New Seat Covers . . . .
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Marietta GA
New Seat Covers . . . .
Haven't been around much lately because I was in DC for four months on business. When I got back, we put the car in the shop to be repainted (no A/C - what better time to be without my car than in the middle of the hot summer?? 
). We doing the interior ourselves, so while the car's in the shop, we ordered replacement seat covers and started working on them. Well, let me tell you, it's a JOB. 
After going through what we went through, we'll pay someone next time!!!
If you decide to do this yourself, here are some hints:
So, here are some before and after - what do you think?
This is the before shot of our best seat (forgot to take one of the worst!):
The bottom of the seat:
New bottom:
Seat back:
Finished!
). We doing the interior ourselves, so while the car's in the shop, we ordered replacement seat covers and started working on them. Well, let me tell you, it's a JOB. After going through what we went through, we'll pay someone next time!!!If you decide to do this yourself, here are some hints:
- Before you start, search the net for additional instructions – we used three sets of instructions and each was valuable in its own way.
- Buy the hog-ring pliers – you’ll be glad you did.
- Don’t throw away any of your old parts until you’ve finished both seats. We found that the hardware replacement kit didn’t contain everything that we needed.
- Get someone to help you, someone strong . . . . .
- Allocate plenty of time. And I mean plenty.
So, here are some before and after - what do you think?
This is the before shot of our best seat (forgot to take one of the worst!):
The bottom of the seat:
New bottom:
Seat back:
Finished!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
That's a beautiful job! I admire your tenacity. I'm wimping out on mine. I yanked the seats out today and they will be going to a professional shop tomorrow to get leather-like vinyl/foams/hardware from Willcox installed this coming week. Looks like the tracks are in pretty good shape, thank goodness! Strange to see remnants of that old seatbelt interlock system.
But I am not entirely lazy. The entire area was tidied up and all bolts cleaned up and re-installed with anti-seize. That bottom lap belt needed a 24" breaker bar to get out (nice not to hear that steel-from-fiberglass snap) but it's done and will never fail to come out again.
I will report on the outcome. You may be better than the professional!
*Edit*
Yep,
Looks like I set up the lap belt wrong. I will re-position tomorrow.
But I am not entirely lazy. The entire area was tidied up and all bolts cleaned up and re-installed with anti-seize. That bottom lap belt needed a 24" breaker bar to get out (nice not to hear that steel-from-fiberglass snap) but it's done and will never fail to come out again.
I will report on the outcome. You may be better than the professional!
*Edit*
Yep,
Looks like I set up the lap belt wrong. I will re-position tomorrow.
Last edited by Paul L; Sep 21, 2008 at 08:33 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Done. That's Meguiers #40. The gloss will wear off/settle in. I used that product on my 1967 and it does look very nice when aged a bit. It does not have an Armor-All silicone look.
Nice to get those shoulder-belt pass-throughs finally finished. I started this project in May to get shoulder belts on my 1974 convertible with units from Andover. Then discovered my back seat frames were not 1974 and did not have pass-throughs! And you all know the drill: one thing leads to another....But it's done. I take some satisfaction in having a job finished. Even if I have to store the car for winter in three weeks.
Thanks to Willcox, EBay, and people here on the Forum for getting the all the pieces to make these seats completely new.
If anyone needs my old frames, foams and covers let me know. They need some minor repairs but I was surprised to find that they are in very solid condition. Minor surface rust but that's about it. I do not know the year but they do not have the pass-throughs: the source of my original problem. No problem in taking pics.
Nice to get those shoulder-belt pass-throughs finally finished. I started this project in May to get shoulder belts on my 1974 convertible with units from Andover. Then discovered my back seat frames were not 1974 and did not have pass-throughs! And you all know the drill: one thing leads to another....But it's done. I take some satisfaction in having a job finished. Even if I have to store the car for winter in three weeks.
Thanks to Willcox, EBay, and people here on the Forum for getting the all the pieces to make these seats completely new.
