DIY Interior install

[Hot 442]

Like everyone else, I'm on a resto budget.

I m looking to recover my 72 442's buckets and rear bench only at this point.

Both buckets need springs and foam for sure. If I buy the things I need from Legendary, could I do this job myself or is there a special skill to rebuilding the seats from inside out?

I'm pretty handy mechanically but I've never done sets before.....

So is this a definite 'take it to the shop' item r a DIY job?

[Aceshigh]

Rears you can definitely do yourself.
Front buckets are not easy. I tried.
Spring repair requires the right tools and skills as well as proper padding.

I got one of the bottoms done, but the tops are hard.
I paid an interior shop to finish the job.the bottom they did was cushioned
properly....mine not as good.

[Fakser]

Here is a good episode of gears with stacey david that goes over interior installation it may help. http://staceydavid.com/episodes/drag...ilding-contest

[Hot 442]

Thanks guys.

I'm searching the threads and have seen some pics of stripped down seats....scary!

I have added up sets, springs, headliner, carpet, seat material w headrests and ouch I'm up over 1,600 from Legendary. I want to do it up right tho so....

Guess I'll debate it awhile for doing the rear but I might as well take it all in and have them do it for the trouble it's worth to me!

[RAMBOW]

Originally Posted by Hot 442

Like everyone else, I'm on a resto budget.

I m looking to recover my 72 442's buckets and rear bench only at this point.

Both buckets need springs and foam for sure. If I buy the things I need from Legendary, could I do this job myself or is there a special skill to rebuilding the seats from inside out?

I'm pretty handy mechanically but I've never done sets before.....

So is this a definite 'take it to the shop' item r a DIY job?

* What one man can do, another can do.
* Nothin to it but to do it.
* Its not Rocket Science.

These are words i live by. I have paid shops to do upholstery work for me, and every time, for one reason or another i have been disapointed- not necessarily by their work, but sometimes the materials, or the price, or a combination. THis led me to learn to do my own... and now I do them for other people- But if someone has the inclination I always try to push them to give it a try. There is nothing that feels better (ok, well almost nothing) than finishing a project yourself that other people have to pay someone to do for them.

The back seat is simple- Bucket seats are a little more complicated, but if you take your time, and do some research ahead of time, ANYONE can do it.

How to Recover 66-72 Bucket Seats(this thread covers several YEARS of posts... i'd start at the end and work backwards
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118256

How to Recover 66 (and basically the same as 66-72) back seats
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=337465

Scroll down this page, and there is a link to a video of how to install covers on 66-72 bucket seats:
http://www.puiinteriors.com/index.php/techtips

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
I have detailed photos showing the buildup of bucket seats. I've been meaning to compile them into an online guide- like a summary of what you see in those hundreds of posts in that team chevelle thead, but have never gotten around to it, but i do have the pics... I can share a link if you'd like.

[RAMBOW]

Originally Posted by Hot 442

Thanks guys.

I'm searching the threads and have seen some pics of stripped down seats....scary!

I have added up sets, springs, headliner, carpet, seat material w headrests and ouch I'm up over 1,600 from Legendary. I want to do it up right tho so....

Guess I'll debate it awhile for doing the rear but I might as well take it all in and have them do it for the trouble it's worth to me!

why are you including springs in that list? do you know you need new springs? Unless they are horribly broken or rusty you likely don't need 4 new sets of springs.

Also... If you pay a shop to install all that stuff you better hold your breath at the labor cost.
$400-$500 for the headliner...
Front & Rear seats will likely be $600+
carpet $200

There is nothing in that list that you can't do yourself..

Think of it this way... If you screw up and wreck any peice of that during the process- you'll STILL likely be cheaper than it would have been paying a shop.

In the end it all comes down to how much motivation you have to learn something new, and how much patience you have... vs pay money & have it done tomorrow.

