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MG MGB Technical - Seat foams too soft

I bought a 67 mk1 roadster in 2006 which suits me just fine. I'm doing the usual maintenance jobs this winter and have the car up on ramps at the moment. The seat foams feel very soft and whilst comfortable, do not give enough support. I replaced the diaphragms but I suspect that a previous owner has replaced the foam at some time with something too soft. Is there a particular foam best suited to mk1 seats and which UK supplier is recommended?

I don't want to go to the trouble of changing the foam unless I'm certain of some improvement.
roger lawson

Hello Roger,

I replaced my GT foams and diaphrams recently. Originally got foams from Moss, but they were as soft as the old ones and had a very yellowish appearance. (Don't know why I ordered from Moss, have been disappointed before). Got another set from the MGB Hive, great service and the foams are of a denser more solid whiter material. They have transformed the comfort of the seats. The chap there told me they were made by the company who supply similar for the MGF. I have a Mk.2, but hopefully the same would apply to your Mk.1.
Hope this helps,
Clark.
Clark

roger
i got my foams from moss but i got 3 webbings and split the third between the 2 seats which makes it a lot better than the diaframs
you will need to space then evenly and drill fresh holes but thats all
ste
Ste Brown

Thanks Guys. I think I'll go with the B Hive option.
roger lawson

From what I've seen modern foams are too hard and you end up sitting too high with one's thighs up against the bottom of the steering wheel and one's head against the roof of GTs. Whether this is because old (mine are original) foams have softened or collapsed slightly, or whether it is because the new foam material is stiffer than the origionals were I don't know. I've heard of people having to cut an inch off the bottom of new foams.
Paul Hunt 2

Paul, That's an interesting point you raise. I remember rebuilding a RB car with B Hive foams a few years ago and the seats were nice and firm. These seats are far too soft and I am sitting too low in the car since the original steering wheel rim is in my line of sight. The seat backs are also soft but I like them that way so I think I'll just change the seat cushions. Thanks for your input.
roger lawson

Roger,

I was sitting very low in the GT, was virtually looking through the steering wheel, and could also feel the horizontal metal bar at the rear of the seat digging in...not comfortable. As Paul says the new foams are fairly rigid, but I don't find them overly so. You do sit higher, but I find the driving position and comfort much improved, as does my wife. I don't feel I am sitting too high, it just makes me realise how low I was actually sitting before the change.
Clark

I remember driving mine with the interior stripped and sitting on the floor, and I don't remember looking through the steering wheel then (I'm less than 6ft). I have had the rear bar digging in as well, but that was due to perished webbing.
Paul Hunt 2

My Dad replaced the seat foams in his '74 GT with something that definitely was too high at first! But after about 1500 miles (probably would be better stated in terms of hours), the seat foams started to "break in", and he's now happy with both the comfort level and the seating heighth. Having very old, very flat seast cushions in my GT, I'm looking forward to replacing them someday!
Phil Jones

This thread was discussed between 06/12/2006 and 11/12/2006

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