81 Seat Cover/who did there own>>

[HammerDown]

New Seat Covers arrived today...with Hog Ring Plyers,79-82 seat cover installation kit(hog rings and black spiral clips)...also the Clip installation tool=long fish hook.
I understand how the hog ring and plyers are used....

BUT whats the deal with those little black spiral clips??? I know where they go, BUT I'm not sure if I'm supposed to "first" load them on the seat rods and then fish for them with the long tool...
Or somehow use the long installation tool to pull the pleated area of the seat through the foam and then "somehow" TRY to FIGHT these little black clips on???
I think I'm missing something here...because the paper work says..."seat cover CLIP installation tool" But it just looks like something to pull the corners of the pleated area through the foam. It would sure be easer if all's I used were the hog rings...but there's on 70 of them and not enough to do all 4 pieces.
Any comments/suggestions would be a plus...I know I can do this but how to apply those little black clips have me wondering.
Thanks...

 

[red70vette]

I am not quite sure which clips you are talking about. There are clips that are sort of s shaped those attach to the edges of the seat cover are then rolled over and attached to the seat frame holding the seat covers bottoms to the frame.

There are wires that attach to the pleats in the seat covers and are then pulled thru the seat foam and hooked on the spring like frame under the seat foam. For this you use a wire like fish hook to go thru the foam hook on the wire and pull it thru to catch on the bottom spring. The purpose of these is to keep the seat bottom from moving out of line.

At least that is how I remember it. I installed Al Knoch covers about 18 months ago. Not a real tough job just take your time.

 

[HammerDown]

seat covers install

Red 70Vette...I shot you an E-mail...let me know.
Thanks.

 

[berky2500]

Just did mine on an 85 a few months ago. The wire rod goes through the pocket, then the clips go through the outside of the pocket and around the rod. You have to kind of line up the cover with the foam and you should be able to see the holes in the foam so you will know where to space the clips.

Then start at the center and work your way towards the ends and finish with the sides. Get all of the clips pulled through the foam and around another rod before attaching any of the hog rings. The clips are what actually gives the leather the tight looking factory fit.

It is tough on the hands, but exercise patience, if you get frustrated, put it down and come back to it. The first cushion took about 4 hours, but each one after I was able to cut it down by 1/2 an hour or so, until the last one took a little over two hours (two backs, two bottoms).

Good Luck.

 

[HammerDown]

These Little Clips Arrrrggghhh!

I fished all the rods through the "skirts" that tuck down into the foam...Thats no problem...But these little black clips, are so small and tight to work with...Unless I try to spreed them some. I'm not seeing how I can hook them to the 2 rods on the outside of the foam bottom...or even the rods that are semi-burried in the foam.
They kinda look like a very small paper clip...with one very small circle at one end and closed up!... I'm talking a tough little sucker!
On my seat that I took apart...it just looks like someone twisted small pieces of wire around the rods...I'm wondering if they sent me the proper clips? I know where and how the Hog rings go...thats the easy part...at least I belive so.

Just reread the above post...so your saying I have to FIRST mount the little black clips onto the rods....Then somehow fish the long hooked tool (fish hook) through the foam...and somehow HOOK those little suckers? Well I tryed that...and when I pulled the little clip through the foam...the fish hook tool took up to much room in the little clip that there's no way it would go around the rod....I had to use needle nose plyers. Would I be correct in beliving the long hooked tool they sent is only for pulling the rod in the skirt through the foam...and NOT to actually hook the clips?

Thanks for all the info...My harley seats I did were way easer than this...but I will succeed!

 

[berky2500]

Yeah I know what you mean. I used vise grip needle nose pliers to get it up over the second rod. I would lift the clip high enough and then slide the rod through as many as I could but the last couple of clips, I would have to pull up and over. A huge pain!!!!

 

[berky2500]

By the way, I didn't buy the long hook tool. I just used really long needle nose to get them part way through then pushed til my shoulder hurt trying to shove the pocket down into the foam to get enough clearance to grab the dang clip and pull it out over the rod. The first on each one is the worst.

Keep at it, the results are worth it.