[MDchanic]

I have only done seats in a '40s-era car before, but I would agree with Ben -
I have never had any job turn out well that I paid someone else to do.

Just do it yourself. Expect to have to do it an extra time or two before you get it right, but when you have done it for the last time, it will be just the way you want it.

Upholstery guys are not magicians - If they can do it, you can do it, too.

- Eric

[Lady72nRob71]

I was very happy about how my seats turned out, despite having a little shop in the sticks do them. Of course he had been doing this for 30+ years and has done many old cars like mine...
Best thing is to try yourself. If you give up, or find spring damage, take em to a shop. The back one should be easy though. Foam can be had at the foamfactory or local fabric shops.

[Aceshigh]

I think the whole interior you can do yourself , was just saying the front buckets are a challenge.

For me, I couldn't even slide the top covers OVER the top of the front buckets even using the garbage bag trick.
I have no idea how they pulled it on without tearing it.

Another thing, alot of guys shop interior shops by lowest price and more often you should verify quality of work
before you use them. The interior shop I used has 3 chains just outside Chicago with a good rep. Great work.

Originally Posted by RAMBOW

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
I have detailed photos showing the buildup of bucket seats

This guy sounds like he's made it happen and can possibly show you the ropes.

One thing I want to point out though, a good interior shop knows how to cushion the spring travel of the vertical movement.
Translation = When you sit on the seat, it doesn't bounce. The front seat bottom I did does bounces, theirs doesn't.
They wrap padding around the bars of the bottom of the seat under the upholstery so it's not as loose.

I wasn't aware of this until I compared the one I did to the one THEY did.
Something to be aware of if you attempt it yourself.

[MDchanic]

Originally Posted by Aceshigh

One thing I want to point out though, a good interior shop knows how to cushion the spring travel of the vertical movement.
Translation = When you sit on the seat, it doesn't bounce. The front seat bottom I did does bounces, theirs doesn't.
They wrap padding around the bars of the bottom of the seat under the upholstery so it's not as loose.

I wasn't aware of this until I compared the one I did to the one THEY did.
Something to be aware of if you attempt it yourself.

Now THAT would be a good thing to go into detail about so we could do the same thing whenever we get around to our own interiors .

Hint.

- Eric

[Hot 442]

Thx for the help guys!

RAMBOW - it's great to have someone in the industry helping out. I watched the vids u sent in the link, I almost peed myself when they did the buckets! looks like it takes some skill for sure, but again something I can prob pull off myself.

Worse case scenario I mess it up and take it to a shop. Basically the only thing i need help with is the headliner and buckets. I'm gonna take the old stuff off the buckets myself and see how I do at putting new on....that air tool (hog stapler?) sure looks handy.

As for the material, looks like I'll get the headliner and bucket material from legendary, the rest from a shop in Ontario called NOS Reproductions. I think they are just a middle man for some of this stuff and therefore the price is jacked up, so I'm better to get the seat material direct.

[Aceshigh]

Originally Posted by RAMBOW

Scroll down this page, and there is a link to a video of how to install covers on 66-72 bucket seats:
http://www.puiinteriors.com/index.php/techtips

DUDE.....

An Admin needs to put this into a "HOW TO" sticky in the interior section for this site.
This is priceless , and I had no idea this was even out there.

You shouldn't let this source of great information get buried.

[rhodyrocket2]

Replacing covers is a DIY job, try it. Tips, you can stray the foam with silicone to help slip the cover over. Just aoid getting it on your hands or they will slip too! And you can warm the covers up by putting in the sun, makes them piable. Make sure you get a good pair of padded diagonal dike pliers to cut the hog rings, they can be tough. I always liked the offset hog ring pliers to install hog rings rather than the cheap one you can get. Take off the rust from the wires that are in the vinyl for the hog rings, make reinstalling alot easier. If these are too rusted you can use coathangers.

[silverfox]

if you place the seat cover over a kettle and steam them this also helps.