour and not really relevant to the Australian S3.

For a while ExMoor Trim made a mid grey version that I prefer, but these don’t appear to be available now.

You’re about five years too late - but I gave away a perfectly good set of brown seats back then.

Cheers,

Neil

Factory seats on a 1974 series3 that I just sold for $2000.

bits of the original brown visible along the edges

https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...17&oe=5F457F67

Wow, I thought I was after brown seats!

Does anybody have any experience with the black OEM style seats that are offered from parts suppliers? Also, were the bases of the original seats just plain cut foam, or were they sprung like a bed mattress with steel springs? I remember my 58 SWB had the bed spring type seats (because one of the springs cut my shirt at one time).

Many thanks

Hello again.

If you’re really going for originality then you’d be best served to stick to the brown covers. If your present squabs are OK then get them recovered. Otherwise, look around for second hand seats.

The construction is basically solid foam with hardboard bases and backs.

If your old Series 1 had springs in its seat bases then I suspect they weren’t original factory fitment. The construction method didn’t change much through the models other than the basic shape.

Cheers,

Neil

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Originally Posted by acf321

Wow, I thought I was after brown seats!

Does anybody have any experience with the black OEM style seats that are offered from parts suppliers?

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Hello again - no experience with the aftermarket seats on offer from the UK or locally which are also generally sourced from the UK. However, it’s a bit of a case of Hobson’s Choice if you want new seats. The ExMoor seats from the UK are quite good and are basically the same as the originals - they made most of them. Colour choice and shipping are your enemies with that route.

You probably already know it, but getting the old ones reupholstered is a gilt layered operation - especially if the foam has to be replaced as part of the operation. But, you get to pick the colour with that option.

Putting it in to perspective, the cost of new seats may seem to be very high - but it’s about the equivalent of a couple of new tyres, swivel balls or a new radiator. Or less than half the price of an overdrive. Small change for a Land Rover renovation.

Cheers,

Neil

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Originally Posted by S3ute

Hello again - no experience with the aftermarket seats on offer from the UK or locally which are also generally sourced from the UK. However, it’s a bit of a case of Hobson’s Choice if you want new seats. The ExMoor seats from the UK are quite good and are basically the same as the originals - they made most of them. Colour choice and shipping are your enemies with that route.

You probably already know it, but getting the old ones reupholstered is a gilt layered operation - especially if the foam has to be replaced as part of the operation. But, you get to pick the colour with that option.

Putting it in to perspective, the cost of new seats may seem to be very high - but it’s about the equivalent of a couple of new tyres, swivel balls or a new radiator. Or less than half the price of an overdrive. Small change for a Land Rover renovation.

Cheers,

Neil

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Hey Neil, thanks again for the help here as always. I just had a look at the pics and my seats do appear all original in brown, but the drivers and passenger side back rests appear to be non-standard. The seat bases look correct on all three, and the centre seat looks right on the base and the back. This means, I'll be looking for replacement OEM seat backs for TWO of the seats. Once i have these, I will at least have a matching set and then can go and consider the re-covering route.

Does anybody have TWO back rests that are OEM in brown that they are looking to part with?

Best regards (and thank you!)

Adam

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Originally Posted by acf321

Does anybody have TWO back rests that are OEM in brown that they are looking to part with?

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Hello again.

The backs will usually have a couple of steel pins protruding from the lower sides - these go through the seat base retainers in order to make the back swivel forwards to access the tools on the bulkhead.

Some models didn’t have the pins - rather they were bolted to the retainer. So, there is just a threaded hole and no pin.

I’m pretty sure that most of the backs will have the pins, but it’s worth checking if you get an offer.

Cheers,

Neil

Adam,
I have a couple of brown backrests you can have if you want them. I'm swapping them out for highback black ones. I'm in Raymond Terrace near Newcastle if you are interested?

Regards

Brian