 

[HammerDown]

Seat Clips>>>

Ill tell ya what...I was kicking and fighting just to get 3 of those little SOB'b mounted on the rear back lower rod...thats as far as I got...because I just could'nt belive thats how its done!

 

[berky2500]

I don't think I would choose upholstering as a profession. I know my face was red, many curses came forth, and my wife knew better than to talk to me while I was working. The whole time I was worried about ripping the leather, but it seems that it has to be done this way to get it tight enough so there are no wrinkles when finished.

I did wonder whether a pro shop has some trick that I never figured out.

 

[HammerDown]

Up Date>

After 6 hours of fighting I now have the lower seats finished! They look pretty darn good for using my OE Foam...New Foam would have been a plus...To late now I sure ain't going through that again!!!
...I'l be finishing the back pads tomorrow,,,and they look to be whole alot easer.
Total cost..340.00 about 9 hrs ....And very sore hands.

 

[berky2500]

Congratulations, I know it feels a whole lot better to stand back and look at them when they are done, than it did while you were experiencing it. The pain in the hands will go away, but you'll enjoy the seats more everytime you get in the car knowing you did it yourself, and think man do they look good.

 

[majortom75]

I have the same problem. I need to recover the seats on my '76. I am debating whether to buy the covers and kit and do it myself or have someone else do it. I have never done upholstery before. Since you guys have already done it, I was hoping to get your recommendation. Do it myself or hire it out?

 

[berky2500]

I think it depends on whether you want to spend the money or save it and put in some fairly hard work. I chose the work because so far no one has touched my car but me and I decided to keep it that way.

I would say if you like working on your car, don't mind spending 10-20 hours to do both seats, and want to save the money, then go for it. I would recommend investing in new foam if you are going to go through the work of reupholstering, it is worth it for the extra 200-400 bucks.

I had never done upholstery before, and where I bought the covers got absolutely no instructions. But I learn by taking things apart so I kept one seat intact, tore the other one down the last nut and bolt, and then proceeded to put it back together. I'm guessing that hammerdown has never done this before either, so you at least have that precedent. We'll both still be here if you have questions when you start.

My only real trouble was with the seat backs because the original bolster covers were somehow stapled from the inside first before being tied together with the main part of the cover. I ended up drilling some small holes and using screws that were hidden from the outside. You shouldn't have that problem though on the C3 seats like I had with the C4 seats. hammerdown should be able to tell you about any issues with the seat backs when he gets his finished.

Good Luck.

 

[HammerDown]

All Done and in the Car>>>

Finished up the backs this morning...they were a lot easer, and only took about an hour each...I made up a little tool to help me snap the seats backs in the car.
All in all I'm pretty happy with how they turned out.
I would say to the fella above that if you have the time, sure do it your self. I've only recovered some Harley seats...but if you do one seat at a time you'll see exactly how its done.
As far as cost, I have just under $340.00 in my job. The onyl thing I would say to do I check out Corvette America for (NQP) Not-Quite-Perfect. Foam...its way cheeper then the perfect pieces but it will perform like the expensive stuff. Also I got my Leather/Vinyl covers from Corvette Parts Depo that actually are Corvette America Covers!!!...for 305.00 + all the hogg rings and clips W/ wire rods...and a really cheep (4.00)pair of hog ring plyers...they caused my hands some real pain...So get the better ones!
The only thing I (think) I regret was not getting new foam...oh well...now I get a new recovered steering wheel.

 

[majortom75]

I'm still debating whether Iwant to spend the time to do it myself. Thanks for your help.

 

[majortom75]

Hammerdown:

Corvette parts depo? Can you give a URL or contact information? I'm leaning towards doing it myself. Thanks for the info on foam I will definitely order the NQP foam.

 

[HammerDown]

Seat Covers

Here ya go...http://tld-corvette.com/
But remember the "NQP" foam comes from Corvette America. And order your self 10 extra Hog Rings, and get the better Hog Ging Plyers, about $18.00.
Just saw you have an earler Vette...I'm sure your seats are different...Don't think they offer the "nqp" for your year...but ask anyhow...and I also belive your seats will be easer than my 81's.