seat covers

[Mike E.]

Re: seat covers

What year are we talking about? That's very important. There are many classic car and other upholstery shops that can do a fine job of putting seat covers on. However, if you have a 61 or 62 for example, to get the correct "dip" put in the seats (as per factory) is not a simple corner upholstery shop assignment. How many judging points are you willing to lose? Or are judging points even important to you? Where does the dollars and points graph come together for you--that's an important consideration, too.

[Mike E.]

Re: seat covers

What year are we talking about? That's very important. There are many classic car and other upholstery shops that can do a fine job of putting seat covers on. However, if you have a 61 or 62 for example, to get the correct "dip" put in the seats (as per factory) is not a simple corner upholstery shop assignment. How many judging points are you willing to lose? Or are judging points even important to you? Where does the dollars and points graph come together for you--that's an important consideration, too.

[Christopher R.]

Re: seat covers

John, Can you provide more info?

How'd you ship them? How'd you pack them? How much did all this cost?

[Christopher R.]

Re: seat covers

John, Can you provide more info?

How'd you ship them? How'd you pack them? How much did all this cost?

[John S.]

Re: seat covers

Chris,

I took the seats from my 1965 to the UPS Store (Pack & Mail type store) and they boxed them up one seat per box with the seatback laying on top of the bottom seat. UPS has boxes that a disassembled seat will fit into. The cost was approx $85 to ship the two boxes from NY to El Passo, TX. The seats came back the same way - all I had to do is install the back hinge bolts and put the seats back into the car.

John

[John S.]

Re: seat covers

Chris,

I took the seats from my 1965 to the UPS Store (Pack & Mail type store) and they boxed them up one seat per box with the seatback laying on top of the bottom seat. UPS has boxes that a disassembled seat will fit into. The cost was approx $85 to ship the two boxes from NY to El Passo, TX. The seats came back the same way - all I had to do is install the back hinge bolts and put the seats back into the car.

John

[John D.]

Re: seat covers

Sal, I've set up at the fleas quite close to AK over the years and have watched his guys install the buns and covers. It's no easy task but they make it look easy.They go chop chop so fast on the buns as you certainly can't use them as they are. Lots of t******* to do.
I would definitely let them install the covers as it's no back yard project. I mean it's all those guys do. Call ahead for an appointment at the shows though or just go to U-Haul and rent one of those large micro wave tv boxes that measure 24x24x27 and UPS, etc. the seat to him. Probably less strain for sure than lugging them long distance to a show and waiting all day. john D.

[John D.]

Re: seat covers

Sal, I've set up at the fleas quite close to AK over the years and have watched his guys install the buns and covers. It's no easy task but they make it look easy.They go chop chop so fast on the buns as you certainly can't use them as they are. Lots of t******* to do.
I would definitely let them install the covers as it's no back yard project. I mean it's all those guys do. Call ahead for an appointment at the shows though or just go to U-Haul and rent one of those large micro wave tv boxes that measure 24x24x27 and UPS, etc. the seat to him. Probably less strain for sure than lugging them long distance to a show and waiting all day. john D.

[Brent Holtzman]

Re: seat covers

Come on you guys, it is no big deal to do the covers by yourself! Buy a cheap set of hog ring pliers, and the hog rings and go to it. Leave the covers out in the sun for a bit so they are nice and pliable and it is not that difficult. My wallet is usually quite thin so this is the way it goes!

[John D.]

Re: seat covers

Brent, Buy or borrow the video from AK on how to install them. Takes more than hog ring pliers. Lots of t******* on the buns. I say that only because I have watched AK's men install boo coo covers over the years at the shows. I have no personal experience at this job as its not my bag. Have fun. John

[Rainer S.]

Re: seat covers

I agree with John. Let Al Knoch do it.
I bought the video, it's 1980 vintage, done on video and transfered to DVD.
Very grainy and not up-to-date. (Procedure and material used ).
I did the covers myself, using the Al Knoch's DVD as a guide. It turned out OK, except for the seat bottom, at the the rear, where they meet the seat back.
Due to the covers length,(or shortness), when pulling them around the rear frame, the covers are so tight, that the material pulls down the foam so tight, that it leaves a gap of 1" between the seat and the backrest. Both seats were the same, so it was not my procedure.
I re-did the area by loosening the covers and adding padding in the rear, but I am not 100% happy with the results. Softening the material in the sun could have helped, but I did not know about that trick then.
So if I would do it again, I think I would look at Al Knoch's results and have them do it, if it's better than what I ended up with....

Rainer

[Keith R.]

Re: seat covers

I took mine to a local upholstery shop years ago and they did a fine job I thought until I had the car judged at a regional last year and the interior judge said that there was too much padding in the side seat bolsters. They are supposed to have a rather flat appearance. Despite the expense, I plan on sending mine to AK for installation so I know they are done right. What I am debating is whether to strip and repaint the springs and whether that's really worth it since they are not seen. Just a little surfacr rust after 48 years.