I'm getting ready to order the "leather-like" seat covers from http://www.yankeelady.com/willcox/willcox4.htm#seats. Do I really need to get a "seat cover install kit" if I'm going to use zip ties instead of hog rings? It seems like I should be able to reuse all the wire things.

Any other advice?

 

When I had to open up the seat backs on my '88 with sport seats to install new bladders I got a hog ring kit from Contemporary Corvette (link on my site) which includes a heavy duty set of hog ring plyers.

I would not plan on reusing the old hog rings though it is possible. I think you will quickly tire of bending them and take to simply cutting off the old ones.

 

What I meant was if I use plastic zipties instead of hogrings like some people have suggested, can't I re-use the longer wire things that are included in the kits?

 

wouldn't it always be better to use metal instead of plastic, especially since there are differing stresses involved.....plastic ties in my opinion are just temporary......eventually the ties would get brittle.

if i were doing my seatcovers, i'd use hog rings, as 65Z01 mentions.

 

I used both hog rings and zip ties. I used the zip ties for the perimeter of the covers and zip ties for the internal sections.

I also used the zip ties to cinch everything down evenly, then used the hog rings. At these points sometimes I left the zip ties there as well and at other points I cut the zip ties out thus leaving just the hog rings.

Let me see if I have a pic or two for ya

 

These may help

 

Let me know how it goes, I have been wanting to do this to my 91 for some time.

 

Chucks88, thanks for the pics. Did you use hog ring pliers to install the hogrings? I wonder if the kit from yankeelady comes with hog ring pliers?

One more question: Do seat covers usually come with side bolster covers included?

 

I don't think the kit comes with it. Yeah, your gonna need the pliers. The good ones are usually $25-$30 tools. I know Eastwood carries them. I borrowed mine from a friend. Yes I believe the side bolster are included. They however are seperate pieces for the seat back.

I picked mine up from Wilcox as well.

http://www.yankeelady.com/willcox/willcox4.htm#seats

 

I used black zip ties when I installed my covers in 2000. Worked out ok for me.

 

If you're not feeling very spendy, you can get a set of hog-ring pliers from the hardware store and a box of shoat rings instead of the "real" upholstery rings. They're shaped like triangles instead of circles but work fine and are only slightly oversized. One problem with reusing the old ones is that you're going to break a couple removing them. Good luck with the project.

 

Ok, this really sucks, I just got my seat covers in and the upper side bolsters are sewn in upside-down.

 

http://famaswhore.tripod.com/seatcover.html

 

That is fu#$ed up