Dave N Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Hi AllI have been thinking about front seats for my Herald 13/60 today whilst taking out the glass and removing the roof, as you do. I like the MGF seats as they look 'period' but not so sure on the MX5 option. However I really do like the look of the original MK2 Vitesse seats. I know this is subjective but do people find them comfortable over long distances? I am starting to get a bit creakier as the years roll by! ;)Also, my Herald seats are shot! Can the frames be trimmed with the Vitesse kits from Rimmer or Newton? Thanks for any infoDave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 MGF seats (or some of them at least, there are different varieties) are very comfortable if correctly installed. Good enough for a RBRR and 3 10CRs.Note that they don't tilt, though if you retain the MGF runners they can be made to slide forward a long way. They also do not recline in a convertible (hit wider B post) but may well in a saloon.Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Encom Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 The MGF seats are pretty good, I have had several people think that they are factory, and for the money hard to go past.On this post http://club.triumph.org.uk/cgi-bin/forum10/Blah.pl/Blah.pl?m-1380649446/s-4/#num4 there are dimensions for the seat runners that I used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave N Posted March 15, 2014 Author Share Posted March 15, 2014 My car is a saloon so should be ok. Love your seat Nick. The blue leather sets off the paint a treat! At present mine would need brown inserts with holes to match my car......... :)Must admit, the price of a good set of MGF seats is cheaper than a retrim kit.Useful post Encom. Thanks for the info.Thanks for the replies. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midgeman Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 MGF every time for me as they look correct if you can get the early ones in leather (note how close the design is to the 13/60 rear seat) they are comfortable and more supportive as well.If you do away with the MGF runners and mount the seats on the Herald runners then it is possible to gain access to the rear seat fairly easily by sliding the seat forward on the runner and reclining the seat forward a touch however I seem to recall that someone on here went one step further and altered the seat back so it could be tilted forward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu 1986 Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Rover 25 and 45 seats will fit too as they are more or less the same as the MGF in their design. The good thing about some of the 45 seats are they are heated, which is a nice little stealth mod for a Herald. I have the standard 13/60 seats in mine, but I rebuilt them completely with new stronger webbing for the seat backs, new sponges for the backs from Newtons and had the vinyl repaired by a Trimmer associate of mine. I find the Standard seats very comfortable though, but I'm not yet "creaking" 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyf Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 I have swopped my Rebuilt Mk2 Vitesse seats for the Early MGF ones and I'm well pleased with the additional support for my Back and Neck.I found the original seats lacked upper back and neck support, on longer journeys and I suffered consequently :(The Mk2 Vitesse Seats offer slightly wider bases and back rests compared with Herald 13/60 seats, but can't hope to match modern seats, I suspect the Herald frames are differen, but don't know for sure, Newton Commercial the Triumph Trim people will know?Because I have a Shadow Blue Interior I ended up having mine re-trimmed to match, not cheap ??)If you plan on doing a lot of long journeys then MGF or MX5 everytime, you also get the extra safety of Head Rests?As stated on here its not a 5 minute job to fit them either, but well worth it.I was lucky and managed to pick a set up via e-bay for under £50 :) RegardsGary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
69vitesse Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Early XJS seats have a proper tip forward mech and look pukka.http://moddedherald.blogspot.co.uk/2006/08/jaguar-xjs-seats.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 I made up a tilt mechanism , its shown in Encom 's link cant post photo as laptop crashed ,Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave N Posted March 18, 2014 Author Share Posted March 18, 2014 Thanks for all your help. Guess I am going down the local scrappy this weekend and trawling E Bay. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpbarrett Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 2729 wrote:Early XJS seats have a proper tip forward mech and look pukka.http://moddedherald.blogspot.co.uk/2006/08/jaguar-xjs-seats.htmlI tried these in my Herald but they would not recline as they hit the B post, but they are very very comfortable! Might work ok in a Saloon. I have the usual MX5 seats in my herald, they recline and are very comfortable. There is a place near Peterborough who are breaking MX5's and are selling the seats on Ebay. I have just brought a pair for the TR6 for about £50.mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferny Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 mpbarrett wrote:I tried these in my Herald but they would not recline as they hit the B post, but they are very very comfortable! Might work ok in a Saloon. I have the usual MX5 seats in my herald, they recline and are very comfortable. There is a place near Peterborough who are breaking MX5's and are selling the seats on Ebay. I have just brought a pair for the TR6 for about £50.mike Can you send me their contact details? I may need a new alternator but don't plan to spend the £200 needed! ;D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marktheherald Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Saab seats in mine...bit of a faff fitting but v. comfortable and all important head restraint.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpbarrett Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 ferny wrote:Can you send me their contact details? I may need a new alternator but don't plan to spend the £200 needed! ;Dhave a look for "prestige_spares_uk" on ebay.cheersmike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsbody47uk Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I have MG TF seats in my 13/60. They are a tight fit but very comfortable, but forget about tilting seats or back seat passengers. The MG seat runners are far superior to the Triumph runners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsbody47uk Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I have MG TF seats in my 13/60. They are a tight fit but very comfortable, but forget about tilting seats or back seat passengers. The MG seat runners are far superior to the Triumph runners. Does anybody want a pair of 13/60 front seats in tan, with runners? free to good home. collect from Staffordshire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 agree with the runners , long slides, but it depends , I often have to get 2 adults in the back,so bit bit more bum space is required, and the recline knobs are slow and labourious so to gain shoe horned clearance hence the mod to tip the back , Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsbody47uk Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Yes, if you need to get someone in the back it's a problem. However, I'm 6 foot 4 and my wife is 6 foot! there is no problem, we can't fit any body behind us so our 13/60 saloon is strictly a 2 seater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave N Posted March 26, 2014 Author Share Posted March 26, 2014 Well, in for a penny, in for a pound! I have bought a set in black leather. The drivers side bolster needs a bit of work to make perfect but a lot cheaper than a re trim kit for the original seats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsbody47uk Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 I have another set of MGF seats to fit to my Mk 2 Vitesse when I get round to rebuilding it. It's sitting in my garage on SORN at the moment. The 13/60 , as my main transport, lives outside but gets most attention to keep her running as our nearest supermarket is 4 ,miles away. Went 130 miles north to Ripon recently. The MGF seats are very comfortable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsbody47uk Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Ps 13/60 ran fine but developed a thrum and vibration on overrun. No play in propshaft. Suspect possible problem with rear hub bearings. anybody any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 just a point on safety,, dont use the integral seat belt mounts unless you seriously reinforce the floor fixings the originals are far to flimsy to be secure but having a decent headrest is good protection from any rear end collisionPete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 9110 wrote:Ps 13/60 ran fine but developed a thrum and vibration on overrun. No play in propshaft. Suspect possible problem with rear hub bearings. anybody any ideas?Almost certainly a propshaft UJ, detectable play or not. A UJ which has gone tight in one axis is all it takes. Gearbox mount is another possibility.Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsbody47uk Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 I haven't. I removed the integral mounts and the seat belts are fixings are the usual Triumph ones. I agree that if you wanted to use the MGF integral mountings you would really have to beef up the seat mountings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsbody47uk Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Hi Nick. G/box mountings and engine mountings are new (within 250 miles) so probably not them. As I can't feel any play in the propshaft, what next? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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