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M1008 Seat Cover Replacement/Upholstery

cucvrus

Well-known member
11,473
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Location
Jonestown Pennsylvania
Scrap a truck because it needs a frame. No way. Change the frame. But yes the canvas seat covers will stink and destroy good clothing. I had them about a week and removed them. I opted for reupholstering. It just seems the right way to do something is the expensive way. But till you dance around and try every dime fix you may as well gone with the right way to begin with. Good Luck with the quick fix. And the new bottom covers that country has listed look authentic. I know you can't get one made for that. And to get it put on your bottom cushion you had better have a nice cushion with a bolster that is not butchered and worn down.
 

porkysplace

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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mid- michigan
Scrap a truck because it needs a frame. No way. Change the frame. But yes the canvas seat covers will stink and destroy good clothing. I had them about a week and removed them. I opted for reupholstering. It just seems the right way to do something is the expensive way. But till you dance around and try every dime fix you may as well gone with the right way to begin with. Good Luck with the quick fix. And the new bottom covers that country has listed look authentic. I know you can't get one made for that. And to get it put on your bottom cushion you had better have a nice cushion with a bolster that is not butchered and worn down.
By the time the frame rusts through the rest of the truck isn't no better .
You want to waste your time working on rusting crusty junk , knock yourself out , even the backing plates on the axles were rusty . I'll just cut the plow off and move it to the next one.
 

Zeus51

Active member
115
36
28
Location
Birmingham, AL
Thanks for the replies. And thank you to the guys who have offered seat covers. I have my mind set on black vinyl (I know, I know.... No AC + black vinyl = misery), but it sure does look slick. After doing a lot of reading on here and seeing posts about how almost every internet company sends people covers, arm rests and dash pads from Dashes Direct, I went with the one that was middle of the road and Madrid Grain Vinyl from 1A Auto's website. Its definitely not the cheapest thing I found but I am hoping it fits well. I can't help but to agree with cucvrus when he says the right way is not always the cheapest way. I will post some follow up pics of the cover once I get it and start installing. The big limiting factor in this project is that I am definitely not an upholsterer. Here's the link to the one I got. It's the only one that I didn't see negative reviews on.

https://www.1aauto.com/seat-cover-upholstery-set/i/1aisu00011
 

Recovry4x4

LLM/Member 785
Super Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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Location
GA Mountains
I have had the covers John (jatonka) makes and don't recall an issue with the smell. They fit well and wear good. I also did the new lower cushions from Gimp and like those much better.

Frame rust, to each his own. I'm back halving my V30 this summer for rust abatement. Finding a 159" frame is no easy task. Mine will be a custom setup. Chassis cabs of that era were either 60 or 84" cab to axle. Mine will be 72.
 

rodent

Member
113
0
16
Location
Denver, CO
Thanks for the replies. And thank you to the guys who have offered seat covers. I have my mind set on black vinyl (I know, I know.... No AC + black vinyl = misery), but it sure does look slick. After doing a lot of reading on here and seeing posts about how almost every internet company sends people covers, arm rests and dash pads from Dashes Direct, I went with the one that was middle of the road and Madrid Grain Vinyl from 1A Auto's website. Its definitely not the cheapest thing I found but I am hoping it fits well. I can't help but to agree with cucvrus when he says the right way is not always the cheapest way. I will post some follow up pics of the cover once I get it and start installing. The big limiting factor in this project is that I am definitely not an upholsterer. Here's the link to the one I got. It's the only one that I didn't see negative reviews on.

https://www.1aauto.com/seat-cover-upholstery-set/i/1aisu00011
Should look good. Its easy to do, just take your time and watch that video. Make sure it comes with hog rings and pliers or get your own. May want to get some 1" foam for the bottom if you re-use the old foam.
 

milradioman

Member
57
0
8
Location
Kooskia, Idaho
I have had the covers John (jatonka) makes and don't recall an issue with the smell. They fit well and wear good. I also did the new lower cushions from Gimp and like those much better.

Frame rust, to each his own. I'm back halving my V30 this summer for rust abatement. Finding a 159" frame is no easy task. Mine will be a custom setup. Chassis cabs of that era were either 60 or 84" cab to axle. Mine will be 72.
That's good to hear about the jatonka seats, I have a M1008 that has the "horse blanket" seat cover on it, it worked to protect the original vinyl seat, but it is very uncomfortable.
I looked at John's web site, I didn't see a seat cover for the M1009, I will contact him when I am ready to replace the NOS ones I have.
 

cucvrus

Well-known member
11,473
10,427
113
Location
Jonestown Pennsylvania
I have had the covers John (jatonka) makes and don't recall an issue with the smell. They fit well and wear good. I also did the new lower cushions from Gimp and like those much better.

Frame rust, to each his own. I'm back halving my V30 this summer for rust abatement. Finding a 159" frame is no easy task. Mine will be a custom setup. Chassis cabs of that era were either 60 or 84" cab to axle. Mine will be 72.
Build the frame from a clean M1028/M1008 frame. You can add the short section right behind the cab. I send 2 new Ford's E 450's out this week to have the wheelbase stretched. The driveshaft balancing is the most expensive part. We send quite a few cut-a-way van chassis to Quigley for 4WD conversions. Cutting brand new vehicles apart. Gotta love it. But back on the seats. A few years back we built buses and had hundreds of right seats from brand new Ford and GM vans. Had so many brand new right doors and seats I ran them thru the compacter and sold them as shredder material. Shame. Back a few years we did some 6500 series medium duty trucks and removed brand new vinyl and cloth bench seats and replaced them with fire fighter (Scuba) seats. ??? I think they were called Scuba. Front and back seats. They sat around a long time and went shredder. Bolted right into an M1009 perfect. I had one in my Mule M1009.
 

porkysplace

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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1,493
113
Location
mid- michigan
That's good to hear about the jatonka seats, I have a M1008 that has the "horse blanket" seat cover on it, it worked to protect the original vinyl seat, but it is very uncomfortable.
I looked at John's web site, I didn't see a seat cover for the M1009, I will contact him when I am ready to replace the NOS ones I have.
Here is the link to JATONKAS M1009 sear covers.
http://www.jatonkam35s.com/CUCVM1009seatcovers.htm
 

gimpyrobb

dumpsterlandingfromorbit!
27,786
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Location
Cincy Ohio
Frame rust, to each his own. I'm back halving my V30 this summer for rust abatement. Finding a 159" frame is no easy task. Mine will be a custom setup. Chassis cabs of that era were either 60 or 84" cab to axle. Mine will be 72.
Is that for the wrecker rear? That thread hasn't seen much posted to it, just sayin...
 

Recovry4x4

LLM/Member 785
Super Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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GA Mountains
Wrecker project died. Bed was scrapped and the truck sold in FL. Current owner got a great truck and here is where it's going.

The red flat bed dump is getting back halved. Rick, I do have the back half of an M1008 frame as the donor.
 

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FrankenCub

Active member
296
29
28
Location
Broome Co., NY
I’d definitely be interested in some of that paperwork if you find it!
I can't find it, among a whole other pile of paperwork for upholstery suppliers. I had stacks of brochures for different types of materials for making custom seat covers to tarps for fire trucks. Am not happy :-(
I'll be moving this spring some time, maybe it will show up when we're packing everything.
 

Zeus51

Active member
115
36
28
Location
Birmingham, AL
I can't find it, among a whole other pile of paperwork for upholstery suppliers. I had stacks of brochures for different types of materials for making custom seat covers to tarps for fire trucks. Am not happy :-(
I'll be moving this spring some time, maybe it will show up when we're packing everything.
Thank you for looking anyway!
 
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