I've recently purchased new seat covers and seat foam for my '71. I spent the majority of this past weekend stripping down the old seats, cleaning up the frames and prepping for the installation of my new seats. I started with the seat bottoms. after several hours of grunting, cursing, and stretching, i managed to get the bottoms completed. They look great! I'm very pleased. Moving on to the upper portion of the seats I immediately run into a problem. The new seat foam seems to be considerably thicker than the old foam and the clips (pictured left) from Ecklers installation kit seem to be too small. They would work on the original (thinner) seat foam, and resemble original clips, but I cannot get them to hold on the new seat foam/covers. When I attempt to pull them through the seat foam, using the installation tool, they give. The 1.5" clips seem to work fine but there are not enough included in the kit, and I've pirated all i could from the old seats. I'd rather do this right the first time, so if anyone has been down this road and has any suggestions I'd really appreciate it. Do i need to order different clips (the larger 1.5"clips)?? and if so, can i just order the "J" clips or do i have to order an additional installation kit?? Thanks!

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(ok, i'm also taking suggestions on how to attach photos)
I can email photos, if that helps.

 

You have a PM

 

You need to post photos to something like Photobucket, the copy the URL to the thread.

 

Use a opened up/layed flat garbage bag over the foam, it will slide in the seat cover then and allow it to fit well......

toss those hog rings and pliars in the garbage and use nice heavy tie wraps from Lowes Depot....electrical dept......

pull snug as needed to make seat conform the way you like it....


personally, I dislike that over large seat foams everyone sells because some NCRS/show car twit thinks overstuffed plump seats look cool or nice/whatever....

much easier and more comfy to use the OEM foam, unless you absolutely can't.....and add some foam from a yard goods store, or hobby shop supply....

doint it my way, it's about 30 minits per section to do seats...

 

toss those hog rings and pliars in the garbage and use nice heavy tie wraps from Lowes Depot....electrical dept......

 

Thanks! Tie wraps are a great idea! i use them for everything else, can't believe i didn't think to use them on the seats!

As far as the garbage bags, do you leave them in the seat or pull them out once everything is in position?