Here you go....
http://www.corvettefever.com/howto/c...ver/index.html

 

I recovered the seats on my 71 after watching the Al Knock installation video. It's not a snap but somthing you can do if you take your time. I think the results can be VERY good.
Regards,
Alan

 

That is one short article in Corvette Fever. I've got my '72 driver seat all apart. Unfortunately, I bent all the (28) "S-Clips" off and they are anywhere from .75-.99 cents apiece! Rip off. Anyway, I just cut the hog rings off. I was able to salvage the wires by being careful. Does anyone know of any cheaper place to get the S-Clips? I may just get the install kit anyway. Why pay $28 for S clips individually, when you can get EVERYTHING for $35!?

 

I did mine years ago. The original seat foam was in good condition except that it had compressed from years of use (mostly the driver's seat). I got some good quality foam sheets from a local foam and fabric supplier and a spray can of foam adhesive and cut and laminated new foam pieces to the old foam to bring the cushions back up to size and shape. Not the easy way to do it. I recall it took me about eight hours per seat to reupholster. Came out looking good and still looks good today. If I were to do it over, I would go with new seat foam though. I think it would be faster.

Take your time if you tackle this yourself. Its not real hard to do, just tedious. Make sure you buy a good pair of hog ring pliers.

 

Oh, my seat frame is cracked too!

 

I was waiting for that to come up.

 

Yeah, I'm actually looking forward to playing with the MIG!

 

I bought my 82 covers already mounted on the foam. Saved a lot of time & hassle. Guaranteed for 1 year too. Took less than an hour !

Jim

 

Didn't save you any money! Nor the satisfaction of doing it yourself!!

 

I like the idea the seat covers already mounted to the foam, I would have done it.
It took me over 3 full days, did I save money? how much is my time worth?

 

It was worth $400 for me not to foul up, much less my time.

 

Just wondering where did everyone get their pre-installed covers? I was thinking of a set for my 80

 

Sorry about that corvette fever link, that was useless. I thought that was the one I found that was very step by step detailed. Its out there I know, hope I find it by the time I tackle my seats. What are those steel plates for? repair broken frames?

 

I just got my seat covers mounted on new foam for my 1981 this week from Wilcox. As meticulous as I am, I don't see me being able to do as good as a job as they did. It's one of those jobs that you'd have to do at LEAST once before, for it to look professional. I didn't want to practice on mine, and it's not that much more.

 

There is a lot of weight pressure on the bottom frame at the back. Yes, they do crack.

 

OK, listen up, the foam can be added to really easy if it's collapsed, the new foams are always oversized by like 10% to give that 'show car' over plump cushy look, fine for show cars, but the seating is then too high, being too tall, that is a literal PIA for me....so I used the OEM foam with about 1/2 inch buildup under it.....toss the hog ring crap and any kits in the trash.....

I found the leather-like to be actually superior over the last 8 years here in Florida convertible sunshine '72.....vinyl is not so picky over care and it looks the same....I think comfort weave I used to have is a PIA, collects dirt and tough to clean...the leather pattern is far superior....in vinyl.....

so to keep it way easy, you take a single layer of garbage bag material over top of the foam, then slip the covering over it....find the tie points and pull a large TIE WRAP through the hog ring slot points....fish the ends of TW through the holes in the foam....set it on the frame upside down and centered nicely....pull a few of them in the center to snug, working around to the perifery of the seat bottom, do the wrap around the bottom/sides of the frame, then pull the TW's to a good looking position.....

the thing is the garbage bag acts to let the foam slide easy against the material/vinyl......

that bag solution was from a custom trim guy I used to know, and the tire wraps are MY idea....they last for years under there.....

I even removed some of the wire supports from my seats on account of I wanted them to sit lower....YMMV on that one though....

total time to do one seat....about 2 hours....second seat about a hour....