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Post by 81pumagtc on Jun 24, 2012 21:45:57 GMT -5
Well, am I having fun here or what?
I found two perfect seats in Black MB-Tex that will fit in the Puma, and sold off the originals, and two Recaros for it.
I kept the seat rail from the Recaros, and started to fit the rails. I have rails on one seat bottom, and it is a fairly neat installation.
Now the fun really begins.
Since this car is most likely a prototype, it seems that there is not one single hole for the seats that line up with any other hole. This was not a big issue since the original Puma seats only had seat rail with an adjuster. Plenty of room for error with those.
I have Recaro rails now. Big difference.
These need to be mounted correctly, or they will not be able to adjust.
I have everything mounted, and the rails are parallel, so I just have to file the holes in the pan so everything lines up on the drivers side.
Once they are right, I can actually get the car home and do some work this week so I can drive the thing.
The passenger seat looks a bit more difficult, but since the car is at the storage garage, I can't actually look at it until I get home.
Dave
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Post by dubfreak1 on Jun 25, 2012 6:34:05 GMT -5
Sounds like a great upgrade. We need pics! Inquiring minds want to know ;D
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Post by 81pumagtc on Jun 25, 2012 21:30:22 GMT -5
Filed on the pan so I can get the drivers side seat mounted. I will now be able to bring the Pig of Plastic home... Here is a quick look at the seat...can't tell a great deal about it, since I won't get my camera back before Saturday. This one was taken with my cell phone. Still, it hits on almost all cylendars for the Puma. It's very narrow, it has an almost flat bottom cushion so I can get in and out, good side bolsters when driving with a little spirit, and it's black. Much nicer than the Recaros, and did I mention that it's black? It even looks like it belongs there! Also, they were $15 a seat!  Mercedes 190 seat in black MB Tex Dave |
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MadMike
1600dp
Posts: 3,277
Joined: Oct 30, 2008 10:21:12 GMT -5
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Post by MadMike on Jun 26, 2012 6:32:49 GMT -5
Buckets seats in the living room ;D ;D Gee,I thought I was the only one who did that ;D ;D Filing? on the Puma? you really did think u could get away with a simple bolt it ;D ;D Ain't kustum cars fun  ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by 81pumagtc on Jun 26, 2012 19:45:20 GMT -5
Brought the car home today from the storage unit. I did a temporary install of the driver's seat, and it does fit. It needs to have the front raised mate a little more than half an inch, but it's quite comfortable. Years ago I had a Porsche 912 Targa that seats that felt exactly like these do. I think it is because they use springs instead of lots of foam. They don't taper in at the top like modern buckets, but that's alright with me. It's hard to describe how the car feels on the road, but folks with vintage VW's probably have the same feeling. Here's a quick look:  Maybe one day I will have a car that does not have a steering wheel at an angle, and have your feet go towards the center of the car...   Now to clean up the center console, and mount the other seat! Dave Riedle |
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Post by 81pumagtc on Jul 7, 2012 12:31:03 GMT -5
Progress has been slow on the new seats...mostly from me being lazy! I completed the new slider adjusters, and had those and the aluminum seat bases powder coated. I also completed and installed the armrest cover. The Mercedes 190 series has a fold-down armrest attached to the driver's side seat frame. When you remove it, you are left with an ugly hole in the seat. I took a piece of .312" aluminum, and a stainless "hurricane bolt" and used JB Weld to attach the bolt to the cover. I painted the cover with Plasticote Wrinkle-Finish black, and installed it. The theory here was that the wrinkle-finish black would not call as much attention to the piece. I think that it worked.  Piece showing the hurricane bolt attached the alloy.  What the part looks like from the front. It was a pain to chamfer the entire part. It was wet sanded then to make the paint look good.  The part with the wrinkle-finish paint applied. You have to apply three even but somewhat heavy coats every 10 minutes. I find that it works better if you apply gentle heat after 45 minutes or so to force the wrinkle evenly... Don't place the gun too close...it can melt the paint and ruin the job. (Don't ask me how I know this...)  What the part looks like installed. Now I can finally put the back of the seat on. Now to run power from the fuse block so that I can adjust the back rest. That means that I have to take part the center console to run the wires. Usually not too much of a problem, when it is not 100 degrees outside...  Dave Riedle |
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Post by bren on Jul 7, 2012 20:15:22 GMT -5
Looks sharp Dave. I bet nobody will ever think it was not original.
