"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
Odd Metaphor
Sheet Pasta Gone Right
---------------------------------
[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.
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, 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.
Someone who is restoring their 1800 with an all-metal Seat Susp kit, might for consistency's sake, want to also redo their rear seat in all metal...here is the preliminary SW-EM design note for this:
I will be able to fabricate and supply a kit for the 1800 Rear Seat once I verify the
indicated dimensions!
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.
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).
------------------------------------
External sources attributed. Otherwise this information is Copyright © 2022. 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.
