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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Upholstery Clips On Frogeye Seats

Has anyone any tips on how to put into place the little black clips on the old Frogeye seats?

I have bought new cushions, covers etc and after refurbishing the bases all went well until trying to clip on the old black clips to attach the new covers onto the frame.

As soon as I release the fabric the clips springs back off, I'm sure one of you guys will know what I am doing wrong!

Thanks
Tim

Tim Lynam

Tim, are you hammering home the clips? They need to be firmly snugged in I found.
Bill Bretherton

Thanks Bill, yes I am hammering them on, maybe not hard enough thou, have you re used old clips successfully as I could not see new clips listed on AH Spares site when I ordered the covers etc?
Tim Lynam

There are 2 types of clips as far as I recall. Are you using the right ones for the seat base? They are sort of D shaped and fit with the flat D side downwards. Sorry if this is already obvious, but I suspect they would work themselves free if fitted the wrong way up!
GuyW

Tim, I bought new clips from Frogeye Spares and, embarassingly, got them mixed up such that I used the large ones on the base and the smaller ones on the seat backs. They held well though. I found if you have to remove them and re-fit that they tend to snag the material.
Bill Bretherton

Thanks Bill & Guy, looks like the clips have seen better days, but after 60 years I suppose they have done well, after a good hammering several split into two!

I have ordered some form AH Spares but looks like they just have the one size, hopefully the new non rusty ones will do the job!
Tim Lynam

<<I used the large ones on the base and the smaller ones on the seat backs>>
Oh, have I got them the wrong way round as well then?

I did my seat bases nearly a year ago but have been putting off doing the backs until nearer when they are needed to install as they take up more storage room. The problem is will I remember how all the wadding is supposed to be arranged?
And will I find the other clips!
GuyW

Guy, clip size may not matter too much. When you come to do it, there's good information in the Lindsay Porter restoration book, which I can post.
Bill Bretherton

Guy, you cant go wrong with the wadding in the back rests, how were the bases to do as not tackled those yet.

Bill, are there any handy tips in the Lindsay Porter restoration book regarding re upholstering the seats?
Tim Lynam

Bill, thanks, I have that book. Just keep forgetting to refer to it these days!

Tim, I did the seat bases a while ago, but found them quite easy. I made my own foam cushions though as I thought the prices being quoted for frogeye foam just exhorbitant at the time. £94 as I recall, and way more than the foams for later cars. So I bought a block of uphostery quality foam and cut and shaped it myself. I seem to recall £16, but cannot remmeber if that was for the block, or what it worked out each seat. I used foam and then wrapped it in 1" thick polyester wadding which helps to bulk up the shape, especially in the front corners and sides.

Seats look OK though.


GuyW

Bill, thanks, I have that book. Just keep forgetting to refer to it hese days!

Tim, I did the seat bases a while ago, but found them quite easy. I made my own foam cushions though as I thought the prices being quoted for frogeye foam just exhobitat at the time. £94 as I recall, and way more than the foams for later cars. So I bought a block of uphostery quality foam and cut and shaped it myself. I seem to recall £16, but cannot remmeber if that was for the block, or what it worked out each one.

Seats look OK though.


GuyW

Yes the seats look great and you saved a fair bit of money, the seat foam for the cushions was £27.50 each +vat, but if these come out as well as yours I will be happy.
Tim Lynam

Tim
In the book, they work somewhere warmish so that the covers stretch well, which they need to I found, especially the bases. Wadding was placed around the seat bases (vertical edges) to give some cushioning and also over the top of the seat backs, the rear of the backs and the "horns" (side pivot bits). I used contact adhesive where needed. As with all these things, you do the second one better than the first, well I did! I found the bases needed more stretching than first anticipated, to elimnate folds and rucks. Quite a satsfying job.


Bill Bretherton

Bill your seats look really good. I still have the horse hair and felt patches for the sides and back of the seat backs. That's assuming the mice haven't nicked it all for their nests! - its in a plastic sack in the shed!

Tim, that was a good price for your foam seat bases. Moss list it as a kit at £118 per seat! That does include some bits of carpet felt and the horse-hair replacement for the seat back but I cannot see that they should add much value. Its hard to see where they get their costs from.

If anyone else is trying this, I checked my receipts. The seating foam came from Dunelm Mills. £20 for a block that did two seats. It cuts best with an electric carving knife (Charity shop, £2) but a normal serrated edge bread knife does pretty well too. Final shaping to round the edges with a very light application of a flap wheel on an angle grinder, but wear a dust mask! Photo is before final shaping. Same place sells the polyester filler (£6/metre) and the felt material (£8/metre)

I am now almost inspired to start on those seat backs!


GuyW

Guy, thanks. I did mine indoors over a year ago before we renewed the kitchen/ utility flooring so it didn't matter where I sprayed the adhesive! I remember having two attempts at the first seat back to get it tighter and to insert extra wadding (also from Dunelm). Problem now is they're stored in the car (wrapped up) so I have to be careful!
Bill Bretherton

This thread was discussed on 03/04/2020

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