[pcallowa]

I'm thinking about reupholstering the seats myself. I bought the after market fitted material. Is this all that hard to do? Anyone done it? Any recommendations? Thanks

[pontiac poncho]

Originally Posted by pcallowa

I'm thinking about reupholstering the seats myself. I bought the after market fitted material. Is this all that hard to do? Anyone done it? Any recommendations? Thanks

They aren't too hard. Set the covers out in the sun the day of, and they are more pliable to work with. If your replacing the foam, I would have someone else do it due to the fact that they have to be trimed. But, if your using the originals, its not to bad. Don't be afraid of pulling them tight because they will loosen up after there're installed. Oh, and get a good set of hog ring pliers, they help.

Good luck!

[GTOster]

Have another person help it it a lot eaiser One of you pull on the cover and the other set the hog rings
I did the first seat by myself no fun!! Got another set of hands and was done in no time
And don.t forget to leave the covers in the sun for awhile they will be alot easer
to work with
Hope this helps
Paul
PS get a good set of hog-ring pliers this will save your hands!!!!

[elevatorman51]

I found the main thing is to pay alot of attention when removing the old seat covers to see how it was done. I also had to relpace some of the wires that go into the pletes, I found ceiling grid wire worked well.

[Rugratman]

My Tips:
Put a plastic trash bag over the NEW seat foam, slide the covers on and then pull the bag out in pieces, this will help sliding the covers on.
Borrow your wifes hair dryer, this will help in making the corners soft and workable.
I agree get a GOOD set of hog ring pliers.
Make sure the pattern lines up on the top and the bottom too.....
Go to a Army Navy store to get the foam for the back seat. PY sells the new foam for the fronts. You must use new foam or you will get wrinkles, and you probably wont be doing this again for about 15 years.
Have band aids close by too.

[WCWhitey]

Any craft store sells batting which if you original foam is compressed you can add an inch of batting and it will bring it back to life. Rugratman had a good tip with the bag! Overall it's not all that hard to do, good pliers help, forget the cheap kit. Just take your time and it will be rewarding. LOL Bill

[Old-Goat]

Rugratman

Did you have to trim the foam for the front seats? I am thinking about doing my own as well. I just tallied up what I have spent so far and I have spent way more that what it looks like I should have, so I am looking for ways to save a few bucks here and there.

Where did you buy the covers and foam? Your's looks great

Gene

[6D6GOAT]

i just finished re covering the seats in my car. It was the first time i have ever done it and im not gonna lie, it was kind of a bear. I bought the front and rear covers from PY and i bought the foam for one front seat figuring that between the 2 old foams i could bet one good one for the passenger seat. i didnt have to cut or trim any of the new foam. i think the hardest part for me was getting the hog rings down through the foam and burlap and clamped onto the wire under neath along the areas where the crease runs and gives the seat its shape. ( if that didnt make sense it will once you start doing it) I was able to do both seats with the small cheap (and i mean cheap) hog nose pliers. They didnt bend and split when i was clamping a hog ring so i had to bend it back and weld it together.

tips:
order pleeenty of hog rings. I ordered 4 bags and that was only enough for the fronts (mostly because i was having a hard time with getting them hooked along the creases)

good hog ring pliers would be worth the investment

put the covers in the sun for a bit to warm them up.

save all the wires from the old seats covers

cut the corners of the old covers after you have removed all of the hog rings to aid in removing them without tearing or damaging the foam and batting

be sure to have some smooth mellow music on in the back ground (reggae was my choice)

the plastic bags on the corners seems like a good idea but i was able to do it with out them (with a good deal of brut force)

-good luck and God speed.

[Rugratman]

I got them from Py. PUI is the manufacturer. I did not trim any foam, I didn't think I was supposed too.....the rear foam was from Sunny Surplus or something like that....
I got some hog ring pliers from PY when I ordered them, but I read on this forum to splurge for the good pliers. glad I did.
The hair dryer will help, once the vinyl cools down it will tighten.
I repeat the band aids suggestion too.
Nice covers.