"Sheet Pasta Gone Wrong"...
("SPGW" term coined by one Gordon H.)
Originally posted 11/22-R. Kwas Updates
On-going.
[Comments Added]
Seat
Suspension
Seatback Suspension
122 Seatback Suspension
122 Wagon Seatback
1800 Seatback Suspension
Reference Information
11 Year Seat Advert
Original Equipment All Metal Seat Suspension
Raising Seatframe to Accommodate Short Drivers
Seat Suspension Kit Installation Feedback
Odd Metaphor
Sheet Pasta Gone Right
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[With the formed wires for making the all metal replacements for the organic Seat and Seatback Suspension Kits available again, it was time to revisit the subject.]
The original Amazon and 1800 seats are quite nice...a result once again of first class Swedish engineering and execution...but after some years, they often do need a bit of help to be their former, comfortable self. The Pirelli (yes, that tire company!) supplied suspension bands being an organic material, deteriorate and completely loose their elastic characteristics, and give cause to Gordon H, to come up with the description.
I will never forget the SPGW term, coined a long time ago...because it perfectly describes aged Pirelli Straps, and it also satisfies my "including the Odd Metaphor" rule well!
Before:
122 Seat, after about 20 years: Sheet Pasta Gone Wrong!
After a little help!:
1800 Seat, during installation of all-metal suspension. David Smith picture posted
with his kind permission.
Seat Frame with Suspension viewed from below, showing the addition of a piece of canvas as a protective separation between the metal suspension and cushion.
Ron Franklin pic used with his kind permission.
Note: A production variation has been observed, in the implementation of the Lumbar supports between 122 and 1800 Seatbacks!
More SPGW!
122 Seatback without Headrest. (View from behind). Lumbar support is the
simple tension type, characterized externally by a simple access hole in the
Seatback side, to the Tension Screw for adjustment. Internally, wide
Pirelli Bands are held to their frames by clips similar to those securing the
"M" wire array to the frame.
An 1800 seatback which has been previously reworked using a burlap type webbing
(not really enough stretch or compliance!), and for some reason, they left the
Lower Lumbar Support untouched, and in the original Pirelli Strap, which has
most decidedly turned into a fine example of "Sheet Pasta Gone
(very) Wrong"! Notice also that the OE downtubes are in place, so
this seatback is ready for a Headrest
to replace the questionable one visible. This seatback is slated to be
reworked again, using super-groovy SW-EM all-metal suspension kits guaranteed
never again to turn into SPGW! Stephen Mcindoe picture shown with his kind
permission.
An extreme example...!
William Snellman picture used with his kind permission.
122
Seatback with Headrest. (View from Seat side!)
122 Seatback After:
SPGW replaced with all-metal suspension, and before replacement of cushion cover (anti-squeak tubing added at strategic crossing locations).
Chris Mardis pictures used with his kind permission. Note Lumbar
Support ends are splayed open.
One last peek before closing up the Seatback:
There's a scary level of SPGW in this Before pic!
Pic by installer who has asked to be identified only as SET.
Seatback suspension, of an injected ('71) 1800E.
Note same "M" wire array in a slightly different, but dimensionally similar frame, but different lumbar strap implementation: Webbing is not of the rubberized band, but a less flexible canvas band (meaning this seatback may have undergone some previous work), and clips have non-splayed ends! The mechanism for lumbar adjustment is also a lever with a bit of a mechanical advantage given to the big external Adjustment Knob!
Later 1800 Seatback style, with Lumbar support adjustment at maximum tension.
Note big Lumbar Adjustment Knob. Ron Franklin pictures used with his kind
permission. These two pix are from when he refurbished the Seats and
Seatbacks in his 122, but I believe they are similar to those fitted to 1800s,
again, variations have been noted and it's best to verify dimensions of the "M"
wire array and Lumbar Support style from the Seats they are going on when
ordering kits...
Later 1800 (122) Seatback style, with Lumbar support adjustment at minimum tension.
For those restoring their 1800 with a all-metal front Seat Susp kits, they might for consistency's sake, want to also
redo their rear seat in all metal as well...
RearSeat Suspension Kit for 1800, featuring two transverse
and six longitudinal compliant links, exactly the same as the oe design, except
in permanent all-metal! Packaged for shipment, it can be a pretty jumbled
mess of wires. Red
and Blue
color coding on wires helps with untangling the jumble!
