Vinyl seat cover Near-Heart attack!

[Jeremy D.]

Just got off the phone with Al Knoch......I have a pair of '70 seats that need re-covering, and they have open spots to do it at Bloomington Gold. I have the seats out of the car, frames are completely stripped, ready for reupholstering, and they quoted me for;
2 Std. Interior Bright Blue seat covers -$373.00
2 new foam kits - $189.00
LABOR - $375.00
--------------
$937.00, without tax, no bezels, no backs, etc.


I'm sorry, but when it costs nearly a friggin' GRAND to have my seats, which are out of the car and ready for new vinyl/foam, re-upholstered professionally, with standard crap vinyl....screw it, I'm going to Autozone and buying cheap seat covers. I've seen these guys at work...they're awesome, and I've seen them whip out a pair of seats in less than 2 hours, and that's including taking them out of the car and re-installing them. For 2 guys, that's $93.75 an hour. I am in the wrong business. And that's the "Show Special" price....the vinyl covers alone are $414.00 if you just go to the website and order them, and the show price includes the hog rings & stuff. I don't even want to know what the foam costs separately.

So if any of you guys want to cough up the dough, Al has openings at the Bloomington Gold show to get your seats redone or top installed. Just give 'em a call!

[Rick S.]

Re: Vinyl seat cover Near-Heart attack!

A few years back myself and a good friend used Miquel Delgado of www.60scorvetteseats.com to do our seats. He was substantially cheaper than Al Knoch for his labor costs and used Al Knoch materials. Our last contact was late 2005 and I have not seen his ads lately but it might be worthwhile to contact him. His work was impeccable.
Regards,
Rick Smith
P.S. If he is still in business tell him Joe Roebuck and myself still talk about the quality of his work.

[Rick S.]

Re: Vinyl seat cover Near-Heart attack!

Jeremy,
I just checked the website link and see that Miquel only does C1 and C2 seats/interiors, sorry for the false lead.

Rick

[Jim K.]

Re: Vinyl seat cover Near-Heart attack!

For what its worth... I have done 61 and 70 seat covers myself, both blue (Jewel and Brite) and it is infinately easier on the 70. I don't think I paid that much for the parts through one of the big vendors comes with instructions. It's not as easy as installing floor mats but it ain't transmission rebuilding either

[Dennis D.]

Re: Vinyl seat cover Near-Heart attack!

Picked up the covers and pads,(Knochs), from someone here a few years back for 100.00. Bought the installation kit. Wasn't very difficult to do

[Patrick H.]

Re: Vinyl seat cover Near-Heart attack!

I've done one set in leather, one in vinyl.
If you can, visit Al Knoch's booth at Bloomington or Carlisle, and watch them do it. It was by far the best thing I did.

I still did not find it easy, though.

Patrick

[Stuart F.]

Re: Vinyl seat cover Near-Heart attack!

It's no wonder Al has some openings this close to show time. Those prices are outrageous! I think, if I were you, I'd go the do it yourself route if you can't find a better deal.

Stu Fox

[Jeremy D.]

Re: Vinyl seat cover Near-Heart attack!

I've stood there and watched the guys recover the seats, and it looks simple, but not easy. I guess it just blew my mind that it was going to cost, in the end, well over a grand just to have good looking and feeling seats. My '70 is a driver, but the seats are pretty bad. I have a pretty nice pair of '72 seats I tore down to the frames and got them ready to reupholster. Well, as mentioned earlier, since I have rebuilt a M21 with a lot of help.....what the heck, it's a driver anyways....I'll try anything once!!!

[Jeremy D.]

Re: Vinyl seat cover Near-Heart attack!

It's no wonder Al has some openings this close to show time. Those prices are outrageous! I think, if I were you, I'd go the do it yourself route if you can't find a better deal.

Stu Fox

Yeah, if I was going for Top Flight or something, yeah, I'd probably pay the $$.....but for this car? Heck no. And you must be right, because I have NEVER heard of being able to get anything reserved with Al Knoch this close to ANY show he's at. Heck, if I get good enough, I'll quit my job and do it on the side for $80.00/hr and undercut the heck out of him!!


ps. Dennis, that interior is GORGEOUS! LOVE that color!!!

