The '69 I just bought has a very nice interior without any rips or cracks. However, when I sit on the seats there is a yellow dust like substance coming from the material. I'm assuming that the foam is breaking down. Can I replace the foam without getting new seat covers? I asked one upholstery shop and he didn't want to do the job fearing there would be problems putting the original covers back on new foam. Lets hear from the experts!!!!

 

picture of the seats

 

If the question is, can you replace just the foam, the answer is yes. I understand why a shop might not want to mess with your 40+ year old covers and not want to be responsible if they split. Still, someone can do it.

The foam is disintegrating.

 

I'd say it is the foam for sure. I am looking forward to the responses here about using the original covers. I am in the same boat with my 69. I bought some original 69 seats a while back after selling the ones in my car that had been incorrectly recovered. I was hoping to just put the new (used originals) set back in. The covers are decent but the foam was shot. I can tell it is hard and brittle. I am also looking to replace just the foam....

 

Correct. You are seeing crumbs of the old foam.

Yes.

He was being honest. That is a possibility.

 

When I bought my '69 the seats looked just like that... wrinkly and loose, and when you sat on them I'd get a little cloud of yellow dust. It actually was settling around the interior like thick dust. The foam was completely disintegrating.

When I had the foam replaced, it just didnt make any sense to me to not put brand-new covers on if all the time and expense was going to happen anyway. I ended up opting for black leather. Looks a zillion times better. Opting for the original vinyl would not be terribly expensive.

 

Hi,
There are thin sheets of foam sewn into the covers to give the covers the pleated definition. That's what has deteriorated, and why the covers look the way they do.... loose and saggy.
It's not the thick seat bottom and back foam bolsters. They're easy to replace once the covers are off.
Some people say the sheet foam can be replaced....I'm not so sure.
Regards,
Alan

This is what the back side looks like. You're seeing the linen that covers the foam on this side.
It's a single foam sheet that the cover is sewn to to give the pleat it's shape.

 

When I got my '71, it was the same way. The seat cushion channels were flat and yellow dust every time I sat down or tried to clean them.

I ended up rebuilding the original seat covers because they were in such good condition. That was almost 7 years ago and they are still in great shape.

I have put together a write-up about how to do this job; it has lots of photos to show exactly what to do. This is a job you can do, if you have any DIY skills, at all. If you want me to send you a copy of the write up...and some photos of how mine came out, send me a PM with your e-mail address.

 

Thanks guys.

 

Anyone replace their 69 headest covers with original style ABS?

 

Don't 69 vinyl seat covers have an open mesh? That is why the foam comes out. They called it comfort weave.

 

Willcox Corvette will sell you just the seat foam bottom...but it will be drop shipped from Corvette China, I mean America. They might sell you the hog ring pliers and the new hog rings too. I have my own. Pretty easy DIY repair.

 

I was getting that same yellow powder dust on my seat too. So since my seat cover was in good shape I decided to just buy the cushion thinking that the yellow dust was coming from the seat cushion. Well after I had the same cover reinstalled, I was still getting the yellow powder and couldn't figured it out. I then found out that the cover had like Alan said,a thin foam lining on the bottom of the cover. I wished I had bought new seat covers. I later bought new covers but am waiting to reinstall the new covers. Paying twice when it would have been once.

 

That is some great information. I'm thinking that maybe I should just get new seat covers. Thanks for replying!

 

Hi EVERYONE,
You have got to see 7T1's info about replacing the thin 'scrim' foam in the covers.
It actually looks like he's done it.... with excellent results!?!?!
Regards,
Alan

 

Thanks, Alan. Yes, my 71's ComfortWeave seat covers were flat and 'dusty' just like the OP's (see photo of his seatcovers, above). But, the covers, themselves, were in great shape. Once I removed the covers from the seats, I found that the seat body foam pieces were still in good condition; but the scrim foam that filled the 'channels' in the seatcovers had all turned to yellow dust.

I developed a process of slitting the original scrim foam cloth backing near one end of the channel strips, sucking out the remaining foam dust/clumps with a ShopVac and crevice cleaning tool, then re-stuffing those channels with new 1/2" thick scrim foam. It was a little laborious, but not too challenging to do. The most difficult part was to be very careful NOT to tear the 40+ year-old cotton backing cloth when vacuuming or stuffing in the new foam.

Once the new foam was slipped into the channels and the seat covers were cleaned and reinstalled on the seat frames, the final result was as shown below....







In that last shot, you can also see the seat belts that I rebuilt from the original hardware and new seatbelt webbing. That includes remaking the sewn-on nylon tags with the manufacturer's info!

If anyone needs the write-up on the seatcover rebuilding process (because they are actually doing theirs), just send me a PM with your e-mail address and I will forward my MS Word document to you.

 

We can sell you just the bottoms but they are USA made...

The issue... Looking at your covers they appear to be stretched a bit and just doing the foam there is a chance the old covers will fit loose in the seat bottoms.

IMHO,

Willcox