63 Seat Bottom Rebuild

[Harry S.]

Last year I took the seats apart, media blasted the metal then primed and pained. Then added a new handle, nuts and bolts. I ordered new burlap with wire, jute and an installation kit from Knoch. The kit comes with the unique wire clips that attach the vinyl to the seat frame. There were 16 at 1.75 inches and 4 at 1.00 inches. I was unable to get those clips installed as I bent several so I resorted to electrical zip ties.

This year I decided to change the bottom foam. So I ordered a set of foam from Corvette America with an installation kit. The wire clips from CA are 8 at 3.375, 4 at 2.50, 4 at 1.75 and 46 at 1.25.

I viewed the CA video and installation is straight forward.

The question is, why the differences in length from Knoch and CA and what the heck are the 46 clips at 1.25 for (Got it, they are for the back)

The seats will be much easier to reassemble with the CA clips.

Anyone know what the original clip lengths were? I could not tell as I was not the first one to take these apart.

Thanks

[Richard M.]

Re: 63 Seat Bottom Rebuild

Harry, Just peeking at the AIM...

Sect 1 Sheet D3.00 View B has some detail of the seat cushion. Seems they figured 23 1.25" hooks per seat/backrest pair.

It almost looks like it's showing 2 hooks tied together. At the top, I think it's the cloth loop and embedded straight wire with one hook(maybe the short ones?), then hooked to the bottom longer hook?

It's not clear but it seems if it is in fact that arrangement, it'll be tricky to pull it through the foam with a hook tool.

DSCN4163.jpgDSCN4164.jpgDSCN4166.jpg

I just looked under a original 63 seat I have here and no help with it all together.

Rich

[Bob J.]

Re: 63 Seat Bottom Rebuild

Last year I took the seats apart, media blasted the metal then primed and pained. Then added a new handle, nuts and bolts. I ordered new burlap with wire, jute and an installation kit from Knoch. The kit comes with the unique wire clips that attach the vinyl to the seat frame. There were 16 at 1.75 inches and 4 at 1.00 inches. I was unable to get those clips installed as I bent several so I resorted to electrical zip ties.

This year I decided to change the bottom foam. So I ordered a set of foam from Corvette America with an installation kit. The wire clips from CA are 8 at 3.375, 4 at 2.50, 4 at 1.75 and 46 at 1.25.

I viewed the CA video and installation is straight forward.

The question is, why the differences in length from Knoch and CA and what the heck are the 46 clips at 1.25 for?

The seats will be much easier to reassemble with the CA clips.

Anyone know what the original clip lengths were? I could not tell as I was not the first one to take these apart.

Thanks

Harry,
it sounds like the 16 wire hooks from AK were just to do the lower covers.The ones from CA were enough to do both lower and upper covers
As a rule 63 lower covers were unique in how they were attached.
63s for the most part used a scrap piece of material sewn in the the sides to attach the hooks.The scrap material color varied from yellow,black, dk blue.I'm not sure if the change to just wire hooks was in late 63 or 64 but by 64 most lower covers only used wire hooks. Some colors were slower than others to use just hooks due to demand.
I'm putting a pic of an NOS 1963 lower to show the yellow loops sewn in.
I doubt any repo covers add the loops.
Bob Jorjorian

[John D.]

Re: 63 Seat Bottom Rebuild

Jorjorian, Just recently I saw a guy selling NOS black seat bottoms on Ebay. Good info you just provided. Thanks, JD

[Bob J.]

Re: 63 Seat Bottom Rebuild

JD,
there are many differences between real covers and repo.
I helped a local endodontist restore the interior in his dark blue/saddle Z06 last summer. I think it came out within 90% of the late Bob Lojewski's 5,000 mile saddle interior Z06. The seat restoration took more time than the engine rebuild.
Saddle interiors are the hardest of all colors in 63 to do right in my opinion.
Bob J

[Harry S.]

Re: 63 Seat Bottom Rebuild

All, thanks for the help. I have all the parts set to go. The clips are in the vinyl, through the foam, jute and burlap and clipped to a temporary rod above the burlap. I put the frame and location and attached installation hook to one on the metal clips and it straightened out. Same thing happened to a second one. I just can't seem to get the clips to attach to the frame. time for a drink!

[Vinnie P.]

Re: 63 Seat Bottom Rebuild

. time for a drink!

At 647AM, gonna be a long day Harry!!!!

[Harry S.]

Re: 63 Seat Bottom Rebuild

At 647AM, gonna be a long day Harry!!!!

Gentleman Jack and I became good friends. Anyway, I reinstalled the old foam. I'll work on it again after the National in July as I have too many other items to correct, mostly Condition issues. Very few Originality concerns.

[Richard G.]

Re: 63 Seat Bottom Rebuild

"I ordered new burlap with wire, jute and an installation kit from Knoch.
Anyone know what the original clip lengths were?
Thanks[/QUOTE]"

I just pulled apart a set of all original seats apart. (1963 build date December 1962)
The clips are 1-1/4 long.
I notice you purchased Jute. There was not any jute in my seats? Burlap yes, no jute.
I notice Al knock sells a Jute kit for the 63. I am not sure when or where it might be used in 63?
My foam still had the GM part number and 1962 date on them so I am confident they had never been apart.
I have also owned the care for 38 years and the guy before me owned it for 10 years. I am confident on the car's history.
Rick in WA state

[Paul Y.]

Re: 63 Seat Bottom Rebuild

[

But they sure look good to me when they are done right.
QUOTE=Bob Jorjorian (1619);769363]JD,
there are many differences between real covers and repo.
I helped a local endodontist restore the interior in his dark blue/saddle Z06 last summer. I think it came out within 90% of the late Bob Lojewski's 5,000 mile saddle interior Z06. The seat restoration took more time than the engine rebuild.
Saddle interiors are the hardest of all colors in 63 to do right in my opinion.
Bob J[/QUOTE]