Al Knoch seat covers for 67

[Tripleblack51]

Guys,
I've got a a pair of new Al Knoch seat covers in the box waiting to be put on.
The driver's side on the old set is showing some wear and I will just replace them both.

My question to you is, how challenging is it to do this job?
The foam is allright and does not need replacing.
BTW, the seat covers are vinyl.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks,

Pedro

 

[JimVette]

The seat covers are made to original specs. Even if the foam looks good chances are the covers will not fit right, they will be loose. The foam over the years will shrink and be smaller than original. The only way I was able to use original foam was to have the covers made to the foam at an upholstery shop. Good luck.

 

[stepinwolf]

Got to have items

It is imperative that you get your hands on their ( Al Knoch ) seat hardware installation kit, and most important of all, the correct tool that is needed to reach through the seat foam, in order to hook the retaining clips that hold the cover to the seat springs/frame.

Secondly, this is not a one evening task, plan on spending three to four evenings, to remove, and properly re-install the covers. You might also want to get your hands on some extra bits of foam in order to bolster a few areas, that may have slightly recessed, since the initial install.

The repro seats, and patterned after the original cuts, but after forty or so years, don't expect all the foam to regain it's original form, after you remove the old covers.

Another asset would be a pair of first quality hog-ring pliers

Good luck, and e-me if you get into a corner


Stepinwolf

 

[1KULC7]

Totally agree, I thought the job would be rather easy, as I have changed the seat covers on my C5.... Job is very different then the C5. YOU WILL NEED new FOAM.. Dale, Knoch's foreman, told me the foam shrinks about 25% over a three yeare period, even though it shows no wear, it does compress from heat and usage.

I got mine done at Carlisle, went on a THURSDAY. Knoch sets up early, and since you purchased it from him, unless you got the tools, new foam, burlap, and the experience, I would suggest having them do it or before you do it go to Carlisle and watch them...they have several tricks... or if you are in a hurry get the video.

Good luck, I tried and made a mess of it....

 

[stepinwolf]

Just a thought

AL Knoch's leading seat installer ( they have a few ) is named " Gilbert " who happens to be middle aged, Mexican gentlemen, who has been doing seats and convertible tops, for as long as Al has been selling them.

Sadly we are already close to the deadline ( if it hasn't been reached already ) for Carlisle appointments. My vendor spaces are right across the isle from them, and I have seen customers, come in with seats, as early as Wednesday. If you ever seriously considering having them done, I would not wait another day to get in touch with Dale 800 880-8080, and make an appointment. :W

Stepinwolf

 

[paul67]

I wimped out and had the work done by a local upholstery shop. The cost was about $300US including the headrests. I saw the fellows at Carlisle do the job on several occasions and I wasn't up to the task.

On the foams, I had a new set. My first impression after I had installed the seats in the car (I can do that myself!) was that I was sitting much higher. In fact on entry I had to work to get my right leg between the steering wheel and the seat cushion. This was not the case previously. So I have no doubt the foams change size with time and use.

 

[Delph]

I wimped out and had the work done by a local upholstery shop. The cost was about $300US including the headrests. I saw the fellows at Carlisle do the job on several occasions and I wasn't up to the task.

On the foams, I had a new set. My first impression after I had installed the seats in the car (I can do that myself!) was that I was sitting much higher. In fact on entry I had to work to get my right leg between the steering wheel and the seat cushion. This was not the case previously. So I have no doubt the foams change size with time and use.

Paul67,

what about the back of the seats, the tracking etc... I would like to change out the backs and the chrome trim piece on mine. Are these things I should order and have a shop in town do. Or do I send the chrome trim away to get re-chromed? Will the new/replacement backs be the same as originals? I am into easy. If I can buy the seats already done and they look original and brand new I would rather do that. I am thinking about leather this time but I have noticed that the vinly seats seem to appear new longer and the leather seems to wrinkle and look old sooner. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks for the advice, your seats look great.

Tim

 

[paul67]

Tim,
All the parts on those seats are new: top trim, backs, screws, release levers, etc. The repro parts fit very well. The side trims (hockey sticks) are the exception and were re-chromed as they are one-year only (seat-back release hole). The frames were taken down to bare metal, primed and sprayed with Rustoleum semi-gloss. The covers are vinyl.

I'll take a pic in the next hour or so as to how things look installed.

*Edit*-I was driving this morning and things look disorganized, especially the shoulder belts. But here are a couple of pics. Let me know if you have questions.

