'70s Seat Cover Installation

[Jeff Gunn #29146]

I am in the midst of removing the old seat covers from my '74 coupe to install new seat foam and leather covers. When I got to the bottoms I noticed that small clips are used to retain the cover around the bottom edge. Two questions..what is the best way to remove the seat cover from the clip, and are these clips available somewhere if I break one (or all) of them? Is this a job a reasonably handy restorer can do at home and get good results? Thanks! Jeff


Jeff's '74 Corvette Restoration Project

[Ed St.John]

Re: '70s Seat Cover Installation

Jeff,

I recently did the seats on my 75 Vette. I found it easiest to by the seat cover installation kit ( Corvettecentral.com ) its about 30 bucks and has all the hog clips, wire and tools neccessary to do the job. They came out ok and I consider myself pretty handy but looking back if I were to do it again I'd pay the $200 to have them done professionally. It took all weekend to do and I cursed and moaned the whole way through.

Good Luck Ed

[Michael H.]

Re: '70s Seat Cover Installation

Jeff,

I've installed three or four sets of seat covers over the past few years, and have never had any trouble, and I am FAR from an upholstry expert. Heck I'm not sure I even spelled it right.

I suggest buying the seat covers along with an installation kit. This kit includes the hog rings (these are probably the clips you are speaking of), steel reinforcement wires for the perimeter of the covers where the fold underneath the seat, Reinforcement wires for the center seams along the seat (to give the seat the 'bucket' look), and the various length s-clips for tying down the center seam to the frame (again for the 'bucket' look). You'll need a pair of hog ring pliers, which I've seen in several catalogs, including the Doctor (Rebuild). Hog rings come C-shaped, and the pliers, which have concave recesses in each jaw, grip the ring and crimp it over the seat frame. They are a one-use item. Clip them off and discard.

The kit's contents are confusing, as there are dozens of varying lengths of wires and hooks. Separate the kit in half with one half for each seat. That at least halfs the confusion!

What I did was completely tore down one seat, clipped all of the hog rings, removed the clips, bead blasted and painted the frame, etc. and readied it for installation. I saved the cover with all of the clips and wires in the original locations for reference. I then layed out all of my new clips and wires to find the proper location for each. Taking measurements from the original seat, I gradually installed the wires and clips and installed the covers on the new frames and foam. All along, I had the old seat untouched for reference.

All in all it was not a problem, although I found it more difficult to make the leather covers totally wrinkle free than with the more stretchy vinyl.

Good luck and post if you have any problems.

Michael