1973 Seat Recovering

[Michael P Boone]

I am putting new leathers on my '73 coupe seats and am having trouble with a proper installation of the seat backs...it seems as though the foams are too thick for the leathers to wrap around. I got the leathers and foams from Corvette America, along with their installation kit. Does anyone have any experience with them, or what modifications need to be done with the foams, or am I going about this the wrong way? Any help or insite would be appreciated.

[Harmon C.]

Re: 1973 Seat Recovering

Michael

New foam that I have used makes the installation of the seat covers a real challenge. The new foam will make the fit very tight and hard to install but it can be done and if you have your car judged they may call your seats too puffy. I like good used foam on C-3's as the yellow dust is from the backing on the covers not the foam. Lyle

[Stephen W.]

Re: 1973 Seat Recovering

would it make any difference if you were to cool down the foam by placing it in a fridge overnight and warming the covers to help them be more plyable and expanded? I'll be doing the seats in my 68 and planned on using all new foam with leather covers.

[Craig S.]

Re: 1973 Seat Recovering

I have watched the guys at Al Knoch install them many times at shows...and they do tend to trim the foams based on experience to avoid the "pillow" look. Also, with leathers, they spray on water and use hair dryers to shrink to fit and remove wrinkles. I think doing thousands of seats makes you somewhat of an expert Craig

[Stephen W.]

Re: 1973 Seat Recovering

Looks like I need to visit their booth to watch them do it. Do they spray the water on the outside of the leather? Is the problem with the side bolsters being to "puffy" or to much in the insert areas?

[Tim E.]

Re: 1973 Seat Recovering

I recently recovered my '66 seats after watching the Al Knoch guys at a car show and buying their installation video. I used new foam as well and after the first couple attempts, like you, swore the covers would never fit.

The trick for me was....place the covers out in the hot sun (in my case, Houston) for 30 minutes before stretching. The covers were almost too hot to touch but you wouldn't believe the difference! They became very pliable and stretched over the new foam perfectly. Unbelievable difference.