I noticed the new foam does not have the metal rods in them like the original foam. Whats the correct way to faster the inner section of the covers, to the springs? Thanks for any help!

I just got done completely dissassembling my March 1970 original seats, blasting and repainting the frames, and installing new Legendary covers and foam. The rods you refer to are not in the foam. They are routed through hanging pockets in the original seat cover, then hog-ringed down through the foam onto the bottom frame. You need to re-use your original metal rods when you re-cover.

I don't mean the rods in the covers, but the metal rods built into the original foam. The rods on the covers were hog rings to these brackets build into the foam. The new foam doesn't have this in them.

I've still got all my old pieces in the garage... I'll check them tonight and let you know... must be pre-senility because I don't seem to recall any metal pieces in my foam...

There are both rods in the sleeves that are sewn to the cover, and rods that are attached to the seat frame.
The ones that are on the seat frame (that I believe you are referring to) are not reporduced. They are wire rods wrapped in paper and are hog ringed to the top of the seat springs. They are not straight, but have a series of bends. If yours are missing, here's what I've done:
Lay your foam cushion over the seat frame, cut little slots in the foam where the recesses are, and stick a marker through the slits in the foam. This will mark on your burlap where the rods ned to be. Get some 1/8" steel rod and hog-ring it to the springs in place where the marks are. This will give you an anchor for attaching the rods that are sewn to the covers.
I also wrap the ends of rods with some duct tape, so they don't poke through the foam.

If he was talking about the rods that are wrapped in brown paper, you are indeed correct that they are hog ringed directly to the bottom seat frame first, then the rods in the cover are squashed down through the pre-built creases in the foam and hog-ringed to these brown paper wrapped metal rods. I took a lot of photos of mine as I deconstructed them. I'll try to post them later when I get home. You can use them for reference either to build new ones (if yours are missing) or to tie yours down.

FYI -- the brown paper wrapped rods are still available. My custom upholstery guy had plenty of them in straight 6-ft. lengths. He then bends them to the desired shape.

Here's a photo showing where the bottom seat frame rods are positioned. Photo is from my untouched, original seats (LA-built, late Feb 70). I had just removed them, but you can clearly see their shape from the imprint they left on top of the burlap.

Sequentially, the burlap (with thin wires woven through in a loose mesh pattern) go directly on top of the seat frame, followed by the brown paper covered rods on top of that. These are then hog-ringed down through the burlap directly to the frame. Then the felt padding is hog-ringed onto the outer top edges. Then the foam goes over the top of that, followed by the seat cover (with metal rods inserted into the built-in pockets). These seat cover metal rods are pushed down deeply and hog ringed directly to those brown paper covered metal rods that are already tied to the frame bottom. Only then is the seat cover in the correct position to begin folding over the side flaps and hog ringing to the outer bottom seat frame.

Nice Pic! good info too.

Tav

Well found out they were 70 b-body buckets... but still need to do something to attach the metal rods that are on the covers. I may be able to get them from some old seats, can I use them with the new foam?

If you're using them in an Challenger and have bought correct E-body seat covers and foam, then I would build them exactly like the E-body originals in my post above. Since we're talking about internal construction, can't see why that wouldn't work, as well as be more correct.

My

The upper parts of the seat frames do not have springs like the bottom... took apart a set of 71 buckets same deal. Then looked at another set of 70 challenger buckets from my car, they have the springs. So now I have no idea why some have them and some don't. But I assume I need them for use with this foam.

I think at this point I'd be shopping for a correct set of 1970 e-body seats.

I know a guy with quite a Mopar seat collection that may be able to hook you up. PM me for details, if interested.

I need to recover my front buckets also. Anyone recover incorporating a 5 point harness somehow. I don't like the plastic buckets or aluminum look for seats. I want to leave the stock seats for my racecar.