[Patrick H.]

Re: Vinyl seat cover Near-Heart attack!

I've stood there and watched the guys recover the seats, and it looks simple, but not easy. I guess it just blew my mind that it was going to cost, in the end, well over a grand just to have good looking and feeling seats. My '70 is a driver, but the seats are pretty bad. I have a pretty nice pair of '72 seats I tore down to the frames and got them ready to reupholster. Well, as mentioned earlier, since I have rebuilt a M21 with a lot of help.....what the heck, it's a driver anyways....I'll try anything once!!!

I know the feeling.

If you original foam is any good, consider using it as nothing fits as well as the original.
Buy one of those drywall (?) files that they use to shape the foam (You know what I mean if you've watched them) as it really helps.
If you use new foam think of gluing the two pieces of the headrest together.
Use your original foam as a template if you replace.
Note the location of ALL the original hooks and ties as the repros are different lengths. Some you will have to shorten, or you can use your originals.
Use heat and the sun as your friend with that vinyl.

FYI, at one time The Last Detail out of Altanta gave prices on AK products that were less than AK's show prices.

Patrick

[Peter G.]

Re: Vinyl seat cover Near-Heart attack!

Jeremy..sorry, but that is about what I paid last winter for the same seat coverings. I had all of it done right, seat covers from Corvette America, new foam and any bolts, clips or springs needed. Also repainted my seat backs and blasted the seat floor brackets that were rusted and repainted them too.

It was just under a grand for everything.

My installer said that he had better luck with seat covers from CA than AK

Next winter is new carpeting and I hope it won't be that much?

As little miles my Corvette gets..it won't ever need to have the seats redone again.

Thank goodness.

These old Corvettes are "Money Pits".

Good luck

[Harmon C.]

Re: Vinyl seat cover Near-Heart attack!

For your first time at installing seat covers it is much eaiser to use the old foam if it is in good shape. New foam is like trying to put ten pounds of foam in a five pound bag.
Lyle

[Gerard Q.]

Re: Vinyl seat cover Near-Heart attack!

I know the feeling.

If you original foam is any good, consider using it as nothing fits as well as the original.
Buy one of those drywall (?) files that they use to shape the foam (You know what I mean if you've watched them) as it really helps.
If you use new foam think of gluing the two pieces of the headrest together.
Use your original foam as a template if you replace.
Note the location of ALL the original hooks and ties as the repros are different lengths. Some you will have to shorten, or you can use your originals.
Use heat and the sun as your friend with that vinyl.

FYI, at one time The Last Detail out of Altanta gave prices on AK products that were less than AK's show prices.

Patrick

For your first time at installing seat covers it is much eaiser to use the old foam if it is in good shape. New foam is like trying to put ten pounds of foam in a five pound bag.
Lyle

All good advise, I bought new seat covers w/foam for my 82CE from Al and I used an electric carving knife to trim the foam.

[Donald B.]

Re: Vinyl seat cover Near-Heart attack!

While the hourly rate is high - what bothers me more is the use of "book rate" by dealerships and other shops. I'm always amazed that even I can usually do the job in less time than the book rate - I'm lucky I know which end of a screwdriver to hold. I can only imagine how much faster these jobs can be done by someone with the proper tools and experience. I don't mind paying for someone's time but I don't like being taken advantage of.

[Stephen R.]

Re: Vinyl seat cover Near-Heart attack!

I just had my 59 seats done. My 59 is a driver. Bought the parts (covers, foam, original type seat springs, rings, misc hardware) from Corvette Central (the covers came from AK). Paid around $600 for the parts. Asked a friend of mine who did the interior on his 49 Plymouth, went to that guy and he did a great job for $165 per piece (4 pieces), while I was there, he was doing a set for another 59. Ask around, you may be able to find someone locally who does seats for antique cars including Vettes.
Steve