1951 M38 - front seat botton panel

[carioca]

..
.. My M38 has a plywood board at front seat bottom.
.. Doing a research I found that the original front seat bottom is a stamped metal panel.
..Witch one was original for M38 ? Plywood or metal ?
..The original bottom cushion was a foam or had springs ?
.. If a by those panels is possible to use the seat cover that stapled on the plywood board ?
.. Do I need to buy two new covers to use with a stamped metal panel ?
.. Do I need a special tool to do so ?
..

Thanks

[4x4M38]

Hi.
Do you have all of the manuals for the M38?

They are available for download for free on this website.

Yes the originals were steel pans with steel coiled springs.
There were stamped points in the pans that gripped the bottom
of the seat covers.

Look at Midwest Military or Classic Enterprises. They sell reproduction pans.
No one supplies replacement springs sadly.

As to whether your covers will fit the springs and pans it depends on the covers. The cover reproduction folks sell both an original fitting cover as well
as one that is made for 1" less foam, to provide extra room for the vino package (beer belly here in the States) between the seat and steering wheel.

Take a look at Pizzoferazzo or Odcloth website for options on the covers.
They and others sell the covers for both thicknesses of pads and you can confirm if what you have will work with the seat pans.

I have read that many who spend much quality time driving their jeeps
prefer the springs.

Again please download the free manuals.

Take care,

[Bobber]

I bought all of my seats from Wee Bee webbing on the internet. They're pretty good, but they're not the exact replacements that I had. I kept the original spring type and maybe I'll have them recovered someday. I was missing my back seat cushions and the seats you get from Wee Bee Web are ready to install. This way they all match. They look good too. My two cents.

[carioca]

..
.. Dear Brian,
..
.. I do have to download the manuals .. so many details to find a answer.
..
.. I will contact Midwest Military, Pizzoferazzo / Odcloth too.
..
.. thanks for you patience.

Regards

[carioca]

I bought all of my seats from Wee Bee webbing on the internet. They're pretty good, but they're not the exact replacements that I had. I kept the original spring type and maybe I'll have them recovered someday. I was missing my back seat cushions and the seats you get from Wee Bee Web are ready to install. This way they all match. They look good too. My two cents.

.. thanks Rusty
..