?? regarding Al Knoch

[BarryK]

Hi all

I had the seats from my '65 redone by Al Knoch while at Carlisle.
I was very pleased with the results and the pricing with their show special and cash discount was very good also.

I just noticed today on my drivers seat that the little white stoppers on the back of the seats must not have been set correctly or something because when I flipped the seat forward to grab something out of the back of the car I noticed that the piping on the both sides in the very back are now worn completely through - evidently from the back plastic panel hitting them.
Also, on the side of the seat it seems to have become a bit "deformed" as if the foam under the cover shifted or wasn't done properly.

Anyone ever had these problems on redone seats before?
Anyone ever had to deal with Al Knoch on getting jobs redone?

My biggest concern right now besides getting them to redo the seat bottom on this seat is that leather batches tend to vary in the dye jobs so even if they redo the seat bottom i'm concerned that when they send it back it will no longer match correctly.

So far this problem is only on the drivers seat but nobody has sat in the passenger seat at all yet since I had them done. I've only got approx 150 miles or less on the seat since he did them - driving home from Carlisle than a parade on Monday so things should NOT be wearing out already! I'm afraid the problems will only continue to get worst with more use on the seat and also show up on the passenger seat

Any suggestions or advice?

right side, very rear of drivers seat - notice the piping is worn thru

left side, very rear of drivers seat - notice the piping is worn thru

side of drivers seat where foam seems to be out of shape and it's bulging out the side:

 

[Andy]

Does anything ever go right for you??? I read an article on Al Knoch about the "tremendous" customer service they provide. Call them up, explain it out and I'm sure they'll handle it quickly. You may have to take the seats out and ship them to him ......


Andy

Hi all

I had the seats from my '65 redone by Al Knoch while at Carlisle.
I was very pleased with the results and the pricing with their show special and cash discount was very good also.

I just noticed today on my drivers seat that the little white stoppers on the back of the seats must not have been set correctly or something because when I flipped the seat forward to grab something out of the back of the car I noticed that the piping on the both sides in the very back are now worn completely through - evidently from the back plastic panel hitting them.
Also, on the side of the seat it seems to have become a bit "deformed" as if the foam under the cover shifted or wasn't done properly.

Anyone ever had these problems on redone seats before?
Anyone ever had to deal with Al Knoch on getting jobs redone?

My biggest concern right now besides getting them to redo the seat bottom on this seat is that leather batches tend to vary in the dye jobs so even if they redo the seat bottom i'm concerned that when they send it back it will no longer match correctly.

So far this problem is only on the drivers seat but nobody has sat in the passenger seat at all yet since I had them done. I've only got approx 150 miles or less on the seat since he did them - driving home from Carlisle than a parade on Monday so things should NOT be wearing out already!

Any suggestions or advice?

 

[BarryK]

yes, I need to call them and I'm sure Al will make it right if I ship it back. I just hope I don't need to ship both complete seats back just so that the leather matches correctly - that's my main concern.

 

[IH2LOSE]

Barry

Sorry for your troubles but I just dont understand what you mean post a picture of it.

 

[BarryK]

Larry
I was going to post pictures last night in my original post but it was too dark in the garage and in the interior of the car so the camera couldn't get a good enough picture. I'll be trying again today and will try to get more light in there and than I'll post the pics up.
I understand my description makes imagining the problem difficult.

 

[vette]

Al is one of the few guys you can get on the phone and talk to. He will make you happy what ever it takes. He is great to work with. I just ordred my wiseguy seats from him for my 60. He makes the changes needed for the seat to look right in the car and not hit anywhere. He is doing them in the correct patten and color for my 60 . I also ordred the rest of the int. at the same time. I would not deal with anyone else.I did not see any of you in carlise. But I did see your cars. Maybe next year. Brian G,

 

[BarryK]

thanks vette, that's good to know. This was my first time dealing with Al Knoch but I knew he had a good reputation.

