15: Have a Seat

I find the underside of the seat benches fascinating. They must--of course--come out when you do anything gas tank related.



They are very comfy!

The old springs, burlap and basically everything else on the benches are original...right down to the cotton batting. Only the outer vinyl has been replaced, and it looks like only once. Amazing. Nothing to do to them but flip them right side up and bolt them back into place. 

See how nice? 

We noted that most of the vacuumable rust in the cab came from the seat springs bouncing up and down for decades. If you Google "49 Chevy Truck Restorations" you'll find photos where owners rip everything off the seat frame and paint the entire metal structure (springs and all) before reupholstering. This is so the cab floor stays nice and clean. 

As I type this, the seats are already bolted back in and will freely cast some occasional rusty spring dust on the clean cab floor like a '49 Chevy Rust-Fairy. 

I can live with that.

My Education Process So Far:

I know about: The odd looking clutch head screws because we had to remove them to get the seats off. 

I know about: The seat springs and burlap being in such wonderful condition because you have to remove the seat benches to get at the gas tank.

I know about:  The sliding mechanism for the seat not being "smooooooth" because you have to slide the mechanism forward in order to get at the gas tank.

I know about: The fuel float and sending unit condition because we had to remove them to get at the dregs of dirty gasoline left in the tank.

I know about: The gas gauge actually being in fine working order like the other gauges because of the missing fuel float/sending unit. (No float meant no correct reading).

What was that term TD used again?

Old Car Domino Effect. Yup.

It's an education in increments.