Seat Upholstery

[pressonregardless]

Here is a search for anyone with experience in having aftermarket Upholstery Shops redoing the your seats? I see several "skin sets" offered by IAP, Bruces', and World Upholstery, but living in central California where it gets 100+ in the summer, warrants using cloth in the seat and vinyl on the sides of the seats. Plus, my foam has as much spring left as a set of bleachers so looking to buildup the seat bottoms at the same time. Any pictures, suggestions, recommendations would be deeply appreciated! I have a local shop in mind and have seen there custom work, he is quoting $680 for Front and Back seats, just looking for advise and or some pic's. Thanks, Charlie

[mdrburchette]

I had a local shop recover my seats and door panels. Like you, I didn't want to burn my buns every time I got in the car so I had him make the inserts in cloth and he double stitched the seams just like the factory. He also made a tonneau cover to match the interior and I sprayed the quarter trim panels with SEM vinyl paint to match:

[pope]

Denise,
Is that teddy bear fur used as the seat insert?
I have never used the SEM vinyl dye. Could you tell me somethings about it? Does it soak into the vinyl or is it like a coating that sits on the top (like paint). It sounds like you are very happy with the results. Any other info about it would be appreciated. What do you dislike about it.

[mdrburchette]

Disclaimer: No teddy bears were harmed in the manufacturing of this product.
Feel better now Pope?

The SEM vinyl paint is very easy to use and I'm quite happy with it. I took my tonneau cover into my local automotive paint store and they mixed a pint to match. It already had the required chemicals mixed in so all I did was clean the panels with paint thinner, scuffed with a scotch brite pad, recleaned and sprayed the panels with a little hvac gun. I had no trouble with runs or dry spots and it covered the black paint the previous owner used very well. I haven't had a problem with it flaking off or rubbing through where the top comes down on it either. I also used the spray can SEM black on the map pockets and it brought them back to life.

[pope]

Denise,
I saw some guy selling teddy bear hides out of Georgia on CRAIG'S list.
Said he only had one hide (front and back) and it was in the shape of a bear already.


Thanks for the info on the vinyl spray, might find a use for it in the future.

[mdrburchette]

That ad is bogus. I was able to rescue my teddy bear hide from Craig so he can't put it on his list!

[mbouse]

Oh, i didn't realize that our Craig was thatCraig.

Back to the foam comment... I believe that IAP is the only vendor that currently sells pre-molded replacement foam for our seats. A quality, experienced upholsterer should be able to sculpt a perfect replacement from a block of foam, if he can find the right density.

Wowzers! custom covers for only $680...front and back? What's the current price of production skins? IAP wants over $500 just for the front skins!!!!!

[pressonregardless]

Thanks Denise for the quick response. That is what I am looking for. My interior is darker almost camel color. Perhaps faded with red carpets, replacements I think. Anyway would like to try to stay with the darker colors, but your cloth in the center of the seats is exactly what I was looking for. I have several estimates from $680 to $750 plus building up the seat foam so...............maybe Santa can check my list. Charlie

[mdrburchette]

Charlie, mine was originally a darker tan color until the previous owner painted everything black. Since I had to completely redo the entire interior I decided to go with a lighter color that matched the convertible top better. Boy, I sure hope the tops stay the same color when I eventually have to replace mine!

[pressonregardless]

Denise: my top is black so it won't matter as much. Your interior is impressive! I wish some PO didn't cut the door panels as I have some cheap speakers in there right now, never will look stock, may not justify buying new panels, so will get better sound system/speakers down the road. I'm just having trouble finding material that is the same "camel" color as my doors and back panels! Oh well, lots of surgery still to do under the dash and have to change out the wood too! Press On, Charlie

[mbouse]

charlie, charlie, charlie.... vinyl is such an easy material to work with, especially for flat surfaces such as door panels and rear quarter panels. matching a bulk piece of vinyl to your seat covers is a whole lot easier than matching seat covers to your now faded, no longer in stock door panels.

creating new door panels is also a very simple, but time consuming process. you need only three things...vinyl, stitchable cardboard and patience. make some new door panels, and buy enough vinyl to re-cover your rear quarter panels.

most professional upholsterers have reams of vinyl samples, and you can buy vinyl from them by the 1/2 yard. finding a particular vinyl to match your seats should be a breeze.....unless they are faded and in need of replacement

[ga.spyder]

My entire interior has been sprayed w/ the SEM paint. The PO must haved liked the 'camel' color.I have had a lot of positive comments on the color,but I will put it back...someday.The aerosol is sold by Eastwood.Make sure you prep it first ,or it may not stick.
I should have held that damn bear for ransom.Maybe for some little bumpers!The only ''Craigslist' around here is the one with my honey-do's on it !
Craig

[mdrburchette]

I didn't realize your seats were dyed. Your interior looks good, Craig!
It looks like I'll have to hide all my early model bumpers and the teddy bear when you come over in December. Geez, nothing's sacred anymore.

[ga.spyder]

They were dyed by the previous owner,who knows how long ago.It really has held up well considering that I have had the car for going on 2 years,and the guy I bought it from said it was that way when he got it.I did do the boot about a year ago,using the SEM aerosol.
I was looking at a jobsite last week and heard a rustle in the bushes.Looked back to see about a 400 lb. bear standing there. You think word got out about the kidnapping of your teddy? I havent run that fast in many a year,the bear just walked away!!!See ya next month.
Craig

[mdrburchette]

Will you show me an example of how you ran? I haven't had a good laugh in a while.