I'm getting ready to replace the foam in my seats. After looking through the catalogs, I noticed a varity of tools and installation parts. While my seats "seem" to be in pretty good shape, do I need all this extra stuff?   Any advice on replacing the foam?

Steve

I redid the seats in "The Toy" 2 years ago.  It is a pretty straight forward process and not too difficult.  The biggest problem I had was getting the new foam compressed enough while getting the new seat covers positioned right.  The hog ring pliers a friend loaned me helped a lot.  I did order an installation kit that has new wires and hog rings.  Also ordered the steel pieces that fit across the back of the lower seat frame.  They were a cheaper fix that replacing the lower frames.

Be ready to sit a little taller 'in the saddle' though.  I didn't realize just how shot the old seat cushion foam was until I sat down in the reinstalled driver's seat.  My kingdom for a tilt steering column...!!!     

I replaced my seat foam and covers last year in my 78 Vette. I recommend that you do a couple of things to make it easier:

1. Order the installation video tape from Ecklers. If you have never done upolstery work before this will help you greatly.

2. Buy the installation tool to fish the wires through the foam. This will save you time and heartache!

3. Buy new hog rings and a set of hog rings plyers at the very least. You may want to buy all of the new wires too in the seat installation kit. Many times they are in terrible shape from water/rust or just age. If you don't need them you can always send them back.

4. Get ready to work or weld on the seat frames. They get a tremendous amount of wear and tear. My passenger seat was broken in 2 places. There is a frame support plate that can solve many seat frame problems, all of the Vette catalogs have them. It is a good way to fix them if broken in the rear area. This is a common problem.

5. Make sure you have enough time to finish. It took me all day one Saturday to do everthing on my two seats, but I had to reweld the frames and repaint them too before recovering them.

I found it to be a good experience and I learned alot. Good luck!

Great advice.. Sounds like the tools and time are the two elements to make it work.. Again thanks, I'll let you know how it comes out!

Steve

Order the installation video tape from Ecklers. If you have never done upolstery work before this will help you greatly.

Can you send me thier address or web site.

Cheers

Vic

vaselsohn@cogeco.ca

 

E-mail address correction.

It's vadelsohn@cogeco.ca

Order the installation video tape from Ecklers. If you have never done upolstery work before this will help you greatly.

Can you send me thier address or web site.

Cheers

Vic