64 Seat Bottom cover attaching wires and clip question - NCRS Discussion Boards

64 Seat Bottom cover attaching wires and clip question

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  • Dan B.
    Expired
    • July 13, 2011
    • 545

    64 Seat Bottom cover attaching wires and clip question

    Looking for some information and help on the 64 seat bottom covers attachment. Working with the Corvette America new seat foam and covers. First, does the wavy attachment wire just "float" against the burlap on the underside? I don't see it being affixed to the seat frame as is done in 63 (which I know has a 1 year only frame). What length clips have you successfully used ? They mention 2-3 1/2 inch clips, 1- 2 1/2 clip, and 1- 2" clip. I don't see how this could be right for 64 since it does not appear to attach in the same way as 63. This picture below (not mine) is supposed to be an original 64 seat bottom, does this look right? My frame (on right) had paper covered wires not the zig zag ones.

    I had done these seats previously, backs came out great, trying to rework the seat bottoms for a better fit in the seat area which might be related to the clips and attaching wire. I have it apart now and want to re assemble with corrections.

    The 63-64 videos I have seen all use a 63 seat frame and the covers attach differently in this area yet they say to use the same clip lengths on both.

    Any pictures or comment from someone that has done a recent 64 install would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Dan
    Attached Files
    Last edited by Dan B.; January 22, 2020, 04:23 PM.
  • Harry S.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • July 31, 2002
    • 5296

    #2
    Re: 64 Seat Bottom cover attaching wires and clip question

    Dan, have you seen this?

    Shop Corvette Parts and more at Top Flight Automotive! Find parts for all Corvettes 1953-present. Shop the largest inventory of high quality products here!


    Just did my 63 seats, essentially the same, and they came out great. I did not use the wire with the paper to install the clips, I used wire with no paper, that made it easier to remove the wire after I attached the clip to the seat bottom.


    Comment

    • Dan B.
      Expired
      • July 13, 2011
      • 545

      #3
      Re: 64 Seat Bottom cover attaching wires and clip question

      Harry, thanks. Yes I have watched that as well as AK's. The issue is the 63 seat frames are what is shown in their videos which have the attaching wires for the clips hard mounted to the seat frames (2 on each side). 64's are different, so that portion of the video does not help in this area. I saw some of your posts about the clips (good info) and again question that those lengths they specify for 63 are also correct for 64 since it would appear the retaining wires float on 64's and are not physically attached to the frames from what I can tell and I think they need shorter clips than they say, as in photo 1 above. I know the 64-66 frames are the same and 65 & 66 have a more substantial retaining ring for the seat bottoms.

      Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehHhk6Rr_Pk&t=1560s
      jump ahead to about the 22:00 minute mark and you can see my issue for 64. I think it's the same as your link.

      Comment

      • Tom L.
        Extremely Frequent Poster
        • October 17, 2006
        • 1439

        #4
        Re: 64 Seat Bottom cover attaching wires and clip question

        You could just do what the shop did with my seats this past spring, use plastic cable ties. Yes, that's not a typo, they used cable ties. It was a very "excited" moment when I saw that. They did do them correctly when I had a "conversation" with them about it. Good luck with the seats!

        Comment

        • Harry S.
          Extremely Frequent Poster
          • July 31, 2002
          • 5296

          #5
          Re: 64 Seat Bottom cover attaching wires and clip question

          Originally posted by Tom Larsen (46337)
          You could just do what the shop did with my seats this past spring, use plastic cable ties. Yes, that's not a typo, they used cable ties. It was a very "excited" moment when I saw that. They did do them correctly when I had a "conversation" with them about it. Good luck with the seats!
          The cable ties / electrical straps are a quick and easy solution to the clips. They allow for a slow adjustment for fit. I believe if they were available in the 60's they would have been used exclusively.


          Comment

          • Don H.
            Moderator
            • June 16, 2009
            • 2258

            #6
            Re: 64 Seat Bottom cover attaching wires and clip question

            I replaced a bad replacement seat cover with a salvaged original on my driver's seat a couple years ago, and took a couple of photos. I'm sure the pad, foam and burlap were all original. I took a few photos, but wish now I had taken more. If you enlarge the bare frame photos, I think you can just see the 1" long (or so) wire hooks that connect the cloth loops sewn into the original covers that are still hanging from the springs. All the hooks were the same length. Jan 64 car. I hope this helps you.
            Attached Files

            Comment

            • Don H.
              Moderator
              • June 16, 2009
              • 2258

              #7
              Re: 64 Seat Bottom cover attaching wires and clip question

              I found a couple more photos I took of the inside of my salvaged seat cover, with close ups of the hooks/cloth loops I saved (and reused) from my original cover. This should answer your question.
              Attached Files

              Comment

              • Tom D.
                Extremely Frequent Poster
                • September 30, 1981
                • 2133

                #8
                Re: 64 Seat Bottom cover attaching wires and clip question

                Don: Second photo and second last photo in the first ones you posted. It appears you also fixed the seat adjust "cross over wire" on the bottom. Did you use the original metal "wrap"? Added any cement?

