When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
The drivers seat has a small rip and the brushed aluminium finish on the centre console lid
is tarnished. WHats the best way to repair the rip without getting the whole seat recovered?
Any way to remove the console tarnish or do I need to replace the insert?
Im fairly sure over cars of the era used that same brushed alloy.
Take the seat out, take it to a competent upholstery shop- make it clear that you want to repair it and have it look as close to original as possible.
They will separate the top and bottom cushions, and either cut apart the existing cover and replace that side panel and stich it back together- or they will use yours as a template and make you a whole new lower cover, then put it back together.
Depending on the condition of the vinyl/stiches and backing, i would probably lean toward just replacing that side panel.. but hard to know until it comes off.
Be aware though, when they start digging into the seat, they may find broken springs, disintegrated foam, etc. that may also have to be addressed, but a repair is a relatively small job, even if they have to make a new lower cover from scratch.
It worked well. The only way you could tell I had repaired the seat is that the color was a bit off on the side panel where the hole was. The only problem is that your seat has significant damage. 🤕
Somewhere around here I have a post on replacing that aluminum trim with a vinyl sticker. Usually this trim is trashed in 65-66's from seatbelts hitting it for 60 years.
A few years back I replaced mine with Metro Restyling Brushed Aluminum Vinyl. The seat belts still hit, but now I can just cut a new new slice and replace the visible part at will.
You may not like this since it's not factory. But I don't believe I've ever seen anything like the adhesive backed actual aluminum Olds used. I'd go for that in an instant if I'm just ignorant.
2x on using a local upholsterer to fix the seat rip. This can cascade on you though. You might find foam turned to dust, broken springs and other problems once the hog rings that hold the vinyl down come off.
Short term I ll do a basic repair on the seat but yep it needs to be fixed properly.
I ve seen the brushed alloy vinyl wrap on ebay and it looks pretty good.
Ytube has some video's on rejuvinating brushed alloy so Im going to give it a try
if that fails I ll go with the vinyl wrap.
I find it hard to believe no one sells some sort of replacement sheets.
Got to be some one does it.