Seat Foam Replacement
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 75
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From: Brownsburg Indiana
Seat Foam Replacement
I would like to have seat foam replaced using original covers. Car is a 73 vert. Does anyone have experience with shops in the Indianapolis area? Covers are in very good shape but repair of beading in one small area needed. I would appreciate any info you could give on quality of work and cost through area shops. Thanks.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 535
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From: London Ontario
I know you say your original covers are in good shape, but, replacing the foam requires complete disassembly of the seats. You may find that the seat cover attachment points are worn, rusty or rotted once you open them up. The only money you would save is the cost of the covers themselves because the labor to replace the foam is going to be the same (or more) that doing a full recover. You then may find the dried out covers crack on you soon after! 
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
Exactly. The scrim foam sewn into the covers is what creates the padded channels on the surface. In older vehicles, most of that foam has turned to yellow dust and the channels are just FLAT. With original covers, that deteriorated scrim foam CAN be replaced; and I have written a paper showing how to do it (just send me a PM requesting the paper, if you are interested). I can't imagine an upholstery shop being willing to do that work, however. But, you could take my paper to them and ask for a quote on that job. I suspect their charge for doing so would be more than the purchase price of new covers.
But, if your covers are already in good shape, or if you rebuild them per my paper, either you or a shop can easily replace the main body foam inside the seats.
But, if your covers are already in good shape, or if you rebuild them per my paper, either you or a shop can easily replace the main body foam inside the seats.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 337
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From: South Bend IN
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I just got new mounted seat covers in leather through the Corvette shop in South Bend, IN. They got them through Corvette America and said for the cost it is cheaper than redoing the existing foam when you figure in the labor. They are nice and supportive now!
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 75
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From: Brownsburg Indiana
Thanks for the replies. As much as I want to retain the original covers (they really are in excellent shape), you have given me good reason to think a little more on this. 7T1 pointed out that the orange dust falling out of the seats IS NOT from the foam that I would be replacing. I am looking forward to reading the info on this.
Again, thanks to all.
Dave
Again, thanks to all.
Dave
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
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From: Airdrie Alberta
Yes, you will probably find your listing wires corrodes and the retainers on the cover rotted/deteriorated...much better to just completely redo them unless you are restoring one of the ZL1's
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 470
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Thanks for the replies. As much as I want to retain the original covers (they really are in excellent shape), you have given me good reason to think a little more on this. 7T1 pointed out that the orange dust falling out of the seats IS NOT from the foam that I would be replacing. I am looking forward to reading the info on this.
Again, thanks to all.
Dave
Again, thanks to all.
Dave