 

[Subfixer]

Barry, I know you like your seats as far back as possible due to your height, but you can adjust the backrest to sit a little more straight up. This will keep the bottom of the seatback from sitting on the piping. The adjustment screws are on the bottom of the seatback.

 

[BarryK]

Paul

from the looks of how the seats are now and what the seat back is doing to the seat bottom I'll have no choice but to make that adjustment anyway and i'll just have to learn to live with the new seating position. From the looks of it maybe just a slight adjustment is all that's needed - maybe 1/4" or so??
If Al Knoch will repair my seats it will be great but I sure need to make that adjustment as you suggest so that this same problem won't happen again.

I'll have to take a look, but you say the adjustment screws are on the bottom of the seatbacks? I thought the little white bumpers on the seat bottoms were what was suppose to adjust for that? I guess they are just the stoppers for the adjustment screws.

 

[Subfixer]

I'll have to take a look, but you say the adjustment screws are on the bottom of the seatbacks? I thought the little white bumpers on the seat bottoms were what was suppose to adjust for that? I guess they are just the stoppers for the adjustment screws.

Yup, the white bumpers are what the adjustment screws sit on. The adjustment screws are large headed slotted screws, that screw into the bottom of the seat backs. Turn them out a few turns at a time until you get the seats where they should be.

 

[BarryK]

Thanks Paul, once more you come to my rescue!

I'll do that this morning just to see where the adjustment needs to be and to elimate any further damage until I can get the seats sent back to Al Knoch for repair.
Once I get them back from Al Knoch I'll be sure to check that adjustment again so that it doesn't happen all over again.

At least your advice can help me from causing the same problem on the passenger seat BEFORE it occurs.

 

[hotmtrsports]

Hi BarryK,

I just looked at my 65 Coupe and the piping is in great shape for an 82,000 mile car. I've recovered many, many seats on C2's and C3's. I wonder if they left too much foam in the lower rear so the piping was sticking up too far. As for the foam shifting, I've had that happen a few times especially on the Mid Years. Some of the new foam just doesn't match the leather ends where it's sewn. I use a very thin (about the thickness of the clear plastic from a milk jug) so that the contour isn't compromised with use. The plastic actually "slides" back into position instead of getting caught in the material. It takes time, patience, doing it a few times, and some heat to make the plastic the same shape as the seat, but it works.

Al Knoch has been around for a very long time. I'm sure he will repair/replace...whatever it takes.

Chuck

 

[BarryK]

Hi Chuck
thanks for the info.
I'll be calling Al Knoch later today when they open and talk to them and I'll send them the pics if they want to see them but with their reputation I'm sure they will take care of it for me.
Honestly, my single biggest concern is I hope they can just redo the one seat bottom and have the leather match rather than me having to ship back BOTH complete seats to be done for a proper match. Each batch of leather that is dyed tends to vary in color so it's getting a correct color match when they redo it that's my concern.
Well, I'll see what they say when I call them.

 

[hotmtrsports]

You're right Barry, that would be my concern too...especially red!!!

I covered a set of seats with 100% leather for a 1972 and one of the upper covers tore with the slightest stretch. Of course it was my luck I was at the final stages of assembly. I called Corvette America and they didn't even flinch. Sent me the one cover and credited everything included shipping both ways. FORTUNATELY for myself and the customer (myself really), they were black leather covers. I did the COMPLETE interior for him, WOW, what a transformation.

As we speak, I'm installing new door panels, new carpeting, and deciding weather I should store the 65 seats and install a set of newly covered leather 76 seats (for the newer look and rear headrest). I think I'll try it. It's so easy to see what they look like.
Chuck

 

[Subfixer]

Barry, this is what the adjusting screw loos like when not installed to the seat.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Corv...ewItemQQcategoryZ34206QQitemZ4574102997QQrdZ1

 

[BarryK]

Thanks Paul
should be pretty easy to identify - there shouldn't be too many things attached to the underside of the seatback!
Handy to see basically how long it is though so I know how much play I have to work with when adjusting it.