Let's talk about seats....

[GS450-Junkie]

I don't think I've ever seen a complete thread devoted to this so let's talk about seats....

I've finally gotten around to replacing these old nasty seats. First of all...I'd like to strip all the metal parts off and have them blasted and powder-coated since mine are all rusty (badly). Then...completely redo the rest of the seats. Haven't decided if I want to install the new covers myself or have it done at a shop. Here are my questions:

1. Will all of the metal come off easily for painting ?
2. Is there a tool for installing the hog rings making it easier and faster than doing it with a pliers or something like that ?
3. Does anyone ever replace the cushions ? I'm not sure mine need it, but don't the old ones hold in stink ?
4. What about the seat backs ? They are not available so does that mean a trip to Jo-Ann Fabrics for some leather ? What if the cardboard backing frame is broken ? Is there a common fix like a piece of metal for support on those ? Does anyone have pictures of what they did for theirs ?
5. How easy is it to install the new covers ? Those of you who have new seats...did you do it yourself, or did you take them somewhere ?
6. I was thinking of getting the 2 tone gray/black seat covers. How does the gray in those match up with things like the new carpet pieces, gray interior pieces, etc. ? I want the 2 tone seats, and I bought the new dark gray carpet kit.

I'm thinking of doing a 2 tone interior much like Houston's. Just hope everything matches up somewhat. Everything in the interior is gutted. If it's colored...it's getting replaced. Some pics attached of my driver's seat now that the cover is off, and what my interior will hopefully look like someday....

[TTait]

Its not a fun job by any means, but its doable. Maybe a little easier with an assistant, certainly more pleasant.

You need to run out and get a pair of Hog-ring pliers (pronounce plaars by any store that would sell them). You can get them online but I grabbed a pair at a farm supply store while visiting the midwest. Might want to get some larger hog rings too.

First seat took me probably 5 hours, the second about 3.

I re-used the foam - could not smell any stink once the covers were off.

[EdR5150]

How are the seat bottoms? This is the best time to replace or repair them while the seat covers are off. Several owners, including myself, had their seat bottoms break which makes the seats very hard to sit in. I had mine repaired by a local upholstery shop: http://www.16908.info/?p=1221

[john 05141]

Put the seat foam outside in the sun for at least a day before recovering it. It will remove any stink.
I see you'll install the new dark grey carpet. I did the same, is beautiful with the grey interiour. My seats were professionally recoverd, but in plain gray with the dark grey carpet is excellent!! But taste may very. I'm not that fond of the 2 tone.
I put in a picture to show you. If you want more, I got plenty of pictures.

John

[TTait]

If your seat backs need recovering, Take a look at John Herveys seat skins. They do not have the oem ripple effect, they look more like Johns seats in the post above.

My original backs cleaned up just fine, but I could also use a how to on how to repair them - on my wifes car one of them needs reinforcement.

[WelmoedJ]

If your seat backs need recovering, Take a look at John Herveys seat skins. They do not have the oem ripple effect, they look more like Johns seats in the post above.

My original backs cleaned up just fine, but I could also use a how to on how to repair them - on my wifes car one of them needs reinforcement.

There's not actually a know-how-to I know of.
I made a new back from hardboard and re-inforced it with 4/5 inch aluminium strips from top-middle to lower sides.
Putting the cover back on is straight forward and simple.
Must have some pic of the fitted strips but that's on paper only.
Will go and look for it and post it.

[Fluxat88MPH]

Someone mentioned to me using zip ties in plays of the hog-rings. I dont know if anyone has any experience with that. Also the grey in the two tone seats are lighter/different grey than the grey in the car.

[DMCMW Dave]

Someone mentioned to me using zip ties in plays of the hog-rings. I dont know if anyone has any experience with that. Also the grey in the two tone seats are lighter/different grey than the grey in the car.

If you do that (not recommended) use quality nylon zip ties. The plastic ones degrade over time and you don't want them letting go. Hog rings are really the way to go and what any upholstery shop would do.

[content22207]

Zip ties used in judicious places are 1,000 times easier than hog rings. You don't use them all over, just at the neck, to pull the center bars back, and in place of those four silly round fasteners on the bottom, which I hasten to point out are plastic in the first place (run the zip ties through fender washers). Everything else is easily hog ringed.

Bill Robertson
#5939

[QuadcityDMC]

Having put the new DMC covers on my seats all I can say is -Use hog rings!

[content22207]

Having put new DMC covers on my seats myself, all I can say is use zip ties at the neck, to pull the metal bars back, and in place of those ridiculous fasteners on the bottom, which are made of plastic in the first place (tricks the nice people at DMA showed me):
4408

Bill Robertson
#5939

[SoCalDMC12]

Has anyone had experience installing non-OEM seats? I've been thinking about replacing mine with a set from a 1st generation Mercedes SLK. I like the look of those seat, and they can be had for fairly cheap on eBay.