 

[BarryK]

i love those headrest seats!
there are times I wish my car wasn't an original #'s matching so I wouldn't feel guilty about doing something to her that wasn't correct or I'd have my seats converted to headrest seats also.
As time goes by i'd like to be able to add more Vettes to the garage but I think now that I have Baby, I'll skip the #'s matching thing in the future and go with NOM for future additional cars. That way I can do what I want, how I want, to the car and not be so concerned about keeping it "correct". Heatrest seats will definately be an item to add to one of those cars.

 

[BarryK]

Pedro
My '65 leather seats need to be redone also. I looked into buying the seat stuff I need - new leather covers, new foam, install kit, the burlap - from Wally Knoch and having a local auto upholster install it for me but for what it was going to cost it turned out to be cheaper overall for me to have Al Knoch sell me the stuff and do the install at Carlisle. I have my appointment for Friday afternoon.
Walley's prices were good for the items I needed but with the local guy quoting me $300-$500 to install it turned out to run me about $200-$300 more than having Al Knoch do it all. Plus I won't have to leave my car at another shop for a few days and be without it (tired of THAT already.......).

what kills me on this is that the seats were done not long before I bought the car but they had been done poorly and wrong so they are already ruined. At least I know with Al Knoch doing them they should get done correctly this time and should last more than approx 2 years.

BTW, I agree with the above suggestions about replacing your foam also. If it's more than a few years old the new covers most likely won't fit as correctly as they should and you don't want to have to redo them again to add new foam later down the road - do it now!

 

[Tripleblack51]

Thank you all for your advice!

Paul your seats look great. After reading these posts, I have decided that I will not tackle this and let someone who knows what they're doing handle it!
I am not blessed with lost of patience..


(Quote BarryK)Walley's prices were good for the items I needed but with the local guy quoting me $300-$500 to install it turned out to run me about $200-$300 more than having Al Knoch do it all. Plus I won't have to leave my car at another shop for a few days and be without it (tired of THAT already.......).

Barry, I wish I was able to do the same thing!

Again, thanks to all....

Pedro

I wimped out and had the work done by a local upholstery shop. The cost was about $300US including the headrests.

 

[BarryK]

Pedro
you are not going to Carlisle? What? you don't like central PA's heat and humidity in Aug?

 

[Tripleblack51]

Pedro
you are not going to Carlisle? What? you don't like central PA's heat and humidity in Aug?

You should experience the humidity here Barry.

 

[paul67]

I hope I was of some assistance.

 

[BarryK]

You should experience the humidity here Barry.

I have....... :ugh
actually, I worst I've felt was being in Houston, Tx in Aug. NOT FUN!!
geez, the things I used to do for the sake of women when I was young and single

 

[Delph]

Tim,
All the parts on those seats are new: top trim, backs, screws, release levers, etc. The repro parts fit very well. The side trims (hockey sticks) are the exception and were re-chromed as they are one-year only (seat-back release hole). The frames were taken down to bare metal, primed and sprayed with Rustoleum semi-gloss. The covers are vinyl.

I'll take a pic in the next hour or so as to how things look installed.

*Edit*-I was driving this morning and things look disorganized, especially the shoulder belts. But here are a couple of pics. Let me know if you have questions.

Paul67,

did you buy a seat kit or something? You said that everything came with it except the hockey sticks. Did you get everything from Knoch?

Tim

 

[paul67]

Not sure if I can mention a vendor here so I will attempt to disguise the name (Dr. R.....d). But really I believe one has to draw a distinction between vendors and manufacturers: the former are numerous and the latter few in number. I do not know that vendor's supplier.

You can't really buy a seat kit per se so it's a matter of itemizing all the pieces separately. Something like:
-1967 Madrid Grain vinyl seat covers with Pigskin vinyl inserts
-seat foam cushions
-seat hinge set (hockey stick)
-seat hinge mounting screws (6)
-hinge pivot bolts and spacers (4)
-1967 seat hinge release levers (2)
-seat back edge chrome trim (2)
-1967 Molded seat backs
-seat back chrome vent
-1967 headrest seat back conversion kit (many pieces)

The shoulder belts were a little trickier and I believe I went to three sources to get all the parts. Getting correct GM buckles was a bit of a chore but I located a set in CA.

I may have missed a few pieces but that's basically the drill. I have 5-6 months each winter to contemplate my navel and dream up projects for the next summer.

 

[BarryK]

don't forget the burlap that goes underneath!!
That was what the PO owner forgot when he redid the seats in mine during his so-called restoration and without it the wires cut thru the foam like a hot knife thru butter. it sliced the foam on my seats from the bottom up and than without the support from the foam it ruined and wrinkled the leather covers. That's why I need to redo mine.

 

[paul67]

Barry,
I did miss the burlap when ordering but fortunately my upholstrerer had rolls of it in stock.

 

[BarryK]

Paul, that's good or you would be redoing your seats all over again very soon