Seat Foam for GL/E Front Seats
 

My 1971 142 E (North American designation for the GL) has the black leather interior - upholstery code 655-716. The driver's side bottom seat foam has pretty much had it and I would like to replace it. My original plan was to take the seat cushion into an upholstery shop and have them cut and shape a replacement because I could not find an aftermarket replacement for the foam. This has its risks because the foam has collapsed which makes using the original foam as a cutting template a problem. However, I see that VP Auto has recently started listing bottom foams for the GL seats:

http://212.247.61.152/us/main.aspx?p...e&artno=693101

The only uncertainty is that according to the Volvo parts manual, part # 693101 is for 142 chassis following VIN # 249930, so I think that might be 1972 and later. My 1971 has VIN # 245965. I emailed VP Auto to find out whether the foam is useable on the earlier seats. They responded that the leather seat covers that they sell to replace 655-716 are the same for 1971 through to end of production suggesting that the seat foams should also be identical; but, they could not confirm this as the GL replacement foam is a new product for them.

My questions for the forum are: does anybody know whether there is a material difference between the 1971 and post 1971 bottom seat foams in the GL seats? Recognizing that it is a relatively new product, has anybody used the VP 693101 seat foam for re foaming their GL seats and can offer up an opinion on fit and performance? Finally, has anybody done a cut and fit foam replacement and if so are there any cautionary tales or is it straightforward?

Thanks