Seat installation

[22229stingray81]

Just recieved my new leather seats on foam from Mid America. Thought the installation would be easy; I've removed the original seat foams a bunch of times. I cannot get the darn new upper foams on!! Is there a special tool, or is it just luck and time it takes to get the hooks around the wires??? Also, I parked it in my carport after giving up and I sit about 4 inches higher! I'm 6'2 already, and not a small man, I can no longer tilt the steering wheel down, and my head is touching the t-tops.... This new foam is not cooperating very well. I don't know if I will be able to drive it anymore if this foam doesn't settle. Suggestions anyone??

-Tatortot

 

[tx73vette]

When I installed my seat covers on my 73. Some one gave me a tip on making the foam go on easier.

Put a platic trash bag over the foam the slip your cover over that. once the covers are in place just rip the plastic trash bag off. As far as the height on the foam it will settle down after a few months you may even try puttting a weight on the seat to force the foam down.. Hope these tips hel... Get a good set of Hog pliers to to install the wires...

Daniel

 

[jdp6000]

I did mine. It was a real pain. I'm not sure if there is a tool. Its can be done. Push the one side or the other into the clips...so you have an upper and a lower clipped in on the same side. Now push the otherside in and towards the side you managed to clip in. Let it spring out and apply pressure at the same time and the wire should catch the clips on the other side.

You can also bend those clips out a bit.

If all else fails you can use a long screw driver to pry out the wire as you push it towards the clips. Be real carful though a slip could damage your new fabric.

Jim

 

[22229stingray81]

Thanks for the replies guys. The trash bag makes a lot of sense. When I removed the old ones there was the original plastic from when the seats were put in. However, after much consideration, I have decided to return these seats. For $800, I better be damn satisified, which I am not. What I think I'll do in the future is either order just the covers and bring them and the old foam to an upholsterer, or have the upholsterer put high quality leather on the seats themselves. Thanks again for the replies.


-Tatortot

 

[craig32]

Tot, I got the same thing - mounted leather/vinyl combo - from Wilcox for $570 delivered. I thought I wanted 100% leather, but was told they probably wouldn't last as long as the combos. If what you are saying is you can't get them to snap into your seat frames, there's another thread here somewhere on getting them to fit, trimmimg some of the foam away from the mounting pins. I think the advice you were getting here was to mount the covers on foam. Good luck.
Craig