I know the carpet can be bought molded, which I am sure is easier then buying it from the rolls. How hard was it to do the door panels (parts of my door panels are starting to crack, especially the arm rest) and headliner?
If you buy molded carpet it is pretty straightforward to install. There will still be some trimming to fit. Hopefully your carpet is still in decent enough shape to use as a template. If you can get pre-sewn seat covers it's not too bad to use. You really need two people. Mine turned out ok, not perfect show condition however. I re-foamed the seats (again using my old foam as a template). Take LOTS of before pics. Everytime I removed something I took a photo. My short term memory sucks and those photos saved my neck! Don't forget to also buy that material that goes over the foam (see what I mean about my memory? I can't remember what it's called and Connie isn't nearby to tell me) to keep the seat cover from sticking to it. Get some decent hog ring pliers (not the Princess Auto "automatic feed" ones!!). The trick is to ensure you really stretch the material over the foam (start with it inside out and wrap it over the foam) Once the seat covers were installed Connie would press down on the foam while I stretched the covers around the seat frame and hog ring them in place. When Connie let off of the foam everything was nice and tight. You want to to it in a warm room-not a cold garage so that the vinyl stretches easier.
That's the short version. It took about 4-5 hours to do the front and back seat- the front bench was the hardest so we did it first to get it over with! Before:
Nice work!! My seats also have a big rip and is missing foam from there. How do you shape the foam? I guess the seats are harder especially if you can't find the material shaped. Also for the arm rest area, the vinyl is glued, so do you just leave it on and guess close when trying to shape it?
My carpet is quite good, its just a bit fady and worn out, its green, my whole interior is green, I wanted to make it black. But I am trying to figure all the costs and see what I am able to do and get as much information as possible. So I am basically in the research mode now. -- Edited by mike667 at 20:44, 2008-11-20
I'd call the guys at NOS reproductions to see if pre-sewn seat covers are available. If not, you'll have to get them sewn which is pricey (Ask Brad with the sweet 69 Beaumont on here about what that costs-he had to do that with his car). I know you can get the carpet from NOS. The foam basically follows the shape of the seat bottom. As for the armrest- are you talking about the center armrest of the ones on the door panels?
They are probably available as complete replacements. the vinyl covered portions are just screwed to the armrest "base". Check with NOS. I got the drivers armrest pad for my car from them. I think it was around $40.
I'll browse around online to see if any interior pre sewn seats and the arm pads are available. NOSreproductions online doesn't have anything for the interior besides the carpet and trunk. I'll see if I can find anything anywhere else. What about the dash pad? its green, there's no cracks really, just the color, do you paint over that(with the right material) or redo it?
The nice thing about pre-sewn covers is as long as you take your time you really cant screw it up. If it doesn't look right the worse case scenario is you have to cut some hog rings, take the covers off and start over. I saved about a grand by doing it myself. That's money for other car items!
I found a website/store in the States, they offer a lot of upholstery seats, dashes, door panels and other services. For the seating, its something like $250 for new vinyl front bench seat. Its about 600 for bench, rear seat and door panels I believe. The leather or NOS seating costs a bit more. Then you just have to install it like you were saying. Do the prices sound right? I wonder if I can find a place down here that has them.
Go to N.o.s and check with them for sure, good bunch of guys that really know their stuff and will point you in the right direction. Rick is a really nice guy and helped me out a couple times.
Are you talking about SMS in the states? They will have exact duplicates of your seat material. If you bought yardage of the correct material, had it sewn into correct seat covers and installed by a reputable upholstery shop you can expect to pay at least $2500 to do both seats.
I just bought a complete interior for my 63 Impala SS from NOS. Wanted to get it before the exchange rate gets any worse, plus I had the the advantage of that October discount you arranged Todd. Thanks for that.
Last year when the exchange rate was $1.10, I bought original style seat material for my cars that needed it, as well as a complete set of interior door & side panels for my 63 Ventura, from SMS. Quality of the work product is excellent, but it took 6 months to get them back because SMS had so much work. And of course it wasn't cheap, but I thought they gave good value all the same.
Todd, you may well be the inspiration I need when I eventually get around to a recovering project in my future here. I have never done seats by myself. Years ago I helped/watched a fellow do a couple of buckets for me and it appears that if a guy has basic knowledge, patience and the right tools it can be done without being an expert.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
okay, about NOS reproductions I was talking with Kris, he said they have no seating upholstery, dash pads or door panels available for my car. They only have the carpet and headliner
Found it! this was what I was looking at http://www.autoupholsterykits.com/
There prices on line are 6 years old . I phoned there today and they said it would cost $789.00 for my wagons seats . The price on line is $399.00. I have got 3 price locally and they range between $800.00 & $1000.00. If you do the math by the time you pay shipping and exchange its not worth it to do it your self.
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1957 Pathfinder deluxe 4 door wagon 1961 Pontiac Parisienne bubble top Traded for a Harley sorry guys.
yes thats it Rick