Seat Quandary
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
Seat Quandary
When I bought my '02 vert, it had 55k miles on it and a fairly worn driver seat side bolster from entering and exiting the vehicle. In fact, I had to hit it with some vinyl paint a couple of times so it wouldn't look so worn, but finally, the vinyl wore to the point where it made a hole recently. The rest of the seat components (both sides) are fine. My car has about 68k mi on it now, and while I totally respect the workmanship of the Vette Essentials skins, I don't want to pay that kind of money. I thought about Leatherseats.com as an option, since many here have vouched for their skins as well, but then I came up with the best option yet -- for me, at least. I asked my dealer and he referred me to a local upholstery shop that does their work and learned that they can replace the worn panel on the side bolster, and replace my worn seat bottom foam for $275 or $375 in labor to recover both seats if provide the skins.
Door number one sounds like a plan to me. The cheap leather of the stock sport seats doesn't really bother me and $275 for a professional repair and new seat foam sounds a lot better to me than $1,200 + for new skins.
Does this make sense to anyone else? I'd rather put the money into new tires, or other mods.
Door number one sounds like a plan to me. The cheap leather of the stock sport seats doesn't really bother me and $275 for a professional repair and new seat foam sounds a lot better to me than $1,200 + for new skins.
Does this make sense to anyone else? I'd rather put the money into new tires, or other mods.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 364
Likes: 3
From: Van Wert Ohio
I need to stretch a year or 2 before I get new seat covers. My driverside bolster was "painted" when I bought the car and I wouldn't have even noticed it but I used a leather cleaner on it and it loosened a few places. The bolster is in good shape it just appears to be worn/discolored underneath.
What kind of "paint" did you use? Mid America and Ecklers both sell it. Is that the stuff?
What kind of "paint" did you use? Mid America and Ecklers both sell it. Is that the stuff?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
I just bought a can of automotive vinyl spray paint at an auto parts store. Nothin' fancy. But it specified that it was for vinyl. Good stuff. Goes on easy with very good coverage, so I found it was best to go lightly with the stuff rather than heavy. The seat looked great until the vinyl just got so thin that it finally wore through.
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If all that is wrong with the seats is that one area, makes a lot of sense to me. Saves you a good sum of money and will make the car look good again.
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True story! BTW, while the upholstery shop is in there, ask them to add some welting material of some sort along the outer edge of the fiberglass bolster "wing" (for lack of a better word). The repeated bumping into this area of the seat when entering the car causes this relatively sharp edge against the back side of the foam to eventually cut through the foam. Given enough time and more bumping into etc and the sharp edge starts cutting through the outer seat material itself. Welting is a commonly used type material that most all upholstery are familiar with. On mine the material they used was a 6" to 8" piece of thick felt material and glued it to the edge of the side bolster wing IIRC. It prevents the same problem from re-occurring.HTH
Last edited by LoneStarFRC; Sep 27, 2007 at 10:49 PM. Reason: typo
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
LonestarFRC, thanks for the welting tip. Much appreciated and will do. I'm glad that you guys think this sounds like a viable option. I'm going to take the car in next week and get it done.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
Of course, that won't prevent me from the dropping the money on something else, like one of those Nav system/modded bezel combos that C5KIDD is hawking right now.
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
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Ha ha. I thought I was, too. Until it came right down to it. I think if I had less miles on the car, I might be more inclined to spend that kind of bread on new leather seats. For some reason, a higher mileage vehicle and new expensive leather doesn't add up for me.
Of course, that won't prevent me from the dropping the money on something else, like one of those Nav system/modded bezel combos that C5KIDD is hawking right now.
Of course, that won't prevent me from the dropping the money on something else, like one of those Nav system/modded bezel combos that C5KIDD is hawking right now.
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Southington Connecticut
Your plan sounds like the way to go. Drivers side seat bolster and door side bottom on my 02 vert Oak interior and nearly 50K miles is heading in the direction you describe. Not worn through yet, but just a matter of time. Of course, passenger side and remainder of drivers side is like new and I would not be inclined to replace everything if there is a viable option to repair only what is needed.
If you think of it, would appreciate a PM when the job is done and any further advice you can provide from discussions with your upolstery shop so I'll be knowledgable about what to ask and look for when and if my time comes.
If you think of it, would appreciate a PM when the job is done and any further advice you can provide from discussions with your upolstery shop so I'll be knowledgable about what to ask and look for when and if my time comes.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
After further inspection of the damaged panel, wouldn't you know it, but the fiberglass wing in the side bolster is exactly what wore through the material. I'll take some before and after pics and PM you after the job is done.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
BTW, a good upholstery shop can re-use the original stitching holes on the adjoining section so that when finished, unless you do an almost microscopic examination, you can't tell anything was done. It wouldn't hurt to mention that to them when you take it in.
Show us the pix.
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2006
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I had a similar issue with my 01. The bolster started to bulge so I bit the bullet and had a local upholster redo both seats for $1,100 out the door. He did a fantastic job. I had trouble with the font of Corvette on the sport seat but overcame that with the help of a tech writer friend. I have the exact match in size and radius if needed.
He also added a carpet type material over the sharp edges, in three places. The bolster as described, the outer edges of the bottom, and over the wires on the bottom of the seat. The wires had actually started cutting the foam on the underside. Secondly he added some more foam on the bottom.
He would have reinstalled them but I had him wait, my insulation kit from Exotic Vette just arrived and gave me a great chance to work on it this weekend.
hands
He also added a carpet type material over the sharp edges, in three places. The bolster as described, the outer edges of the bottom, and over the wires on the bottom of the seat. The wires had actually started cutting the foam on the underside. Secondly he added some more foam on the bottom.
He would have reinstalled them but I had him wait, my insulation kit from Exotic Vette just arrived and gave me a great chance to work on it this weekend.
hands
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 194
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From: Mesa Arizona
Well I 'm glad to know I'm not alone - mine is just as discribed hear. And with everything else in good shape I was hating the Idea of buying new for both sides.
From experiance everyone has had did the new vinyl match well?
From experiance everyone has had did the new vinyl match well?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
The way to cut down on this wear is to make sure you get in and out of the car properly. Always run the seat to furthest rearward position before entering the car, then as you enter turn around and sit down, followed by swinging your legs in. This cuts down on the pressure being applied to the bolster as you sit down and reduces the wear. When getting out do the exact opposite. Very similar to the proper way to enter/exit a C4.
If you are one of those people who insist on sticking their leg into the car first you will just see the seat quickly ruined.
Bill
If you are one of those people who insist on sticking their leg into the car first you will just see the seat quickly ruined.
Bill
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 282
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From: Wappingers Falls NY
Seat leather dye
DOn't use paint on the seats !!use seat leather dye from Corvette America it matches the seats colors perfectly and its easy to aply, just clean all the wax/armorall off the seats then spray a couple of coats , You will never know they where redone.
I cleaned my seats with come lacquer thinner on a rag then sprayed them after they dried applied some Mequiars leather wipes and they look good as new, won't flake or wear off !!!
I cleaned my seats with come lacquer thinner on a rag then sprayed them after they dried applied some Mequiars leather wipes and they look good as new, won't flake or wear off !!!