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Topic: New Seat Covers

in Forum: C3 Interior


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Re: New Seat Covers (2/12)
 12/19/21 11:54am
NorskyLifetime Member
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West Burke, VT - USA

Vette(s):
SOLD - "The Toy" - '70 Convertible
SOLD - "The Beast" - '90 ZR-1 (#682)
SOLD - "Betty" - '28 Ford Model A Tudor
Still have - "BLKBRRD" - '78 Pontiac Trans Am


Joined: 1/23/2002
Posts: 7190

Years ago I did that project on "The Toy".  I got the seat covers from Al Knock (don't know if they're still in business) but don't recall where I got the replacement foam pieces.  I'd suggest investing in a hog ring pliers as that will make things a little easier.  Overall it was a straight forward process, just a little time consuming.  One tip my brother-in-law gave me when putting things back together was to lay the cushions face down and use a 2x4 to kneel on to compress the foam while reattaching the hog rings.  That technique worked like a champ!

Also on the project list was replacing the convertible top.  After doing some research I decided to take it to a shop and have it done.  At first they weren't going to take in on until I told them that the replacement seat covers and top came from Al Knock.  That bit of info changed their mind which told me of the respect they had for the quality of Knock's products.  Don't know if that still holds any water but it did at the time.  btw - the shop asked me who did the install of the seat covers and when I replied that I did their comment was "Nice job".



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Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

Re: New Seat Covers (3/12)
 12/20/21 2:21am
73shark
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

I had to replace the seat covers on my '73 when it was less than a year old because the finish was peeling off of the bonded leather. I talked Chevrolet into letting me do the install if they provided the seat covers.

Besides the hog ring pliers, you will also need a tool that is basically a T-handle with a hook on the long end that is used to pull the short wires through the foam and hook them on the cross wires under the seat.

While I don't know where Chevrolet gets there seat covers, I would also recommend Al Knoch covers as I've heard a lot of good things about them over the years.  FWIW, the covers that Chevrolet provided are still looking good after 70,000 miles and 48 years.



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1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: New Seat Covers (4/12)
 2/22/22 12:10pm
ahmtoys
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West Chester, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1972 Base model convertible yellow white top black interior 350 4spd


Joined: 4/16/2020
Posts: 18

Hi, I myself redid the seats in my 72 about 2 years ago, I didn't do the actual work of recovering them, but I purchased the covers & foam from Topflight (Corvette America), I did have the frames weld reinforced, added all new springs, and then had frames & tracks black powder coated.

The actual cover install was done by a Johnny C in S.E. Philadelphia, Pa. who has been doing upholstery work for many years it cost me around $1800 for both seats between materials and labor.

But so much better riding with new springs & foam.

Alex

Re: New Seat Covers (5/12)
 3/1/22 9:47am
RedwingvetteLifetime Member
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Waterford, MI - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Red coupe


Joined: 9/13/2002
Posts: 1735

I had my 73 seats covers installed back in 1994 with Al Knox’s leather and new foam

yhe place that did the work did not do a very good job but they did fix it

a few years ago I bought new covers from Willcox, Corvette America leather. I am going to see if I can get them installed this spring. I was going to try it myself but I think it will be better to have them done by a pro. 



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Brian - NCM Lifetime Member

73 coupe L48, Flat-top pistons, Performer RPM Heads, Crane Cam and roller rockers, Holley 650 vac sec. Performer intake,
3.55 gear BTO 200-4R trans,
Leather seats, Seatbelt Plus 3point seatbelts, Pioneer CD player
Magnaflow Exhuast System

Dewitt radiator and dual electric fans
Borgeson Steering box
 


Re: New Seat Covers (6/12)
 3/3/22 4:24pm
jgoglickLifetime Member
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Huntsville, AL - USA

Vette(s):
1971 convertible,375 HP 350ci,Muncie 4-speed,Edelbrock aluminum heads and RPM air-gap manifold,HEI distrubiter - old school mechanical tach drive. LOUD side exhaust!


Joined: 11/15/2003
Posts: 855

I sent mine off to Corvette America to be redone (years ago - don't know if they still do it). I had one frame that need repair, so they did that and new foam and covers. They turned out great.

Re: New Seat Covers (7/12)
 3/8/22 12:31pm
BillHanna
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Cana, VA - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray 71 350 engine Flat top pistons Sniper fuel injection Hyperspark ignition Vintage Air air conditioning Borgeson power steering box


Joined: 7/3/2016
Posts: 319

I redid mine on my '75 a few years ago.  Bought the covers and new foam from Corvette America.  The only issue I had was the sides of the new covers did not cover all the way down, but I cut the bottom part off of the old covers and patched that in.  This worked fine.  The other issue I had was in pulling the wires that pull the back of the cover to the frame under the seat, many of the wires snapped off.  I don't know if they were not hardened right or if I was doing it wrong (I had to pull quite hard to get them in place), but I filled in with the original wires and the seats look and work fine now.



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Re: New Seat Covers (8/12)
 4/4/22 4:30pm
Mark Laird
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Milford, DE - USA

Vette(s):
1977 C3 Auto Coupe Lt Blue/Dk Blue Prev. 1968 C3 convertible 4spd Red 1984 C4 Automatic Silver 2000 C5 Automatic Black


Joined: 11/6/2021
Posts: 67

So, my question is Leather or vinyl? It's not going to be a show car just a 10-footer! I'll hardly drive it more than 500 miles a year. What's easier to install if you're doing it yourself?

Re: New Seat Covers (9/12)
 4/4/22 7:28pm
73shark
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

I've installed leather covers on a couple of mid-years and my own '73. Don't really believe there would be much difference in difficulty of installation with either kind.

The only two tools you'll need would be hog ring pliers and the T-handle with the hook in the end to pull the wires through the foam while you hook it up.



|UPDATED|4/4/2022 4:28:20 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: New Seat Covers (10/12)
 4/4/22 8:12pm
BillHanna
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Cana, VA - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray 71 350 engine Flat top pistons Sniper fuel injection Hyperspark ignition Vintage Air air conditioning Borgeson power steering box


Joined: 7/3/2016
Posts: 319

According to what I read, the original covers on the '75 were leather on top, and vinyl on the sides, so that is what I used.  Frankly I can't tell the difference between the top and the sides -- they look similar to me.



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Re: New Seat Covers (11/12)
 5/11/22 2:13pm
Mark Laird
Former Member

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Milford, DE - USA

Vette(s):
1977 C3 Auto Coupe Lt Blue/Dk Blue Prev. 1968 C3 convertible 4spd Red 1984 C4 Automatic Silver 2000 C5 Automatic Black


Joined: 11/6/2021
Posts: 67

Just redid my seat covers..They turned out great! Bought the covers off eBay for under 300 bucks. Added new foam from Top Flight and new hardware from Blairs!

 

Re: New Seat Covers (12/12)
 5/11/22 3:22pm
73shark
Limited Member
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

Look very good. You did a good job!



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1973 L-82 4 spd

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