Well...11 years have come and gone (more than a few times
now!)...and knowing that replacing the SPGW with original replacement
band would still be subjected to the same deterioration, and not liking that idea so
much, I came up with the all-metal solution.
Original Equipment All Metal Seat Suspension:
The factory also went away from the organic rubberized seat suspensions, starting with the late 1800s and 140 series.
Sander Noordervliet picture of a factory all metal suspension from a 1800ES. Pic used with his kind permission.
Factory all-metal seat suspension of an 1800ES.
Raising Seatframe to Accommodate Short Drivers
Adjusting the seat-height in vintage Volvos beyond the available built-in design amount:
Factory seat-height adjustment, where Seatframe is secured to Seatrails.
Original Volvo picture from an Owner's Manual.
If the driver seat adjustment height available with the factory design is still not enough after you've changed the Sheet Pasta Gone Wrong and checked the cushions for adequate firmess, and you (or your favoritest female second driver) are still having trouble seeing over the Steering Wheel, but would like something a bit less "rustic" than sitting on an old phonebook, here is the solution: Seat-frames are secured to adjustment rails at the four corners. These are visible for inspection and adjustment after Seat cushion is removed, for instance when replacing SPGW. These can be extended, using "Stud-extenders" in the 5/16" 18 size as shown below.
A commercially available Stud-extender.
Alternately, construct some "Stud-extenders" from Coupling Nuts and threaded rod, and use these to raise the seatframe mounts even further.
Coupling nut.
Seat Suspension Kit Installation Feedback:
SSK installation tips and observations by installer Ron Gross (pictures shown with his kind permission).
Ron also changed from seatbelt style webbing, to the SW-EM all metal SSK after he noted that he "couldn’t seem to get that webbing kit tight enough and this was after I tried new Pirelli webbing".
New holes are necessary for the
Longitudinal Wires of the all metal Seat Susp Kit. Visible is also Ron's
first attempt to re-suspension his seatframes, which he was not so happy with...
While drilling the necessary additional holes, Ron found a drillblock helped to keep the bit from wandering off the tube.
A rather brilliant installation tip from Ron G...he calls it: "The Quarter-Method". During installation of his SSKs, quarters are used for temporarily increasing the length of springs and reducing the significant force required.
One hook-end secured in a bench-vice, the spring can simply and safely be bent
over and quarter inserted in the opened coils...when halfway up, spring is
turned up-side-down and the process is repeated from the other end...this
increases spring length, and decreases the tension necessary when installing the
full suspension assembly, to make the process much less stressful, resulting in
less CSL (Colorful Shop Language), and leaving more time
for the consumption of adult beverages!
Ron G's Installation Tip in progress:
If there is "Sheet Pasta Gone Wrong", there must also be "Sheet Pasta Gone Right"!
Do not mistake this for a picture of installation of the Pirelli seat
suspension!...it is a picture of "Sheet Pasta Gone Right" courtesy of Wendy,
master chef at the SWedish-EMbassy, Nutritional Devision of the Utility
Muffin Research Kitchen Ethnic Department
(SW-EM-NDUMRKED).
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External sources attributed. Otherwise this information is Copyright © 2022-2024. Ronald Kwas. The terms Volvo and Pirelli are used for reference only. I have no affiliation with either of these companies other than to try to keep their products working for me, help other enthusiasts do the same, and also present my highly opinionated results of the use of their products here (which includes replacing SPGW, when it occurs). The information presented comes from my own experience and carefully considered opinion, and can be used (or not!), or ridiculed and laughed at, or worshipped, at the readers discretion. As with any recipe, your results may vary, and you are, and will always be, in charge of your own knuckles, and future!
You are welcome to use the information here in good health, and for your own non-commercial purposes, but if you reprint or otherwise republish this article, you must give credit to the author or link back to the SwEm site as the source. If you don’t, you’re just a lazy, scum sucking plagiarist, and the Boston Globe wants you! As always, if you can supply corrections, or additional objective information or experience, I will always consider it, and consider working it into the next revision of this article...along with likely the odd metaphor, or analogy, and possibly wise-a** comment.
