I am installing a new set of sport seat covers on my '86 and had a question on attachment. When I removed the old leather covers I found that the outside edges of the side bolsters were stapled to the plastic shell of the seat back. Is this stock? If it is stock and necessary I was wondering how to duplicate this. It seems like I would need to attach the outside edges before attaching the side bolster pieces to the foam.

If someone knows how these were originally attached that would be a huge help.

Thanks,

Steve W.

 

I've been wondering the exact same thing, how hard of a job is it to replace seat covers yourself on an 86??? :cool:

 

Steve,
I did the sport seats in my '86 last year and I can walk you through the entire process. The side bolster covers are attached to the plastic shell with heavy duty staples at the factory. You have to staple the side bolster covers to the shell and fold them over, sort of inside-out, and hog ring them to the metal rod running vertically down the inside of the seat back. I didn't have an industrial strength staple gun so I used upholstery screws which worked just fine. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

I had been scratching my head over the same thing. I've got new covers and new foam for my 85 (sport seats). I was starting to think about taking it to someone to recover. I guess I am scared about ruining my new stuff. Are there any good instructions with pics on recovering these seats? I posted a week or so ago and got no response.

 

Thanks for the info. I guess that you need to attach to the shell first and then hog ring the bolster sections to the center section. Where did you find the upolstry screws?

At about 70% done I didn't find anything terribly difficult in the process but it is a little more time consuming than I expected.

Steve W.

 

Does anybody have the procedure written down?

 

The covers I installed were already mounted on new foam so I'm not that familiar with that aspect of the seat restoration. If possible, try to get the covers installed on new foam. The seat bottom is attached to the seat frame with a clip at the front of the bottom which is simply pulled down releasing the seat bottom. If you have sport seats there are several connections that have to be disconnected before you can remove the seat bottom from the car. Once the bottom is removed, the seat must be removed from the car. This is done by removing the four bolts securing the seat to the floor board. Just move the seat full front and remove the rear bolts and full back to remove the front bolts. Disconnect the electrical connections a remove the seat from the car.

The seat back cushion is attached to the seat frame by two clips at the base of the headrest and two clips at the outer base of the seat back. Before removing the seat back, the side bolster covers must be removed. They are attached with hog rings to a metal rod that runs vertically between the seat back and the side bolster. If you run your index finger deep in the crevice between the back and the bolster you will feel them. These rings along with some attached at the bottom must be cut with a good wire cutter which will allow you to peel the bolster outward and off the foam. This will expose a plastic strip that is stapled to the seat back shell. Remove the staples and the bolster comes right off. Repeat this process for each bolster.

Now it's time to remove the seat back cushion. I used a very large flat screwdriver that I notched a "V" into with a grinder. Just slip the screwdriver behind the headrest and push in toward the center of the seat and this will release the seat cushion on top. Repeat this process for the base of the seat back and remove the seat back cushion.

The lumbar adjustment hardware has to be removed from the old seat and installed in the new seat. Just note how you remove everthing and it goes in exactly as you remove it. I bought a hog ring plier and hog rings with the covers and I suggest you do the same. I also did not have a heavy duty stapler so I used upholstery screws that I bought at a craft supply store to attach the new side bolsters.

It was a pretty time consuming job and I probably could have gotten it done at a shop for about $200, but I enjoy the satisfaction of doing things myself. Send me an IM if you have any questions.