int vinyl quality

[dennis]

Maybe its me, but the vinyl used on the new seat covers for my 70 conv is quite a bit different than the original. Not only is the tooling less embossed, the new vinyl is much "slicker" than the original. Came from a quality supplier in Texas and the duplication of the original covers as far as pieces, stitching and backing are very good. Its the vinyl I don't like.

I deal in vinyls and such in a bussiness unrelated to autos, and most of the vinyls come from surprisingly few manufacturers. Like I said ,maybe I'm being to picky.

But just in case, is there a supplier with exact replacement vinyls? Do people search for original peices to avoid this problem? Not that I intend to have my car judged, but are replacement interiors exceptable when people do have their cars judged? Maybe there's "THEE SUPPLIER" of interiors that I'm not aware of. Appreciate any thought on the subject. Thanks, Dennis

[Joe L.]

Re: int vinyl quality

dennis-----

That Texas-based supplier is about as good as it gets. What's more, they also make the seat covers for many of the other "big guns" in the Corvette mail order business who market them under their own brands.

You described the problem exactly as I see it, too. The CONSTRUCTION of the seat covers is excellent and very, very close to the originals. The deficiency lies in the vinyl material, itself. In my opinion, this material is not as heavy as that used in the originals and that is the basic problem. It may very well be, though, that original weight vinyl is no longer made in the types of vinyl fabric which could be used to reproduce older car vinyl interiors. That, in turn, may be a function of the fact that vinyl is not a very popular material for automotive interiors, anymore, and hasn't been for quite some time.

[Bill Dangora]

Re: int vinyl quality

Could I get the name of the supplier in Texas as my seat covers need replacing. Thanks, Bill

[Jerry Clark]

Re: int vinyl quality

Hi Bill: I believe everyone is refeering to Al Knock and he is the best supplier by far.

jerry

[Bill Dangora]

Re: int vinyl quality

Thanks, Jerry. Bill

[dale pearman]

Re: int vinyl quality

Dennis:

For a comparison of vinyl quality try Findlay Industries in Lake Wales, Florida. Findlay in Ohio made the original straight axle interiors used at St. Louis!

Dale Pearman (Varooom) NCRS 8889

[Jerry Clark]

Re: int vinyl quality

Hi Dale:

Is Findlay still in the business of automotive interiors or have they now diversified? Lake Wales is my backyard.

jerry

[Patrick H.]

Re: int vinyl quality

Dale,

They still make interiors, too. My 1994 Chevy K1500 extended cab door panels were made by them. I just saw the stickers last week when I removed the passenger panel to replace the outside mirror.

Patrick

[Joe L.]

Re: int vinyl quality

Patrick-----

Yes, but I don't think that Findlay sells into the aftermarket. I think that they are strictly an OEM supplier.

[Jeff C.]

Re: int vinyl quality

I had the opposit experience. The quality supplier in texas sent 1967 white covers that were a perfect match of the vinyl but the installation kit had incorrect parts in it and the workmanship of the covers was terrible. This is the third set of seats I have recovered and these covers were the worst quality of the three. Also I can't say that they were very responsive to the problem when I contacted them.

[dale pearman]

Re: int vinyl quality

Hi Jerry:

I don't know if Findlay is still in business or not. I've been using Al Knock (really Corvette Concepts by Crown) for my stuff. When I was the straight axle buyer for Eckler's in 1990 we took the door panels off my driver and my 1959 BB Fuelie and used them at Findlay as models for Eckler's interiors. I'm not sure if Findlay still supplies Eckler's.

At any rate the old fashioned vinyl was made with chemicals that the EPA and OSHA have since outlawed. Todays's stuff is definately thinner. In judging interiors all you have to do is pinch the seat covers and the vinyl will resume it's shape immediately. If it's original vinyl, it takes a lot longer for the crease to go away.

The early seat foam was the component responsible for the distinct smell of the interior of a Corvette. It was made with cyanide! Oh how I miss that intoxicating aroma!

I've always beleived that a 100 point restoration would hinge on how the Corvette smelled. I'll never forget it, nor the way a certain little gypsy girl who rode in my 1959 wearing jasmine smelled. What a combination! Wow! Gasp! Forty years gone and it still seems like yesterday. Jasmine and seat foam can't be beat. My present lady- friend brushes her teeth with varsol and wears 90 weight for perfume. Now THATS a combination you can take to the bank!

At any rate, let us know if Findlay is still up and about.

Dale Pearman (varooom) NCRS 8889

Anyway, let us know about Findlay.