DT1 MX and RT1 projects

'68 to '71 DT1 seats can be difficult to find, and I needed two of them, one for the current '69 DT1 project and one for the '70 RT1 I'm collecting parts for. I finally managed to get them, or at least one and a half of them.


Seat #1 is the nicer one with the cover, and I got lucky on that one. It was listed in an ebay auction with a CT1 seat. I was the only bidder, so got it for the opening bid of $27.99, which is a super deal for one of these. It looks like and older recover on a original foam. Other than being partially untucked, the cover wasn't in too bad of shape. Seat #2 is badly rusted, but I'm just glad to have one to work with. I noticed a seller on ebay listing a bunch of DT1 parts, including seat brackets, but no seat pan. I contacted them and asked if they would be listing the pan, and they replied it was in far too bad of shape to sell. I said if it was basically intact I'd be interested, and they sent pictures. After seeing the pictures I told them I'd do a $25 'buy it now', so they did a listing.


The RT1 is just in mock-up, but I figured I just do both seats at the same time. These were left bare metal on the top from the factory, so seat #1 has relatively light rust for one of these. Seat #2 has the provision for a prop rod, so it is a '71 pan. '68 to '70 just used a strap.


Seat #1 did have some cracks to fix and weld nuts to replace. It also needed straitened out a bit, but overall a nice pan.


If you even touched seat #2 giant chunks of rust would fall off.


I hit seat #2 with the sandblaster to see how bad is was. The good news, the hinge (right) side of the pan was actually half way solid still. I've see worse DT1 pans saved. You can fix it with steel, fiberglass, or a combination of the two. I choose a combination.


I used seat #1 to make a new left side rail for pan #2. I first traced the front of the pan on some sheet metal, and then rolled the pan back while tracing the rear. This got me a curved piece that just needed some minor shaping to fit the pan.


Here is the new side. This way I'll have something to attach the upholstery clips to.


To make the upholstery clips I first cut a strip of thin sheet metal.


Then the end is rounded off.


Use pliers to put a bend on the end.


Next is to loop it around with needle nose pliers.


Finally snip it off.


I needed a few.


Here is one of mine with an original. To attach these drill a hole in the side of the pan and weld it from the outside.


Here is pan #2 with the new side and clips, and cleaned up ready for the fiberglass. There wasn't much to weld it to, so I had to do small spot welds, and basically stitch it on as good as I could.


I used blue painters tape to cover the holes. I used modeling compound (also known as Play-Doh) and took a mold from seat #1 to fill some of the bigger areas.


I did the fiberglass in small sections. It's a bit easier to work with that way.


Cured.


Here is what the bottom  looked like. Pretty colors.


Here it is trimmed, and only holes where there are supposed to be holes. It is lighter, and I'd think maybe stronger than pan #1.


Pan #1 and #2 ready for paint.


I used Dupli-Color self-etching primer and gloss black paint.




Next is to install the rubber dampers and edge protector. I bought a 10' roll of vinyl tubing, and slit one side for the edge protector.


For seat #1 I put back the cover and foam that came on it. It is for the RT1.


The RT1 is just in mock-up/parts gathering stage at this time, but it's happy to have a seat.


Seat #2 is going on the DT1 MX project. I bought a new foam from KDI Reproductions ebay store (or go here: http://www.kdirepros.com/) and a new cover from Pit Replica.


I think it looks awesome. From rust to glory.