New to the forum. I have a 1978 F150 Ranger 4x4 that I bought new. About 25+ years ago I had the seat reupholstered and carpet installed. Back then I wasn't too interested in restoring it to OEM. Now I am. I had the seat upholstered in two tone. I can't remember if the original upholstery was two tone on all one color. Does anybody know?

My Marti report says that the seat was "Saddle Knitted Vinyl Ranger Bench Seat" Does anyone know if the upholstery set that National Parts Depot sells matches the knitted vinyl like the OEM upholstery? I called NPD and their "Research" guys were gone for the day.

Last question. I'm replacing the door panels. My original panels as shown in the photos below are two tone with a small chrome strip between the two colors. It appears that the panels that both NPD and LMC sells are one color with no chrome strip. I know that I could probably match the two tone colors pretty closely with upholstery paint but what about the chrome strip? Does anyone make door panels with the chrome strip?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Here are a couple of pictures of my interior:

 

Cant help on the door panels but for upholstery, SMS Auto Fabrics will have the original cloth or vinyl you need.
They will even send you samples to confirm it matches.
About $90/yd for the cloth and $60/yd for the vinyl.
Tbruz

 

Those stainless trim pieces should be removable. Tabs just bent over on back side of panel. Use caution and patience when undoing the bends. Would have to drill new holes to install on new panels. None come with the trim anymore.

 

That looks like the interior of my truck only with A/C.......LOL

 

I thought Dennis Carpenter sold reproduction door panels with the stainless (chrome looking) thin strip....

Guess not, maybe Jeffs Bronco, National Parts Depot...

 

NPD has a set of what they are calling "Buckskin" for $208 + shipping.
pn #F-DPR-74-D
no "chrome stip" but pre-formed holes,

and is this what your original seat may have looked like?

 

Thanks guys that's super helpful.

 

Is the exterior of your truck still Orange??? If so.....would love to see a pic.....

 

Here's a pic:

 

I'm bumping my own thread because I've been trying for over a week (since post #1) to get an answer from NPD as to how close their upholstery set matches the OEM knitted vinyl. I've called several times and emailed them. On one occasion they said that their "research" guy was in Minnesota and wasn't answering his phone. They gave me the phone number of Acme their supplier. That is not a good phone number for them. I've emailed Acme and so far received no response. I've emailed NPD and they have not responded.

So my question for the forum is do any of you have the NPD upholstery set made by Acme and how closely does it match the knitted vinyl that originally came on our trucks?

 

Hopefully someone will be able to answer my question in post #10.

 

Original Owner,

I hope that NPD isn't using the same ACME co. that Wile E Coyote used


hey Shortbox4x4 has a thread where he used a seat cover from LMC,
looks are a matter of opinion.

Nice looking truck by the way,
what part of cali you in?

 

Nice looking '78! That a shortbox also?

You can check my reupholstered seat. It's the last picture currently in the thread.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...rebuild-2.html

I could use some help also in regards to the seat upholstery. Could you measure the location where the seat belt loops go in the bottom of the seat (underneath the backs) for me please and give me the reference locations.

The upholstery shop that recovered my seat for me didn't put them in (you have to cut the seat bottom) and they thru away my old seat cover so I don't have anything to reference off of.

Thanks, Shortbox4x4

 

Yes, it's a short bed.

Here are the measurements. I hope they make sense. If not pm me and I'll try to send a diagram. From the outside of the seat, the piping, to the closest side of the seatbelt cutout it's 20" on both the driver's and passenger's side. The cutouts are approximately 2 1/2" wide. That leaves approximately 13" between the cutouts from inside to inside. There is an oval plastic trim ring that fits into the cutout. I did a quick check of the NPD and LMC catalog and they don't seem to carry it.

Did you get your seat covers from NPD or LMC. LMC doesn't have them in Saddle which is why I'm looking at NPD.

 

[QUOTE=dads1977;16967855]Original Owner,

I hope that NPD isn't using the same ACME co. that Wile E Coyote used


QUOTE]





Hey........Wile got some good stuff from them!!!!!