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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 06:22 PM
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Default Help I have wrinkles

After installing my new to me passenger seat covers,the head rest has wrinkles in it. I pulled as far as I could and it's on as tight as I can get it,my question is there any solution to it. I've thought of a hair dryer might tighten it up,or leaving it outside a letting the heat shrink them up,anyone else have a answer or suggestion. The driver seat isn't done yet because I'm waiting on a bottom seat repair kit from Corvette Central,thought I go ahead and knock out the passenger. Thanks,L8R ZFLASH Thought about leaving the old black backing,but went ahead with all red.
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 06:28 PM
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that don't look right....when I replaced covers I had very few wrinkles and they were so tight we had a hard time stretching them...
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 06:33 PM
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Where did you get them?

What kind of material ?

That's nasty, man - - good luck.
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 06:34 PM
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Originally Posted by pewter99
that don't look right....when I replaced covers I had very few wrinkles and they were so tight we had a hard time stretching them...


You would usually use a steamer to help things like this along. Just so extreme that it may not do a thing.
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 07:04 PM
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First question - did you replace ALL of the seat foam? If not, that is where I would start.

Second question - where did you get the covers? A reputable vendor or no-name e-bay? Make a big difference in the results you can expect.

Attaching a few pics from my seat recovering job earlier this year.

First pic - comparing seats after about 90 minutes working the leather with a heat gun on one of them. Both seats looked about the same after recovering.

Second & third pics - how they look now as installed.

Still a few wrinkles - professionals would probably call my job unacceptable. Clearly, I am not a pro - but I am quite happy with the way they came out and very happy that I did the work myself.

Oh - these covers are from DJ Motorsports.
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 07:05 PM
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Maybe your foam is that far gone? 4XLR8N and I were typing at the same time...
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 07:11 PM
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when I did mine...they eventually smoothed out


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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 07:38 PM
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Looks like that cover was balled up and put away...
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 07:43 PM
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Seats came from a private seller used, my passenger seat is never sat in,that's why I didn't replace that foam. I'm replacing my old DJMOTORSPORT covers,they have faded and are dried out. Not DJ's fault,Dave's covers are good, I just always have my top off in the Texas heat and it has ate them up. I might just remove them again and start over,see if I can get them tighter. Maybe a local installer would do them if I already have them removed from the car and seats. Thanks for ya'lls quick response. L8R ZFLASH
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 08:15 PM
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Yikes!! Those don't look right. When I did mine, I had no wrinkles and the covers went on tight. I reused the original foam because it was in perfect condition. So, I'm guessing there is something wrong with the sizing or measurements with those covers. Or, something happened during storage to make them stretch out so much. Hope you figure it out.
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 09:05 PM
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Those are way off as to the fit. Not sure what the cause is, but taking them off and starting over again seems to be the first logical step. If they turn out the same again, either the covers are made wrong or you might need to get a pro to do the install.

When I bought my VE covers back in 2010, I had a local upholstery shop do the install. The pic below shows the final result and even today they look just as good as when first installed.



Good luck getting yours to look right.
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 09:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
Those are way off as to the fit. Not sure what the cause is, but taking them off and starting over again seems to be the first logical step. If they turn out the same again, either the covers are made wrong or you might need to get a pro to do the install.

When I bought my VE covers back in 2010, I had a local upholstery shop do the install. The pic below shows the final result and even today they look just as good as when first installed.



Good luck getting yours to look right.
Thanks Jack,yours look great. L8R ZFLASH
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 09:31 PM
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You're welcome to use my steamer on them if you want to try it as mentioned above.
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 09:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Black 02
You're welcome to use my steamer on them if you want to try it as mentioned above.
Thanks Steve, let me re-do them on Thursday and see how they come out. Waiting on the kit for the drivers side to do them too, maybe a little trial and error might straighten them out. I have a text out to Dave at DJ's,hope he can help a brother out. L8R ZFLASH
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 10:06 PM
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I bought some very inexpensive leather seat skins and new foam...had a pro install them and they look stock. I did a lot of research on installation and you should leave them before the install in the hot sun to release the wrinkles. Also just prior to install you can put them in a pillow case and low heat in the dryer to soften. Talcum power on NEW foam to let skins slide better. My suggestion
take the skins and purchase new foam to a pro...for $300- have him install!!!

PS if you have new foam already and are wanting to remove skins make sure you hold down the Velcro on the foam parts while removing as the Velcro will tear out of the foam...then what???

Last edited by El original; Aug 4, 2014 at 10:08 PM.
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Old Aug 5, 2014 | 12:30 AM
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Did the set pictured but I replaced the seat foam at the same time.



Here's the thread I posted on the basic process.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...s-patches.html

Last edited by Patches; Aug 5, 2014 at 09:13 AM.
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Old Aug 5, 2014 | 12:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Patches
Did the set pictured but I replaced the seat foam at the same time.


Here's the thread I posted on the basic process.
I don't see the link.....
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Old Aug 5, 2014 | 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Black 02
You're welcome to use my steamer on them if you want to try it as mentioned above.
I didn't have a steamer so I used the steam function on my iron. It worked out great in reviving the foam I didn't replace. This is an eBay vendor's cover on the original, 15 year-old foam:



Last edited by Corvette_Ed; Aug 5, 2014 at 08:43 AM.
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Old Aug 5, 2014 | 08:43 AM
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Originally Posted by El original
My suggestion take the skins and purchase new foam to a pro...for $300- have him install!!!
As long as the person takes his or her time a professional installer is not necessary. Installing the covers really isn't that hard at all.
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Old Aug 6, 2014 | 12:27 AM
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Thanks for all the responses, some of the wrinkles came out on there own today. I'm going to try and steam the rest Thursday. I broke my seat adjusting button rushing and not knowing what I was doing. Vette Essentials has a great instruction site, as they say,hindsight is 20/20. Hopefully Thursday I'll have time for the driver seat too,L8R ZFLASH
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