Clam shell seat reconditioning
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: AL
Clam shell seat reconditioning
Last fall, I picked up a set of clam shell seats off e-bay (70 bucks for the seats and around that much for shipping). The plan was to recondition them and put them in my 71. I started the project in October, and after letting it rest over the winter, I finally got them finished. I'll mount them later this spring since I plan on replacing most of the interior.
Here's what I started with.
Carpet removed from the back. It's held on with glue and staples.
Here's the shells after sanding.
After 1 coat of paint. It took MANY light coats to get good coverage.
Finished seats.
Side View.
Here's what I started with.
Carpet removed from the back. It's held on with glue and staples.
Here's the shells after sanding.
After 1 coat of paint. It took MANY light coats to get good coverage.
Finished seats.
Side View.
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,125
Likes: 283
From: Salt Lake City Utah
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
Great job! I know first hand how difficult this is, I did mine a couple of weekends ago. I also painted and installed a new power seat bezel along with a new power seat switch. Here's how they turned out;
I was pleased with the effort as it's been 20+ years since I did an interior.
I was pleased with the effort as it's been 20+ years since I did an interior.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,891
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore MD
Great job! I know first hand how difficult this is, I did mine a couple of weekends ago. I also painted and installed a new power seat bezel along with a new power seat switch. Here's how they turned out;
I was pleased with the effort as it's been 20+ years since I did an interior.
I was pleased with the effort as it's been 20+ years since I did an interior.
I spent a fortune on two old switches and ended up rebuilding "ONE" good switch out of all 3. Which ended up being a royal pain in butt!Breaking those switches apart to replace one toggle was not fun
Here is my interior now:
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,125
Likes: 283
From: Salt Lake City Utah
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
Beautiful interior. The switch is now available at Ecklers for 79.95. Ive seen a few new ones on Ebay as well for less. The one from Ecklers is a BWD part so it's quality is good. It went in easy and works great.
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 167
Likes: 4
From: Glenmont NY
Very nice seats, they look great! It makes me think very hard about changing the stock '68 seats. Does anyone know of an aftermarket heated seat kit to install under stock style seats? If I can get one of those, I think I would make the switch.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
Where did you find the power seat switch? when I redid my interior 2 years ago - taking the old switch out of the bezel a "friend" broke the number one toggle switch right off! I spent a fortune on two old switches and ended up rebuilding "ONE" good switch out of all 3. Which ended up being a royal pain in butt!
Breaking those switches apart to replace one toggle was not fun
Here is my interior now:
I spent a fortune on two old switches and ended up rebuilding "ONE" good switch out of all 3. Which ended up being a royal pain in butt!Breaking those switches apart to replace one toggle was not fun
Here is my interior now:
Glenn
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
Last fall, I picked up a set of clam shell seats off e-bay (70 bucks for the seats and around that much for shipping). The plan was to recondition them and put them in my 71. I started the project in October, and after letting it rest over the winter, I finally got them finished. I'll mount them later this spring since I plan on replacing most of the interior.
Here's what I started with.
Carpet removed from the back. It's held on with glue and staples.
Here's the shells after sanding.
After 1 coat of paint. It took MANY light coats to get good coverage.
Finished seats.
Side View.
Here's what I started with.
Carpet removed from the back. It's held on with glue and staples.
Here's the shells after sanding.
After 1 coat of paint. It took MANY light coats to get good coverage.
Finished seats.
Side View.
Glenn
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,891
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore MD
ECKLER'S DIDN'T HAVE THESE TWO YEARS AGO. I HAVE FOUND ONCE YOU SNAP THESE INTO THE PLASTIC BEZEL, TRYING TO REMOVE THEM, 1 - ETHER BREAKS THE BEZEL OR 2 - BREAKS THE SWITCH. IT'S BEST TO TRASH THE BEZEL AND PRESERVE THE SWITCH - HIND SITE IS 20/20 
. I AM GOING TO ORDER ANOTHER SWITCH TO KEEP IN MY SPARE PARTS BIN!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,125
Likes: 283
From: Salt Lake City Utah
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
I WILL NOT EVEN TELL YOU WHAT I PAID FOR THE TWO VERY USED SWITCHES THAT I HAD TO REBUILD ECKLER'S DIDN'T HAVE THESE TWO YEARS AGO. I HAVE FOUND ONCE YOU SNAP THESE INTO THE PLASTIC BEZEL, TRYING TO REMOVE THEM, 1 - ETHER BREAKS THE BEZEL OR 2 - BREAKS THE SWITCH. IT'S BEST TO TRASH THE BEZEL AND PRESERVE THE SWITCH - HIND SITE IS 20/20 . I AM GOING TO ORDER ANOTHER SWITCH TO KEEP IN MY SPARE PARTS BIN!
ECKLER'S DIDN'T HAVE THESE TWO YEARS AGO. I HAVE FOUND ONCE YOU SNAP THESE INTO THE PLASTIC BEZEL, TRYING TO REMOVE THEM, 1 - ETHER BREAKS THE BEZEL OR 2 - BREAKS THE SWITCH. IT'S BEST TO TRASH THE BEZEL AND PRESERVE THE SWITCH - HIND SITE IS 20/20 . I AM GOING TO ORDER ANOTHER SWITCH TO KEEP IN MY SPARE PARTS BIN!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,891
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore MD
You are correct, the key is to scrap the $20 bezel and preserve the switch, that's where I went wrong as well. I was pulling the bezel off to dye it and broke the third piece on the switch. To make matters worse, I had just let my wife drive it before I removed the bezel and she had adjusted the seat for her, I did not fit in the car well until I replaced the switch!
Navigator
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
What type of paint did you use and sandpaper grit?
Last fall, I picked up a set of clam shell seats off e-bay (70 bucks for the seats and around that much for shipping). The plan was to recondition them and put them in my 71. I started the project in October, and after letting it rest over the winter, I finally got them finished. I'll mount them later this spring since I plan on replacing most of the interior.
Here's what I started with.
Carpet removed from the back. It's held on with glue and staples.
Here's the shells after sanding.
After 1 coat of paint. It took MANY light coats to get good coverage.
Finished seats.
Side View.
Here's what I started with.
Carpet removed from the back. It's held on with glue and staples.
Here's the shells after sanding.
After 1 coat of paint. It took MANY light coats to get good coverage.
Finished seats.
Side View.