Custom leather interior question
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Peoria Arizona
Custom leather interior question
Im looking to re-do my seats (94 Sport seats). I was going to purchase whole hide leather for the upholsterer. Does any know how many sq ft it takes to do both seats?
*I did search but finding a specific number in a sea of posts was daunting and ultimately failed. Sorry.
Thanks in advanced!
*I did search but finding a specific number in a sea of posts was daunting and ultimately failed. Sorry.
Thanks in advanced!
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 600
Likes: 56
From: Elyria, Ohio
I'd guess one cow per seat........
I think what I'd do is roughly measure the square footage,
maybe by placing a bed sheet over the seats and measuring
and then allowing 20% for waste in cutting, etc.
I think what I'd do is roughly measure the square footage,
maybe by placing a bed sheet over the seats and measuring
and then allowing 20% for waste in cutting, etc.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
Especially compared to some of them available on eBay now for less than $500. Course you still have to put them on but I would check around unless you are getting the family deal at the upholsterers.
But I am a cheap bastidge.
But I am a cheap bastidge.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,269
Likes: 142
From: Ottawa Ontario
Everything I've read says that the C4 leather was better than what the C5 got.OP should be aware that the foam is bonded to the leather on the original upholstery. Most new leather seat covers come with the foam already bonded.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Peoria Arizona
And as a reply to the above question, yes the surrounds are vinyl as it turns out. So I won't need a lot of leather. A typical whole hide has around 50 sq ft. Now I just need to figure out the foam question.
As long as the price is cheaper that buying factory style leather and foam sets (ecklers, $1250) I'll go custom.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,325
Likes: 6,507
From: Melbourne, FL
The C5 and C6 leather is absolutely terrible. Calling it leather at all is being kind.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 277
Likes: 9
From: Clark County Nevada
Just some friendly advice ...
If you plan on keeping the car for a long time you should consider investing in new seat foam and support straps. What a huge difference in support and ride quality with new foam and straps and higher quality leather. After 20 years the old foam and straps degrade even though the may appear fine.
If you plan on keeping the car for a long time you should consider investing in new seat foam and support straps. What a huge difference in support and ride quality with new foam and straps and higher quality leather. After 20 years the old foam and straps degrade even though the may appear fine.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Peoria Arizona
Just some friendly advice ...
If you plan on keeping the car for a long time you should consider investing in new seat foam and support straps. What a huge difference in support and ride quality with new foam and straps and higher quality leather. After 20 years the old foam and straps degrade even though the may appear fine.
If you plan on keeping the car for a long time you should consider investing in new seat foam and support straps. What a huge difference in support and ride quality with new foam and straps and higher quality leather. After 20 years the old foam and straps degrade even though the may appear fine.
I have been looking for foam for sport seats on a 94, but have only located the standard foam so far.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,595
Likes: 237
From: Bartlett Illinois
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Peoria Arizona
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,595
Likes: 237
From: Bartlett Illinois
)When the time comes (hopefully this year) I will use a combination of the Standard and Sport foam (I will reuse the OEM stuff I have) but will need to repair a few spots.. But if the finished result is what I am after i will be happy.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 325
Likes: 7
From: Princeton Jct. New Jersey
AFAIK, the seat upholestry isn't bonded to the foam, but attached with hog rings, and unless you want a custom color I'd recommend getting the pre-fabbed ones on ebay or oneof the online corvette vendors. I can't imagine a good upholesterer cutting, sewing, and fitting a hide less expensively or as acurately as the factory produced covers. I re-did my seats with leather covers from an ebay vendor and used new foam. Not a difficult job but time consuming to get it right. The total cost was around $550 and took me 2-3 days. If I had to do it again I'd just get the fully finished ones and avoid all the hassles.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,595
Likes: 237
From: Bartlett Illinois
AFAIK, the seat upholestry isn't bonded to the foam, but attached with hog rings, and unless you want a custom color I'd recommend getting the pre-fabbed ones on ebay or oneof the online corvette vendors. I can't imagine a good upholesterer cutting, sewing, and fitting a hide less expensively or as acurately as the factory produced covers. I re-did my seats with leather covers from an ebay vendor and used new foam. Not a difficult job but time consuming to get it right. The total cost was around $550 and took me 2-3 days. If I had to do it again I'd just get the fully finished ones and avoid all the hassles.
I would say the aftermarket covers are on par with OEM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,269
Likes: 142
From: Ottawa Ontario
Did you happen to disassemble a bottom seat cushion? If so, how did you unbond the leather from the foam? My sport seats are in pretty good shape except for that stupid diagonal seam on the seat bottom which is split.