                Harry: Wouldn't cable ties break sooner than wires?
                https://MichiganNCRS.org
                Michigan Chapter
                Tom Dingman

                Comment

                • Don H.
                  Moderator
                  • June 16, 2009
                  • 2258

                  #9
                  Re: 64 Seat Bottom cover attaching wires and clip question

                  You're a sharp eyed bugger Tom. If you look to the right on that wire you see the "wrap" piece next to the other one on the 2nd pic. Yes, I slid that back over the hook as you see in the 3rd and 4th pics, and no, I did not apply any cement. Did I goof?

                  ps Dan, yes, the wavy spring assembly most definitely attaches to the frame, solidly at the sides, and with the 4 springs at the rear.

                  Comment

                  • Tom D.
                    Extremely Frequent Poster
                    • September 30, 1981
                    • 2133

                    #10
                    Re: 64 Seat Bottom cover attaching wires and clip question

                    You did not goof. I was just thinking about the example I have here, from a '65 Coupe (#11843). I plan to replace or adjust that wire, and have not done that before. Someone added a bend by twisting the center of the wire. I will take a photo today.
                    https://MichiganNCRS.org
                    Michigan Chapter
                    Tom Dingman

                    Comment

                    • Dan B.
                      Expired
                      • July 13, 2011
                      • 545

                      #11
                      Re: 64 Seat Bottom cover attaching wires and clip question

                      Don, those are some fantastic pictures of an original 64 seat frame and mounting details, and 2 really outstanding specific overall replies. Thank you so much for that!

                      It confirms what I suspected on my existing frames (see my photo 2 above) which shows they are missing the 2 short frame attaching wires on each side like the 63's I was able to study and now your example. Mine were never present, so the covers were mounted with clips and 1 long floating wire on the backside with nothing holding the coves themselves in the center to the seat frame and only the S clips on the sides. Possibly my seat frames (which as you know are compatible with later years) may very well not have been the originals even though they came to me with 64 covers on them. I know from the 65-66 video they did not attach to the seat frames in the center area directly.

                      Take a look at this 65-66 video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDsQNT3LkXs&t=749s and FF to the 12:30 point to see this.

                      My car is a late (June 64) car and I checked the AIM (Sect 1, sheet 3) and it does not appear to indicate any running changes to the mounting from what I can tell either (but it's hard to glean any detail from my copy).

                      Comment

                      • Harry S.
                        Extremely Frequent Poster
                        • July 31, 2002
                        • 5296

                        #12
                        Re: 64 Seat Bottom cover attaching wires and clip question

                        Originally posted by Tom Dingman (4889)
                        Don: Second photo and second last photo in the first ones you posted. It appears you also fixed the seat adjust "cross over wire" on the bottom. Did you use the original metal "wrap"? Added any cement?

                        Harry: Wouldn't cable ties break sooner than wires?
                        Tom, I start with black ties that are 14 inches long. They are pretty strong. After installation I cut of the extra.


                        Comment

                        • Dan B.
                          Expired
                          • July 13, 2011
                          • 545

                          #13
                          Re: 64 Seat Bottom cover attaching wires and clip question

                          This afternoon I spent a little time and fabricated the sleeves necessary to attach those wires to the frame and will cut some new ones to size per Don's pictures. The plan is to try CA's suggested clip arrangement and see how that looks. have a few sizes and they need to be longer now since the distance to attach has increased. Got plenty of zip ties too but I hope not to have to use them. I've done several successful seat and interior installs over the years on other generations besides this one which goes to show that you can't always rely on putting things back together the way they came apart unless you are sure your stuff is original to the car to begin with. The first photo below was the only picture I could find on what I originally started with, the one on the right is a rough mock up of the sleeves I made (with the old wires) and not final crimp finished and painted.

                          All of this would not have been possible without Don's pictures and some of Harry's prior posts on the subject. Thanks guys!
                          Attached Files

                          Comment

                          • Don H.
                            Moderator
                            • June 16, 2009
                            • 2258

                            #14
                            Re: 64 Seat Bottom cover attaching wires and clip question

                            Happy to help Dan. I think you are on the right track now, and will like how your seats come out. Email me anytime if can answer anything else.

                            Comment

                            • Dan B.
                              Expired
                              • July 13, 2011
                              • 545

                              #15
                              Re: 64 Seat Bottom cover attaching wires and clip question

                              Thought I would post a couple of pics of the repaired and re-mounted bottoms. Keep in mind these seat covers were installed originally over 10 years ago so they had taken a "set" and did not have the pliability and stretch of new ones. I had thought originally I would use clips (I have to admit the zip ties go against my instincts), but decided to try Harry's suggestion since the optimum tightness was going to be an odd size now on older reinstalled covers with new fastening points. I also ended up using plain wire (not paper covered) with the fabricated retainers I made up to add the proper mounts. Not 100% perfect as compared to using all new components, but much better and stronger than what I had before. I was also thinking about folks who have or may be considering re mounting an older original cover that are trying to get a good matching fit.
                              Attached Files

                              Comment

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