c2 Seat covering help

[Donald H.]

I have new Al Knoch stuff (covers, foam, install kit, etc) for my 66 coupe. I took apart one seat bottom and back and media blasted and painted the frames.

I have the Al Knoch video, and have successfully installed the bottom seat foam to the cover. However, when I place the cover/foam compo on the frame roll the cover over the foam and try to attached the 'S' clips to the frame lip, I'm having a problem. The edge of the cover material is a good 2" up from the frame and I do not see any way to push/pull the cover down and attach the S clips.

In the video it looks relatively easy (of course the guy doing it says he has done about a 1,000). I think one problem is that my seat covers need to be warmed up some. I'm doing it inside, but I can't seem to stretch the vinyl at all, but in the video he seems to get some stretch as he pulls the vinyl down and wraps it around the frame lip.

I'm looking for anyone who has installed your seat covers successfully that can give me some advice.

Thanks,

Don

[Wayne G.]

Re: c2 Seat covering help

Don,
I've installed a complete set on my '61, similar and with the same amount of struggle. I used a high wattage commercial heat gun. Without that it is almost impossible to stretch the vinyl. A good hair dryer might work though it may not get hot enough.
Other than strong hands and a cold beer that's all you need.

Good Luck.

Wayne

[Richard M.]

Re: c2 Seat covering help

I have also used a small hand held steamer to help make the vinyl more workable.

[Donald H.]

Re: c2 Seat covering help

I have also used a small hand held steamer to help make the vinyl more workable.

Rich,

I've been looking at them. Do you recall the make and/or model of steamer. I've been looking on Amazon and there are tons of them. I don't have a clue if they put out enough steam to work.

Thanks,

Don

[Richard M.]

Re: c2 Seat covering help

Don, This is the one I use. Best Buy typically has them in stock at the stores.
Conair GS23



It's a hand held unit which makes it easy to use and quickly heats up for simple tasks. I use it for seat vinyl and soft top rags. It even works great for the soft top rear windows. For soft top rags I use it on both sides and it makes the wrinkles disappear like magic. Sometimes it takes several heat/cool cycles on the tough wrinkles. There are much more expensive commercial type units on the market but they're bulky and take up much space and take longer to heat up.

On the '67 I recently restored, one of the vinyl seat backs was assembled wrong. The previous cover installer pulled the top vinyl too much on one side and the cover top to seat top was crooked. It was unsightly. I worked the hog rings to release the incorrect tension and all was better. However this left a soft crease from the incorrectly installed vinyl to the rear cover now exposed. Several steamer heat/cool cylces and a good rest on the shelf made the crease disappear. I'm quite certain that with some warm moist heat on your vinyl it will make your covers slip over your seat frames much easier.

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Here are some before and afters of the soft top rag wrinkles disappearing using the same steamer.
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[Donald H.]

Re: c2 Seat covering help

Thanks! I'll get a steamer and give that a try.

Don

[Jerry W.]

Re: c2 Seat covering help

Had similar problem on 62 seats..wasn't smart enough to think of steam heat...took seats and covers to upholstery shop...problem solved

[Phillip M.]

Re: c2 Seat covering help

Don,
One "trick of the trade" that I learned at Corvette America's C2 seat cover install seminar (at Corvettes at Carlisle 2 years ago), was the use of talc (unscented), sprinkled onto the foam to reduce the coefficient of friction between the foam and the underside of the vinyl. This should help you stretch the vinyl over the seat side frames. Also, I applied the "S" clips first to the edge of the vinyl then hooked them to the frame edge by rolling the clip under the frame edge to attach.
Phil

[Donald H.]

Re: c2 Seat covering help

I give the talc a try. I purchased the install kit when I purchased the Al Knoch seat covers. The covers had the install pieces already attached. The wires and pull through clips and the S clips were already on the covers.

Don

[Paul Y.]

Re: c2 Seat covering help

I have new Al Knoch stuff (covers, foam, install kit, etc) for my 66 coupe. I took apart one seat bottom and back and media blasted and painted the frames.

I have the Al Knoch video, and have successfully installed the bottom seat foam to the cover. However, when I place the cover/foam compo on the frame roll the cover over the foam and try to attached the 'S' clips to the frame lip, I'm having a problem. The edge of the cover material is a good 2" up from the frame and I do not see any way to push/pull the cover down and attach the S clips.

In the video it looks relatively easy (of course the guy doing it says he has done about a 1,000). I think one problem is that my seat covers need to be warmed up some. I'm doing it inside, but I can't seem to stretch the vinyl at all, but in the video he seems to get some stretch as he pulls the vinyl down and wraps it around the frame lip.

I'm looking for anyone who has installed your seat covers successfully that can give me some advice.

Thanks,

Don

I have heated wet towels in the microwave for wrinkles and put the vinyl in the dryer to heat it up to stretch. Always remember not too much heat.