ZZZZZR1

I'm looking into replacing the sport seat covers in my '94 ZR-1. Does anybody have any experience, good or bad with the Al Knoch covers that come on new foam? TIA.

Goldcylon

Use the search function a lot of folks have mostly good and some bad opinions on Knoch covers. Again should find a lot.

Mr Mojo

I got mine from Corvette America who makes them for Al Knoch.

The foam isn't as good as OEM, but you won't find the OEM anywhere that I know of.

Other than that it's pretty easy. The bottoms just pop out and the new one's pop in. As for the upper parts, it's a slight bit more difficult.

Remove the seats from the car, unzip the old covers slide them off, slide on the new, zip them down and then attempt to hook the bottom part together. It's a tight fit. Let the new covers sit out in the sun to soften up a bit and it will make life easier.

you will have to sort through these pics, but you can see what is involved in taking the seats out.

http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...0Interior%201/

http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...0Interior%202/

http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...0Interior%203/

Most importantly, have patience and clean hands.

rickneworleansla

I noticed that Corvette America sells Leather for $1130 and Leather-Like for $830. Which one of these does Al Knoch sell? Al Knoch's site says standard leather for $725. How do they compare?


Thanks

Mr Mojo

The standard doesn't come mounted on foam as far as I know. I haven't seen the leatherlike in person.

Al Knoch's regular price for sport seats on foam is $1000, usually on sale for $900.

zr1fred

I'm pretty sure Al Knoch makes his own seat covers. I would never consider Leather-Like (vinyl), when you go to sell it'll be the first complaint.. I've had some problems with Knoch, but nothing extrodinary.

78pacer

Al Knoch makes seat covers for Corvette America and does a damn good job of it too. I put them in my '78. Excellent quality.
Mike

jughead1

I had Al put a set skins and new foam on my C5 during the last Corvette Expo in Houston. First class fit, quality and service.

I liked the whole experience so much I plan to have him put a new top on the vert at next year's event.

jimmers

I got new leather and foam from Al Knoch last year. They look great!

GIJoe

I've seen all his work in person at the NCRS shows down here in Orlando a few times. Top notch work!

All the Corvette seats from ALL the years you see on the web site, he travels with those and uses the ENTIRE set for display at the shows, They all look absolutely stunning in person. Fit, Finish, Feel, it all looks good.

I'd get a set, but I can't afford them

Bob89c4

We can highly recommend Al Knock.

Casper

I put Al Knock in mt '82 and they look great. One seat had a little to thick of foam in the lumbar area. Shaved it down for a better fit on long drives. Mid America makes their own now and they even have two-tone.

ZZZZZR1

Maybe I'm talkin' to the wrong person; they told me the SALE price is $1095 for the leather sport seats on new foam

rickneworleansla

Don't know about the sale prices. Here is what was listed for mine on the search.

wolverine1967

do you have the link to the madvet sport seats? they said last year at carlisle that they were going to start two toning the sports seats but i can't find them. does al put the C4 logo on the back?

bryantbjb

I highly recommend Al as well. Great service and on-time delivery.

Folks on the phone were very corvette savy. No need to explain stuff - that was great.

CE1

Replaced our seats with Al's and they are great and easy to do. On sale at most shows.

Greg Gore

Looks pretty good! Did you do the job yourself? Reason I ask is I tried a set of Al Knock Sport Seat covers on foam about two years ago and the seat back foam was not molded exactly like the original. I couldn't get the seat back to go on in position over the seat back frame without forcing it. I ended up taking my seats and the new covers to the next Bloomington Gold show to let his installers try and they struggled with them too, even tried gluing them. I asked the installer if what he was trying to do was the right thing to do. Trying to be discreet about it he pointed to one of the channels molded in the foam and told me it was formed incorrectly and there was not much he could do. I returned them for a refund on the spot and while there visited the Mid-America Corvette display which included an impressive array of seats and among them was a nice looking set of 94-96 Sport Seats. I talked to their upholstery rep and she told me they get their stuff from Al Knock. I told her about my problem and she knew about it. She said due to the design of the 94-96 Sport Seats the equipment to mold and bond covers and foam for that kind of a seat would be too big and expensive for a small company to do. She said Al Knock does a pretty good job for a small company but she said there is a problem with those particular seats. This is in no way meant to cut Al Knock. I think his work is the best I've ever seen and if I needed seats for any other model there is no question Al would get my call. I wonder if he has worked out the problems by now that I experienced with his 94-96 seats?

CE1

These are Sport Seats for the Collector Edition.... Took maybe an hour each to install, but I clean things up good and look at things as I do them, so normally doesn't take that long. Hardest part was unbolting the rear bolts on the passengers side. Once seats were out unzip, pull off and slipped new ones on and zipped up. Believe me if I can do it most people can

Mr Mojo

It's the other way around.
It has been a few months since I checked, apparently they raised the prices again.

A couple years ago they were $900, on sale for $800 at Carlisle.