Series 3 Seat base modification

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Ole blue

Active Member
Posts
51
Location
Finland
I bought new Britpart deluxe seat bases for my 88. The original seat bases had these metal plates on them. Are they required?

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Looks more like the wood has been cut out to allow the foam to sink down lower into the metal tray....perhaps a tall previous owner?
 
The LR was an original export to Finland model. Wondering if that had anything to do with it. All of it looks factory made. The cutting of the wood bottom is very nice. The bottom metal has been stamped. Foam was molded like that. With the new seats I do set higher but that might be because they are new. Was thinking about cutting one base and install the metal and see if I set lower.
 
Can you not get just the covers on their own?

Unfortunately the LR had set almost 30 years and the seats which were in very good condition but was soaked in mouse urine. We tried everything to get the smell out but no luck. The wood and foam was just horrible smelling. So after removing the metal trays I dropped them off at the recycling center.
 
Well I got around to installing the metal seat base today. The main setting area is about 1" lower now. There is still the same amount of foam in the center area so it sets the same. Had to cutoff the outer and front foam pieces about 1". After installing the new Britpart seats I had to bend down to see out of the windshield. Now the seating position appears to be a vast improvement. Hopefully I get to drive it sometime this week.

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Just an update to this thread. I have drove probably around 300 miles since installing the factory metal seat tray. I love it. The biggest benefit is being able to see out the front without having to bend down. It still retains the full foam so no change there. All the info I could find about the metal trays, it was installed on some export models.

Here are the measurements if anybody is interested in doing this. Its made from 16 ga galvanized metal.

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I've managed to get my hands on one of those seat base trays. I need to cut out a section from the bottom of the seat. I don't want to remove the cover or foam so I'm wondering out to best do it.

Col
 
drill holes in the 4 corners then join them up with a jigsaw?
That was my first thought but I didn't want to cut through the foam and destroy it. I've managed to cut the square panal out using a dremel but it was a struggle. One of the edges of the metal dish is angled, is this to fit the angle of the seat base towards the front? How did you fasted the plate to the base?

Col
 
That was my first thought but I didn't want to cut through the foam and destroy it. I've managed to cut the square panal out using a dremel but it was a struggle. One of the edges of the metal dish is angled, is this to fit the angle of the seat base towards the front? How did you fasted the plate to the base?

Col

Angled edge went to the rear of the seat. I used 1/4" aluminum rivets to fasten the metal tray to the wood seat base. I cut the foam so it fit into the opening I cut in the base. The side foam could of been left as is. I decided to cut the side foam 1" so the upholstery would be tight everywhere. I used britpart seat and my foam was glued to the wood base. You might be able to pull the foam out of the opening and cut it to fit in the hole. The front of the foam I needed to cut a 1" square out and the rear I cut 1" off the bottom all the way from opening to the end of the foam. Then the foam set into the opening and flush with the seat base.
 
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