[Fluxat88MPH]

Someone needs to do a procedural process with pic if available on installing the covers. I really like to do stuff myself instead of having someone else do it plus you gain experience. So if any of you out there want to do a write up for the How To threads that would be great.

[stevedmc]

Someone needs to do a procedural process with pic if available on installing the covers. I really like to do stuff myself instead of having someone else do it plus you gain experience. So if any of you out there want to do a write up for the How To threads that would be great.

It sounds like you have a good task ahead of yourself for when you recover your seats.

Btw, I am suprised no one has mentioned this already but wasn't there an issue of Delorean World with detailed instructions on how to recover seats? I seem to remember reading about this either on the old DMCTalk or on the DML. I can't find it in the technical info part of the DML so it must be stored somewhere in the "backup" of the old DMCTalk.

[content22207]

Gullwing magazine actually.

This PDF isn't illustrated, but it does describe the process:
4420

Bill Robertson
#5939

[stevedmc]

Gullwing magazine actually.

This PDF isn't illustrated, but it does describe the process:
4420

Bill Robertson
#5939

The magazine scan I saw did have a few black and white pictures but the scan was so blurry it was difficult to make them out. Anyway, these do look like good instructions.

It is amazing how Bill is able to produce stuff like this almost instantly. I really need to start archiving stuff like this on my computer.

[content22207]

The article I remember had color illustrations. I just fired up my old 98 machine to see if I had saved a copy in it, but couldn't find one. Surely somebody saved it.

Apparently the issue was dated late 2004 or early 2005.

Bill Robertson
#5939

[Fluxat88MPH]

Thanks Bill, after reading all that makes me want to take it some place to have it done lol.

[Soundkillr]

I installed dmch covers on mine, I have several pics of the skins, click on my profile and check my album. These covers look great, but you need to take your time and insure they are installed correctly and tight on the seat. First seat took about five hours and second seat about three.

[Ikeaboy1]

I recovered 2867's seats and was very pleased at the results. I used rings for everything but the neck. Doing both seats took me about a day, but if I did them again it would probably take half that time. Hog ring pliers help immensely. Otherwise you'll be busting your hands up really bad trying to use regular pliers.

[content22207]

Hog ring pliers have grooves in the jaws to hold the hog ring. I can't imagine trying to install hog rings with regular pliers.

The necks were originally hog ringed from the back. You will tear your knuckles up on the metal frame just removing them. Rather than double the agony, just zip tie them from the front. The neck is basically decorative anyway. I used 10 zip ties total on each neck (5 across the top, 5 across the bottom) -- I don't imagine they will ever come off. A zip tie gun makes their installation a snap.

Put long zip ties on the metal bars that make the center creases as use them as handles to pull the bars back so you can hog ring them. I can't imagine any other way to get the bars to the back of the seat.

There are four plastic fasteners on the cushion that hold the center bars to the flexible bottom. Those fasteners are basically one time use only (they're even worse than fir tree fasteners). Chances are you won't be able to salvage all eight. Rather than push water uphill, just cut them off and use zip ties when you install the new cushion. Note that zip ties are wider than the original fasteners, (each zip tie has about twice as much material as a shank on the original fasteners). Run the zip ties though fender washers to keep them from pulling through the flexible bottom.

Of course you use hog rings everywhere else (with the seat backs off you're staring right at the perimeter of the frame).

Bill Robertson
#5939

[Farrar]

I sure wish I could fit a pair of these (http://www.seats4cars.com/products/sportseat.htm) in a DeLorean... anyone ever tried? Most people seem to go with racing seats when they go aftermarket, for some reason...

Farrar

[dn010]

I took the ground wire out of a half used roll of regular 120v 2-wire I just had sitting in the corner of my garage. I then cut the wire in small sections and just used that as hog rings. Easy to wrap them around/twist them up, etc., and still holding in place after 5-6 years, maybe more...

[content22207]

There are four plastic fasteners on the cushion that hold the center bars to the flexible bottom.

Correction: there are six plastic fasteners per seat cushion.

Bill Robertson
#5939

[Fluxat88MPH]

So are people not using rings and using zip ties at the neck area because its just easier or because it provides better results?

[content22207]

Helluva lot easier. Don't put the metal rods in the new pockets -- just poke holes in the pockets and put the zip ties through them. Zip tie them from the front, not the back. Once you get your old fabric off you'll see what I'm talking about.

Bill Robertson
#5939

[Fluxat88MPH]

So if I would happen to have the job outsourced, would there be any information I should suggest to the upholsterist, or let them just do their job because they know what they are doing?