willysmjeeps.com

I'm going to have to make new cushions for my front seats (all I have are the frames) - looking at photos it appears that the seatback cushion is about 3 inches thick while the seat cushion is about 4 inches. Is that correct?

Also, I've seen some seats covered in OD canvas and others covered in more of a brown color. Which is correct?

Tim

They had both canvas and a grainy looking vinal. Check out Surplus City Jeep canvas. They sell a pair with canvas and padding including the bottom wood pan assembled with screws for the backs for 85.00. I can't make my own for that!!!!!!!!! John

Some canvas is very brown/tannish and was usually used on early WWII stuff. The more olive canvas is correct. The seat cover issue has never been firmly resolved for the M38 but the A1's originally came with a gray/tan vinyl cover. I don't believe any A1's came with wood bottoms or backs in their seats. They were as far as I know all metal pan seats.

Surplus City's seat set comes with the bottom cushions installed on a wood pan. It has the two front bolt points and rear brackets that slip under the cross frame provided. The original setup was a metal pan with a set of springs that clipped to the pan under tabs. I like the idea of original if you can, but mine would have had springs breaking and coming through the seat cover as old and weak as they were. Ouch! That would be a ride huh? John

Wes.
Just about every M38A1 I've seen has canvas seats - are you saying that is incorrect or were most later changed to canvas? I have seen some with black vinyl seats but I assumed they had been redone once in civvy hands.

The back seat I bought has OD canvas (in poor condition) that I think is original.

If vinyl should be used then either gray or tan is acceptable?

Tim

Was I correct about the cushion thickness (Back 3" bottom 4")?

Wes - Am I correct that A1's may have had their vinyl seats replaced with OD canvas during their service life or is vinyl the only "correct" way to go?

Tim

M38's left Willys with canvas for sure and it is suspected vinyl found it's way to the production line once in a while. M38A1's claim to fame when introduced in 1952 was their new water proof non-stinky seat covers called vinyl. While I was in the service 60's thru the 80's we didn't buy new seat covers from the factory. You sent a work order to the base fab shop and they made them from either canvas or vinyl depending on which was in better supply.

Wes,
I never cease to be amazed at the depth of your knowledge. Thanks so much for sharing.

Since I need to make new seat covers, perhaps the way to go would be vinyl. Is there any way I can get better info on the shade of tan or grain in the vinyl fabric typically used or is that pretty much wide open?

Tim

Still need to know the proper cushion thickness for the front seats

Get with Dave at WeeBeWebbin. He knows exactly what you should have!
http://www.odcloth.com/products.html

Still need to know the proper cushion thickness for the front seats

Originally 4" or so for the all those young narrow arsed 18 year old GI's. Most 0f us run about 2 or 3" for our retired arses

amazed at the depth of your knowledge

That depth comes from a lot of looking, a lot of reading and a lot of straining out BS.