Door/Seat Dandruff '69

[Rob H.]

Anyone else seem have this problem-

I seem to have dandruff like (white miniature flakes) powder that come from the comfort-weave insert on my doors and black vinyl seats of my '69 L36. I can see a light residue that is left on the molded door cutout just below the insert after I close the door. Is this normal? Anyone have the same problem, or were my seats possibly stuffed in Tijuana during the drug cartel hey-day?

Finally, if anyone has a "Head and Shoulders" remedy, I would sure like to hear about it.

Much thanks-

Rob

[Jack H.]

Re: Door/Seat Dandruff '69

Look for the foam padding (below seat back and bottom) to be dried and flaking. While there's also foam behind the door panel vinyl, it's typically contained by the overlap of the vinyl onto the door panel's backing...

[Rob H.]

Re: Door/Seat Dandruff '69

Makes sense -- do you happen to know of a remedy, or do I simply live with it?

- Thanks for getting back to me Jack.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Door/Seat Dandruff '69

The vendors have sold lots of seat foam because the owner thought that dandruff was the foam. It is foam but it was sewed in the seat covers to make the pleats and usally the seat foam is not sheading. New seat covers is the only fix.
Lyle

[Roberto L.]

Re: Door/Seat Dandruff '69

I HAVE the same problem you have. The yelow powder seems to reproduce itself at a rabbit rate... The problem is, as Jack and others wrote, that some foam is sewed at the seams, in a loop like fashion. After 37 years, the foam lost its properties and got hard and brittle. I spent several nights removing the hard foam remanents with a knife and replaced the inner/backing stuff while preserving the original although not perfect vinils. Not the perfect solution but at least I can say the seat covers are factory items.

Hope my own experience helps,

Roberto, NCRS #30019

[Joe L.]

Re: Door/Seat Dandruff '69

Rob-----

The problem you describe is an absolutely inevitable problem with the early C3 basketweave and comfortweave seat inserts. As others have described, it's caused by deterioration of the insert's sewn-on foam backing material. This foam backing is about 1/4" thick with a "cheesecloth-like" fabric on both sides. It deteriorates due to perspiration and age-induced rotting. Since the basketweave or comfortweave is actually a true woven material, the rotted foam constantly "exudes" through the voids in the weave.

If your seat covers are in otherwise perfect condition, it might be worthwhile to try to remove the backing and sew on new backing. This assumes, of course, that you could find an upholsterer willing to do it (which I doubt), Also, usually the vinyl is not perfect, anyway, and this is especially true of the insert material.

So, the solution is new seat covers.

[Rob H.]

Re: Door/Seat Dandruff '69

I am glad to know I'm not alone. Unless it gets worse, I will probably just let it be -- the thought of ripping up my original seats kills me. Now that I know its a Chevrolet flaw, I kinda like the built-in excuse it gives me to spend more time primping my girl.

All the best,
Rob