67 seat cover installation

[Brad B.]

I have been trying to recover my 67 seats. Since I want to do as much of my own work as possible I purchased seat cover kits and an instructional video from Al Knoch. The video only shows the dissembly and reassembly of new seat covers so everything goes together easily in their video.. Not so in my case. Am I incompetent or is not a job for the novice. THe foam just doesnt compress well enough to work the covers over the foam and frame. Has anyone out there had success with these kits? thanks

[Del S.]

Re: 67 seat cover installation

Brad, use a heat lamp or make sure you do it in the direct sunlight 80 degrees + . The material needs to stretch a little

[Randy R.]

Re: 67 seat cover installation

I gave up. I purchased new buns and covers from Al Knoch. We could not get the covers streched over the new buns. I sent them to an upholstry shop. She managed to stretch the covers over the buns, but when the seat backs are folded, the latchs rub on the bottom of the seats because the seat bottoms are too thick. I plan on reusing the old buns and adding some foam to the back of them to tighten up the covers.

[Gerard F.]

Re: 67 seat cover installation

Brad,

I gave up on the seat bottoms too. I did it during the winter time a couple of years ago. Got the video, and new foam for my 67. The backs although difficult, were not a problem. But trying to stretch those bottoms around the foam in a 70 degree basement (and with a heat gun) was impossible for me.

I guess you have to lay them out in the hot summer sun, like the video says.

So I reused my original seat foam, and augmented it with this 3/8" foam that the backpackers use for bedding under a sleeping bag. The augmented seat bottoms actually came out nice.

I still have the new seat foam in the garage, and some summer day I'll redo the seat bottoms (If my chiropractor will let me, as I almost pulled out my back the first time.)

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Tim E.]

Re: 67 seat cover installation

As others have pointed out, the secret is letting the covers heat up in the sun. To this day, I'm amazed at the difference that made. The covers stretched so easily that I was convinced I was doing something wrong. Another suggestion to keep in mind. When you're ready to stretch the stitched seam over the corner of the seat frame, stretch both sides of the seam the same amount and hold both sides of the seam in place while you're installing the s-clips. The fabric has a tendency to rip at that seam.

Good luck, you'll get it.

[Howard W.]

Re: 67 seat cover installation

Try laying plastic on the seat foam ( a plastic trash bag worls well) then stretch the new seat covers over the foam. The plastic will help slide the covers on, then remove or tear off the plastic bag.

[Brad B.]

Re: 67 seat cover installation

Great suggestions from all. The initial work applying the covers to the frame went perfectly but four hours of wearing the skin off of my hands stretching the covers was fruitless. I tried all the suggestions except it was only 70 degrees in the sun and I was worried about focusing the heat lamp. The corners also have metal edges and I am afraid of a tear. So I'll swallow my pride and try to get Al Knoch to do them at the carlisle show. It was worth a try and I suggest anyone who wants to do this should wait until summer when the sun may do its thing...thanks, brad