Fitting MGB GT Rear Seat Covers

Over many years of use, your GT will perhaps have had new front seats or at least seat covers but eventually the rear seat will also need attention or you may wish to re-cover it to match new front covers. The fitting of front seat covers has already been dealt with many times so we are now going to focus on the rear seat. The GT rear seat is often over-looked as it is rarely used as a seat but more as a load storage area, however it will, in time, have passed its best and start to spoil the look of the interior.

Stripping
Remove the rear seat base from the car by releasing the four lift-a-dot fasteners and lift out of the car. Now open up the tailgate, release the two catches on the seat back and allow it to fall forwards. Lift the wooden shelf that covers the spare wheel. You will see four Phillips screws that fasten the hinge to the member crossing between the wheel arches. With a stubby screw driver remove these four screws. Once the screws are out you are able, with the help of an assistant, to lift the seat back/wooden shelf assembly out of the car.
Now everything is easier to work on, remove the six screws that hold the wooden shelf to the seat back. Taking note of where, on the seat base, the front securing tabs with the lift-a-dot fasteners are positioned, remove all the small staples that hold the covers onto the base. I find it best to use a small bladed screwdriver to start them and then finish pulling out with a pair of pliers.
Once all the staples have been removed the cover can be slid off to reveal the back board and foam. Repeat in the same way for the seat back remembering not to discard the two bottom boards from the seat base and back or the sound proofing from the bottom of the seat base. You will also, unless fitting a new carpet set, need to keep the piece of carpet that is glued onto the back of the back seat.

What you need Having decided on the type of covers that you are going to fit, lay everything out in a clean area (a large piece of cardboard on the floor is always a favourite) to check you have everything you need (see photo 1). This includes new covers, spray glue, staple gun, staples, screwdrivers and a small hammer. Unless you know that the foams are in excellent condition always fit new foams. Fitting the covers to the seat back Ideally, using a spray glue, fasten the new foams to the relevant base board following the instructions on the can of glue (see photo 2). Taking the back part of the seat first place the new cover over the foam. At this stage we are just checking for positioning and size. Due to the way that the covers are produced you will find that they are inside out. To fit, place the front of the cover onto the foam and turn the cover the correct way round (see photo 3). When happy with the position of the cover (the piping should be positioned so that it is right on the corner of the two faces) starting from the top middle, make sure the cover is under some tension and fasten with staples going into the rear of the base board (see photo 4). Having stapled along the top, again making sure of the position and tension of the cover, staple along the bottom run. We now have the two sides to deal with, which will include the four corners. The idea here is to make the corners look as neat as possible and fold them inwards in a similar way to making a bed (see photo 5). The final strip on the back part of the seat needs to be stapled to the bottom of the back face (see photo 6). This hangs down when in position and covers the area between the back rest and the base seat. Without it you would see either the carpet or the bodywork of the car. With a small screwdriver, press through the vinyl at the six points in the backboard where there are the captive nuts to take the boot board hinge (see photo 7). You can now fix the seat back and boot board together (see photo 8) making sure, by test fitting, that all is in alignment when in the car. Now glue back in place the oblong of carpet to the back of the seat. Screw back on the ‘u’ brackets which the latch, for holding the back seat up, goes into (see photo 9). Again by trial fitting into the car make sure they are screwed back in the correct place. Fitting the covers to the seat base The basic method for fitting the seat base covers is the same as the seat back. Trial fit the cover, once happy with the positioning staple along the top edge while keeping some tension on the material, staple the bottom edge and finish with the sides and edges as before. You will notice that the covers and foam overlap the base board by a considerable amount at both rear edge/ends, this is nothing to worry about. It is part of the design where the base board sits on the rear shelf while at the side where the chassis rails encroach slightly, a board is not flexible enough so the foam and cover are left on their own. With the cover now firmly fastened, place the base unit into the car. Use a piece of chalk to mark, on the seat base, where the male lift-a-dot post on the car is positioned. Remove from the car and staple the two flaps of material to the underside of the base board where you have just marked. You will notice the rear two flaps are already in place as they are attached to the seat cover itself during manufacture. Once happy with the positioning of the flaps you can staple the sound-deadening to the underside of the seat base (this also tidies up the appearance).

1. Check that you have everything you need   2. Spray glue is the easiest and quickest to use   3. Turning the right way round while fitting   4. The first of many staples   5. Nice neat corners – like making a bed 6. Fixing the bottom edge to cover the gap   7. Making a hole through to the captive nuts   8. Fixing boot board to seat back   9. Having checked the position attach ‘u’ brackets   10. Making indentations with the female lift-a-dot   11. The finished result

Fitting the lift-a-dot fasteners
Replace the seat base into the car allowing the four fixing flaps to sit over each lift-a-dot post. Mark the centre of each post onto each flap and remove the base from the car. Press the female lift-a-dot firmly onto one of the flaps making sure the mark you made lines up with the centre hole (see photo 10). Remove the female part and you will see the indentations the four prongs have made. Very carefully make a very small slot at each indentation, press the female lift-a-dot part back onto the flap and watch the prongs go through the holes. Slide the backplate on and bend the prongs over to fasten all together. Carefully cut a small hole in the middle of the fastener to allow the post to slide into it. Repeat for the other three.

Back into the car
Now that you are happy with the finished result (see photo 11) you can screw the seat back/boot board back into the car. Make sure before fully tightening that you can move the boot board up and down without it catching on any other trim fixings. Fix the seat back into position with the catches and replace the seat base, securing with the four lift-a-dot fasteners.
Your rear seat is now ready for many more years of faithful service as a storage area come occasional seat.

Shopping List
GT rear seat covering kits are available to original specification in vinyl, also in velour or leather and to match Sports recliners and Club seats.
The MGB GT rear seat cover range is priced from £98.95 plus £6.25 postage and packing. While a full rear seat foam kit costs £17.95 plus £6.25 postage and packing. Carpet and Trim aerosol adhesive 400 ml £5.65.
For full details and specifications of all the seat covering kits available, telephone MGOC ACCESSORIES on 01954 231318.