If anyone needs my old frames, foams and covers let me know. They need some minor repairs but I was surprised to find that they are in very solid condition. Minor surface rust but that's about it. I do not know the year but they do not have the pass-throughs: the source of my original problem. No problem in taking pics.
Last edited by Paul L; Sep 25, 2008 at 07:59 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Cocoa Beach Florida
Done. That's Meguiers #40. The gloss will wear off/settle in. I used that product on my 1967 and it does look very nice when aged a bit. It does not have an Armor-All silicone look.
Nice to get those shoulder-belt pass-throughs finally finished. I started this project in May to get shoulder belts on my 1974 convertible with units from Andover. Then discovered my back seat frames were not 1974 and did not have pass-throughs! And you all know the drill: one thing leads to another....But it's done. I take some satisfaction in having a job finished. Even if I have to store the car for winter in three weeks.
Thanks to Willcox, EBay, and people here on the Forum for getting the all the pieces to make these seats completely new.
If anyone needs my old frames, foams and covers let me know. They need some minor repairs but I was surprised to find that they are in very solid condition. Minor surface rust but that's about it. I do not know the year but they do not have the pass-throughs: the source of my original problem. No problem in taking pics.
Nice to get those shoulder-belt pass-throughs finally finished. I started this project in May to get shoulder belts on my 1974 convertible with units from Andover. Then discovered my back seat frames were not 1974 and did not have pass-throughs! And you all know the drill: one thing leads to another....But it's done. I take some satisfaction in having a job finished. Even if I have to store the car for winter in three weeks.
Thanks to Willcox, EBay, and people here on the Forum for getting the all the pieces to make these seats completely new.
If anyone needs my old frames, foams and covers let me know. They need some minor repairs but I was surprised to find that they are in very solid condition. Minor surface rust but that's about it. I do not know the year but they do not have the pass-throughs: the source of my original problem. No problem in taking pics.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Marietta GA
Done. That's Meguiers #40. The gloss will wear off/settle in. I used that product on my 1967 and it does look very nice when aged a bit. It does not have an Armor-All silicone look.
Nice to get those shoulder-belt pass-throughs finally finished. I started this project in May to get shoulder belts on my 1974 convertible with units from Andover. Then discovered my back seat frames were not 1974 and did not have pass-throughs! And you all know the drill: one thing leads to another....But it's done. I take some satisfaction in having a job finished. Even if I have to store the car for winter in three weeks.
Thanks to Willcox, EBay, and people here on the Forum for getting the all the pieces to make these seats completely new.
If anyone needs my old frames, foams and covers let me know. They need some minor repairs but I was surprised to find that they are in very solid condition. Minor surface rust but that's about it. I do not know the year but they do not have the pass-throughs: the source of my original problem. No problem in taking pics.
Nice to get those shoulder-belt pass-throughs finally finished. I started this project in May to get shoulder belts on my 1974 convertible with units from Andover. Then discovered my back seat frames were not 1974 and did not have pass-throughs! And you all know the drill: one thing leads to another....But it's done. I take some satisfaction in having a job finished. Even if I have to store the car for winter in three weeks.
Thanks to Willcox, EBay, and people here on the Forum for getting the all the pieces to make these seats completely new.
If anyone needs my old frames, foams and covers let me know. They need some minor repairs but I was surprised to find that they are in very solid condition. Minor surface rust but that's about it. I do not know the year but they do not have the pass-throughs: the source of my original problem. No problem in taking pics.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
*Edit* - My frames are listed in the For Sale Section.
Last edited by Paul L; Sep 26, 2008 at 07:22 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Great job on the seats!! However, your old ones looked pretty darn good compared to mine! We're having our '74 repainted back to its original color, Silver Mist. I have hoped to have it back by today so we could get the carpet installed before our Blue Ridge Parkway cruise tomorrow, but it didn't happen. They *assured* me they would have it finished in the morning - I'm not holding my breath. I've had a few peeks at it - it looks great (even if it's still in pieces) and I can't wait to get my "baby" home again!!!