VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Upholstery - Interiors & Glass '36 truck seats

Last summer I covered a back rest for my brother's '36 Chevy truck. We re-engineered the system for attaching the cover to the springs and everything worked out well. The two sections of the bench are another story.

The original covers are secured around the bottom of the spring assembly by hogrings on the lower side panels and front panel. They are quite visible and look terrible when the seats are in place. I think we should add some structure inside the spring assembly that would allow us to attach the fabric there instead of just around the outside bottom.

In doing all this I think we'll have to add some rub protection so that the spring assembly bottom won't wear through the fabric where it bears on the seat support frame.

Does anyone know if the "visible hog rings" around the bottom of the seat are standard for trucks of this vintage? Just wondered.

My 1940 1/2 ton pickup had the original seat upholstery in it when I got it, and the cushion and seat back covers were held in place by C-clips that fasten to the seat frame. These clips are not visible when the seats are in place. My 37 1/2 ton has similar C-clips on the seat cushions, which, I believe identifies the cushions as original, as most upholstery shops likely used hog rings when installing replacement covers.

Jim Carter Classic Truck Parts sells the C-clips, Part No. UP220. It lists the clips as fitting 1937-59 trucks, so it's possible the C-clips weren't used on the 36 trucks.

C-clips were used on my truck when I had it re-done last year. My bottom bench seat is one piece.

I eliminated the clips and welded wire on the insides of the seat frames for hog rings on my 37.