Vinyl seat covers
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 975
Likes: 108
From: Phoenix, AZ
Vinyl seat covers
Calling any CF member who recently purchased vinyl seat covers. My 69 seats need a refresh. I've explored about every vendor's description under the sun and the variation in price is considerable. The tiny but scalable pictures from vendors' sites lacks the detail I am looking for and any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Thanks,
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,285
Likes: 4,374
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi b,
I think the covers manufactured by Al Knock are made from very good material and are well made.
With some effort they can be installed beautifully.
They can be bought from them or various vendors.
Regards,
Alan
Happy New Year!
I think the covers manufactured by Al Knock are made from very good material and are well made.
With some effort they can be installed beautifully.
They can be bought from them or various vendors.
Regards,
Alan
Happy New Year!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
These are from Willcox (Corvette America). Now about four years (5,000 miles) of butt use. Pretty sturdy but the red dye is wearing off. I am a little disappointed that the dye would wear down to black shadows so quickly. I don't regret the purchase price but the installation/labor costs were more substantial. As per Alan, and he always has good advice, I don't know if the Al Knoch versions are better.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 975
Likes: 108
From: Phoenix, AZ
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 975
Likes: 108
From: Phoenix, AZ
These are from Willcox (Corvette America). Now about four years (5,000 miles) of butt use. Pretty sturdy but the red dye is wearing off. I am a little disappointed that the dye would wear down to black shadows so quickly. I don't regret the purchase price but the installation/labor costs were more substantial. As per Alan, and he always has good advice, I don't know if the Al Knoch versions are better.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 975
Likes: 108
From: Phoenix, AZ
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 14
From: Airdrie Alberta
Did you purchase the installation hardware?
I would invest in a decent set of Hog ring pliers as the ones they included were small and hard on the hands.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 975
Likes: 108
From: Phoenix, AZ
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 975
Likes: 108
From: Phoenix, AZ
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 32
From: Damascus MD
Seat Covers
Tried Corvette America and was disappointed.
Only use Al Knoch now.
I purchased and installed 70 covers identical to what Alan has.
You may also want to discuss the foam firmness with Al Knoch customer service. I am pretty sure they have 3 different densities of foam from which to choose.
I can say that mine are a little firm and had I known I would have opted for something with a little more give to them. OEM seat wer quite a bit softer.
Keep in mind that no one duplicates the comfort weave correctly. Original comfort weave actually had holes. Reproductions are just heat pressed to have a pattern similar to the comfort weave.
Bill
Only use Al Knoch now.
I purchased and installed 70 covers identical to what Alan has.
You may also want to discuss the foam firmness with Al Knoch customer service. I am pretty sure they have 3 different densities of foam from which to choose.
I can say that mine are a little firm and had I known I would have opted for something with a little more give to them. OEM seat wer quite a bit softer.
Keep in mind that no one duplicates the comfort weave correctly. Original comfort weave actually had holes. Reproductions are just heat pressed to have a pattern similar to the comfort weave.
Bill
Last edited by 1974ta; Dec 28, 2013 at 11:35 PM. Reason: subscibe
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 975
Likes: 108
From: Phoenix, AZ
Tried Corvette America and was disappointed.
Only use Al Knoch now.
I purchased and installed 70 covers identical to what Alan has.
You may also want to discuss the foam firmness with Al Knoch customer service. I am pretty sure they have 3 different densities of foam from which to choose.
I can say that mine are a little firm and had I known I would have opted for something with a little more give to them. OEM seat wer quite a bit softer.
Keep in mind that no one duplicates the comfort weave correctly. Original comfort weave actually had holes. Reproductions are just heat pressed to have a pattern similar to the comfort weave.
Bill
Only use Al Knoch now.
I purchased and installed 70 covers identical to what Alan has.
You may also want to discuss the foam firmness with Al Knoch customer service. I am pretty sure they have 3 different densities of foam from which to choose.
I can say that mine are a little firm and had I known I would have opted for something with a little more give to them. OEM seat wer quite a bit softer.
Keep in mind that no one duplicates the comfort weave correctly. Original comfort weave actually had holes. Reproductions are just heat pressed to have a pattern similar to the comfort weave.
Bill
After reading all of the previous posts, I count three votes for Al. Disappointed to learn of the faux comfort weave, because I like that look and it was the original trim for my 69. Thanks for the confirmation and once again, this forum makes a positive difference to owning a C3.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,601
Likes: 7,046
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
If you are going to recover the seats yourself, take hwcoop's advice---definitely get a quality set of hog-ring pliers (about $20 for the long-handle/easy to squeeze pliers).
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 975
Likes: 108
From: Phoenix, AZ
Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 730
Likes: 37
From: Catoosa Okla
I'm right with you. Most of my interior has came from either Willcox or Corvette America. I removed the Medium Saddle C3 seats and found a cheap pair of C4 seats. After research, I went with the leather-like. I purchased them from Willcox, but I believe they come from Corvette America. Mine should be in next week.
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Received the covers and new seat foam. Install went smooth. I had to build brackets for the seats and used the 74 seat slides on the C4 seats in order to get them in my C3.
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Covers installed, assembled and ready to go.
[IMG]
[/IMG]
[IMG]
[/IMG]Received the covers and new seat foam. Install went smooth. I had to build brackets for the seats and used the 74 seat slides on the C4 seats in order to get them in my C3.
[IMG]
[/IMG]Covers installed, assembled and ready to go.
[IMG]
[/IMG]
Last edited by Patro46; Jan 19, 2014 at 02:10 AM. Reason: Added Pictures
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 350
From: No Where USA
The last set of seatS I did was in my 67 GTO I used wire ties instead of hog rings, worked out great. It made it easier on my hands to pull the sat cover because you let the wire ties do all the work. When they were all together you wouldn't even know the difference.