Tips for installing new seat covers?

[gbeaird]

I've searched a bit, but found nothing written up, so I'll ask:

Does anyone have any experience installing seat covers? The replacement cloth seat covers just arrived from TMI for our 86 (Thanks Paul!). I have them laying out on our covered car, so they can breath a bit. It'll probably be a couple of weeks before the install can go forward, as we have an autocross event this coming weekend, and I'm in the hunt for points.

Anyway, does anyone have any tips? What to do, what NOT to do? Any help will be appreciated. Even pointers to links here that I've missed would be appreciated. Heck, I may take the opportunity to do a WIP. Thanks.

Oh, and the fabric is great. The dark gray is pretty spot-on. the light gray seems a shade lighter than the OEM seats, which make the little dark squares appear a little darker, but I believe they are the same shade as the OEM seats. We'll be replacing everything.

[BINKY]

Hi Gene,
I went to a mom and pop upholsterer near me and got a great deal to have them do the work. At least get a quote. I brought the seats to them and left them. If you really want to do it yourself, I would Google some tips. I am sure there are videos online as well. You may need a few tools, such as hog pliers.

[gbeaird]

Richard,

Where did you go? How much did they charge? Thanks.

[BINKY]

Gene - I presume they are still in business, been a few years. Cost was for one seat, I did not provide the material, he matched, $75.
Clear Lake Auto Upholstery

(281) 332-0083

300 Highway 3 N, League City

[gbeaird]

That's cool. Yeah, I have the covers. Not sure what they'd think of that. I'll have to check to see if they're still there, though, 'cause we do have a couple of other projects (Recaro seats that need to be recovered for the wife's 9C1 and a Corbeau I want to get covered to match my 96 SS interior) we'd like to get done.

[Ken Potter]

One of the more simple tricks is to put a plastic garbage bag over the seat foam / frame and slide the covers on over that. Then getting them tight and everything lined up is much easier. Before hog-ringing them in place you can slide your hand up inside the cover and tear the bagging out. Or you can leave it there if it isn't bunched up anywhere.

Are you using new foam?

[gbeaird]

Yes, the foam is actually in worse shape than the fabric, but I figured since I would already have it off, I'd replace it, too. We'll probably throw an old moving blanket on the floor in the house and do them there. Pushing and pulling on all the parts in 95+-degree heat and 75+% humidity will result in those brand new covers getting soaked in sweat in no time. I think that'll be a bit more civil way of doing it.

In my spare time, I've been reviewing this web page:

https://www.leatherseats.com/installation.asp

It seems to be mostly helpful. The pliers and new hog rings have been ordered. Thanks.

[BINKY]

Good plan Gene, the link looks informative. They say, once you do the upholstery for the first time, you get the big picture and mystery of upholstery work.

[gbeaird]

Good plan Gene, the link looks informative. They say, once you do the upholstery for the first time, you get the big picture and mystery of upholstery work.

Or as someone on this forum, I believe, says "Once you drive the first hog ring through your thumb, you get the big picture of upholstery work." I believe most of the artistry is in the cutting and sewing of the covers. Installing the covers is grunt work, with a couple of learned tricks. I can do grunt work. :-)

[svono50]

Putting covers on is an act of patience and tenacity depending on the cover. I have only installed a couple in my lifetime, but tore plenty off during a 2 year stint at an upholstery shop when I was 13 years old. The 'magic' is really technique, which is purely a learned thing. The plastic garbage bag mentioned by Ken is a great tip, BTW. Main advice I can offer is only take off 1 seat cover at a time to have the other as a reference on how to put it back on. No matter how many pictures you take, it can't substitute to have a complete example sitting there.

[gbeaird]

Yeah, no matter how many pictures you take, you always end up needing _just one more_. Ask me how I know! :-)

[gbeaird]

Okay, rear seats done! They were pretty easy, too. I'm waiting to finish the work, so I have a complete list of things that have to be done, tools that have to be provided, etc., before I start my writeup. My question, though:

How the heck do you remove the seat covers on the front seats?!? I have separated the seat bottom from the seat back. I have removed the front lower leg support, and the rack from the bottom. The seat bottom fabric has been pulled over to the top of the seat bottom, and I have removed the two hogs rings that secured the fabric to the seat bottom, but can't for the life of me see how the fabric (and probably seat foam) is attached to the seat bottom. It looks like the frame that appears to be part of the seat foam is clipped to the seat bottom by a couple of sheet metal clips. Do I have to remove those clips? Additionally, the fabric is connected to the sides of the seat foam by what looks like the typical metal rods that I've seen in the rear seats, but I cannot find any hogs rings that could secure these in place. How are they secured there?

Also, how does one get the seat back fabric off? I have unzipped the zipper at the bottom, but it really doesn't look like it will work past the bolsters. HOW?

It also looks like they use staples to secure the fabric to the lower leg support and headrest. What did others use to secure the new fabric to these parts?

Thanks.

[inerceptor]

Go to latemodel restoration website and they have a video on how to remove and install seat covers.

[gbeaird]

Ahh, yes. Thank you. That does help. Kind of misleading with the '03-04 Cobra upholstery install'. It's an upholstery upgrade for a standard Fox Mustang interior. Reviewing that now, and yes, I think it will help a TON.

[gbeaird]

Okay, I'm about half-way through this little project and can tell you right now I WON'T ever do it again!! If knew then what I know now when I ordered the covers, I would have taken the whole kit to an upholsterer and paid whatever they wanted to get it done!!

Unless you're very strong, AND patient, you won't be doing these seats (at least the front ones) by yourself. I have my wife to help me with this, and we work until I'm just dripping with sweat (and we're working in the house) and can't lift my arms any more. It's like stuffing 20# of crap into a 10# bag. Oh, and the headrests are like unbirthing a kid, even with the 'little trick' using the plastic bag.

The Late Model Restoration video is an excellent reference. I must've looked at it 30 times, or so. I keep the iPad handy when I'm working, so I can replay it when things aren't that obvious. There are some differences between the seats/kit they are using and the SVO kit, and when I'm done, I'll point that all out, but I'd highly recommend you take the covers and seats to someone and pay them all the money they want to do it, and then tip them when they're done.

If you don't believe me, just watch the video that's mentioned above. When they're working on the front seat back, look at the guy from LMR while he's trying to stretch and pull the cover over the seat back. He's all red faced, and it's apparent some expletives have been coming out of his mouth. :-)

I'm done for tonight. Time for some aspirin and Margaritas.