Thread: Alternative Seats for Defender - Not Exmoor Trim

Any seat that is not designed as a direct replacement meeting the specifications of the original seats (or a later year of the same model) will require engineering approval. This is likely to cost as much as the freight from the UK.

You could probably get away with fitting Defender or 90/110 seats but again new ones are probably just as expensive.

In my case, having acquired a late S3 as a parts vehicle, I simply fitted the seats out of it to my 2a, getting them reupholstered as necessary.

If you have a competent local motor trimmer, they can almost certainly recushion and reupholster your existing seat cushions to produce the most cost effective outcome. If the existing ones are too far gone, try to find someone who has some spares that can be lent as samples. A competent motor trimmer should be able to duplicate them.

The exact match of the original vinyl will be very expensive, even if you can find any, but something close should be available off the shelf unless you are really counting rivets.

The original seats, especially the high back option, are not too bad.

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Any seat that is not designed as a direct replacement meeting the specifications of the original seats (or a later year of the same model) will require engineering approval. This is likely to cost as much as the freight from the UK.

You could probably get away with fitting Defender or 90/110 seats but again new ones are probably just as expensive.

In my case, having acquired a late S3 as a parts vehicle, I simply fitted the seats out of it to my 2a, getting them reupholstered as necessary.

If you have a competent local motor trimmer, they can almost certainly recushion and reupholster your existing seat cushions to produce the most cost effective outcome. If the existing ones are too far gone, try to find someone who has some spares that can be lent as samples. A competent motor trimmer should be able to duplicate them.

The exact match of the original vinyl will be very expensive, even if you can find any, but something close should be available off the shelf unless you are really counting rivets.

The original seats, especially the high back option, are not too bad.

Hope this helps.

Hello John,

If the foam was in better condition I would have just gone for some of those canvas seat covers that seem to start at $239-$300. A year or so ago I did find a supplier who offered replacement foam - however, I must not have recorded their details and I have since lost their contact details.

I am more interested in comfort than getting things pretty - so no real interest in going back to the original vinyl.

I did contact some local upholsters and with supply and demand linked with a very limited pool of alternatives being available locally, they charge like wounded bulls. Or perhaps they used golden thread or maybe platinum thread. A bit like "You want this much to fix the seats ... OMG!!!" Thunk ... as one becomes instantly dazed and then collapses to the ground in a state of total shock.

Kind regards
Lionel

Might be worth talking to one of the local suppliers such as KLR or All four x 4 and see whether they have any useful suggestions. You can of course, if you feel competent to do it, get some foam from somewhere such as Clark Rubber, but note that you will want at least two varieties of foam, one to support your weight, and one to provide a soft surface. Foam can be sculptured either with a jigsaw or with a hot wire.

If you have not done it before, you probably need to do a bit of experimentation!

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Foam can be sculptured either with a jigsaw or with a hot wire.

If you have not done it before, you probably need to do a bit of experimentation!

An electric carving knife also works well, just don't let your partner find out you've used it !

I've sculpted a lot of motorcycle seats in the past using an electric carving knife, used my Mum's sewing machine to make the covers but tended to break needles as the cloth backed vinyl was quite tough. I now have a walking foot industrial machine (from the 1930's). I made covers for my Series III seats but it took a while as I made patterns first, and was over cautious as I don't usually work with vinyl.

Like all trades....it sounds expensive when you get someone else to use their hard earned skills. Several people have commented on the cost of getting Series seats re-upholstered, Defender seats would be more expensive.

Colin

Originally Posted by gromit

An electric carving knife also works well, just don't let your partner find out you've used it !

I've sculpted a lot of motorcycle seats in the past using an electric carving knife, used my Mum's sewing machine to make the covers but tended to break needles as the cloth backed vinyl was quite tough. I now have a walking foot industrial machine (from the 1930's). I made covers for my Series III seats but it took a while as I made patterns first, and was over cautious as I don't usually work with vinyl.

Like all trades....it sounds expensive when you get someone else to use their hard earned skills. Several people have commented on the cost of getting Series seats re-upholstered, Defender seats would be more expensive.

Colin

Hello Colin,

That is one option I can explore - thank you Colin. We have a Clarke Rubber here again in Bundaberg after about a 10 year absence. A year or so ago, I took a sample of the seat foam from Snowy to them to find a suitable replacement. Then something happened like work increasing its hours and the replacement of seats got put on the back-burner... then forgotten about.

We never got into the electric knife phase, so no wifely attachment to them. I am sure there are plenty for offer at op shops. Along with rows of bread makers and slow cookers...

Some of the canvas seat covers describe how they have 6 mm thick cushioning fitted to their covers as well. So if the Clarke rubber replacement is not up to Land Rover's original specification the extra 6 mm of in-built cushioning could bring things up to scratch.

There is also the possibility of wrecker options too. I could be lucky and there could be a 110 that is being wrecked that just had new front seats installed. The vehicle's previous owner being either Santa or the Tooth Fairy.

Kind regards
Lionel

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

Some of the canvas seat covers describe how they have 6 mm thick cushioning fitted to their covers as well. So if the Clarke rubber replacement is not up to Land Rover's original specification the extra 6 mm of in-built cushioning could bring things up to scratch.

I'm sure seat covers don't pass a roady in VIC, they remove them to check the seat underneath. Not sure about QLD.

As for foam....check around for a foam supplier other than Clarke, big savings if you can find an industrial foam supplier.

Colin

Originally Posted by gromit

I'm sure seat covers don't pass a roady in VIC, they remove them to check the seat underneath. Not sure about QLD.

As for foam....check around for a foam supplier other than Clarke, big savings if you can find an industrial foam supplier.

Colin

Hello Colin,

An industrial foam supplier, that sounds like makin' a trip to the big smoke. That is a one way trip of 4 hours 13 minutes (366 km). I will have to check to see the level of inspection for seats in Queensland.

Kind regards
Lionel

Hello All,

After sourcing foam supplier, one thing I was considering was to re-purpose the leather off a couple of leather lounge chairs that had past their use-by date. The frame and the mechanism was scrapped and the leather is stored in the shed.

Got to sort out some other stuff though before work on , or the total replacement of the seats start in earnest. So, I still have time to look at different options.

Kind regards
Lionel