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vwrick69
1600dp
The difference between Genius and Stupidity is, Genius has limits.
Posts: 1,225
Joined: Feb 15, 2011 13:26:31 GMT -5
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Post by vwrick69 on Jul 11, 2012 6:29:57 GMT -5
Nice fix. I doubt most people will question it.
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Post by 81pumagtc on Jul 13, 2012 19:31:12 GMT -5
Progress!
The driver's seat is assembled, and ready for a little wiring. I'll connect the electric seat recliner tomorrow, and tuck everything in place. It looks pretty nice.
I will try to get the center console apart tomorrow too, and see if there is anything else I need for it. Right now, the only thing I know is that I need a special spade connector that will allow me to connect to the fuse block, and will look like it was done by the factory...
(No one would EVER accuse me of being anal on things like this, would they?)
;D
Pictures will follow!
Dave Riedle
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Post by 81pumagtc on Jul 15, 2012 21:53:13 GMT -5
More Progress!
I removed the center console this afternoon, and learned a lot about the Puma. It certainly does seem to be a prototype, as the center console is all hand-maid fiberglass, and covered with vinyl, and it would be incredibly expensive to do this in series production.
You can even see writing and measurements inside.
There is even a section that goes from the front firewall (front of the dash) back to the console, that serves no purpose and is made from hand-laid fiberglass as well.
I ran the power from the firewall back to the console, where it will split off to both seats.
I repaired some wiring from an old radio insulation, and am adding some stainless T-Nuts to make it easier to work on. I still want to do a little touch up the console itself as well.
All of the wiring should be done tomorrow or Tuesday.
Dave Riedle
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Post by 81pumagtc on Jul 16, 2012 22:22:27 GMT -5
Well, did not get the wiring done...
I had to go to Flint today to pick up some AVK fasteners.
After seeing how everything goes together for the center console, I decided to pick some AW AVK nutserts. These put a threaded insert so you can use standard machine screws, rather than sheet metal screws into things. The AW type that I am using are designed for use with wood, fiberglass, etc. I put two into the center tunnel for the console, and two others will be mounted farther up front. There will need to be four mounted to front fiberglass to make everything easier to work on.
Busy work...
Dave Riedle
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Post by 81pumagtc on Jul 17, 2012 22:19:06 GMT -5
It's the little things that matter...guess that means that a lot did not get done today.
I painted the stainless fasteners satin black this evening. Trying a new Krylon primer + paint. So far I like it, and it takes about 30 minutes to dry to the touch.
I finished installing all the AVK nutserts so I can mount the console. I hope to have it assembled tomorrow.
I also painted the two brackets that hold the front of the console to the car. The bottoms had corroded and were damaging the carpet.
More to come...
Dave Riedle
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Post by 81pumagtc on Jul 18, 2012 18:43:32 GMT -5
Lots of progress today. It's so close I can smell it...
I assembled the center console so I could drill the last 6 holes and installed AVK nutsert fasteners. The console can now be assembled and disassembled at will, and everything uses machine screws.
I have wanted to do this since I bought the Pig of Plastic, and it's finally done.
I set up the seat wiring, and just have to trim for length, and add ends.
I reattached the vinyl to the inside of the fire extinguisher well, and the emergency brake well. It was hard to notice, but it's done now.
I have noticed that the shifter has gotten a little looser through the years, so I decided to take the shifter apart a grease it. When I pulled it apart I found that all four screws that hold the top plate of the shifter to the body were loose. I pulled the top off, cleaned everything off and noticed a little wear on the two nylon bushings for the shifter ball. Fortunately, you can reverse these, since the bushing is the same on both sides for assembly. I cleaned them off, reversed them, and it's like new again. I greased it with Super Lube, which is a synthetic grease with Teflon. I'll see how this holds up.
I had to go into Bugtussle to pick up 4 #10 lock washers, so this won't happen again.
I hope to have the console completely installed tomorrow.
Dave Riedle
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Post by bren on Jul 19, 2012 22:37:02 GMT -5
Dave:
Any photos of the fasteners? I am curious to see what you are talking about. I think we could all learn a thing or two from you about your fastener solutions.
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Post by dubfreak1 on Jul 20, 2012 15:11:02 GMT -5
Dave: I think we could all learn a thing or two from you about your fastener solutions. I agree. I have never considered using JB Weld before. However, if Dave uses it, that is good enough for me. I intend to copy his technique for attaching the "ashtray" and "glovebox" on the 67 |
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;D ;D ;D
