I'd like to get some life back into my seats
#1
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I'd like to get some life back into my seats
Hi all,
I'd like to get rid of some of the sagging in the seats on my car. The leather itself is fine and actually has a pretty nice patina, but I think that I would benefit from some new or good used foam and some new piping. The piping is not a big deal and I can have that done locally.
Oh and I am only going to do the driver's side. Passenger is fine. Rear is fine.
I have an '80 928S with electric seats. No lumbar. I think they are the "sport" seats.
I am having trouble discerning part numbers or finding this foam.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Thank You!
Royal
I'd like to get rid of some of the sagging in the seats on my car. The leather itself is fine and actually has a pretty nice patina, but I think that I would benefit from some new or good used foam and some new piping. The piping is not a big deal and I can have that done locally.
Oh and I am only going to do the driver's side. Passenger is fine. Rear is fine.
I have an '80 928S with electric seats. No lumbar. I think they are the "sport" seats.
I am having trouble discerning part numbers or finding this foam.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Thank You!
Royal
#2
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Dunno whether Rob sells the foam separately, but here's a link to his complete seat re-upholstery kits.
http://www.classic9leathershop.com/u...8-automobiles/
If you don't have it, download the 78-82 928 pdf copy of PET here:
http://www.porsche.com/usa/accessori...artscatalogue/
Your seats are listed in major group 8, subgroup 8.
Seat part numbers are a little squirrely, there's a separate section in the PET parts catalog for seats for 1985-2006, but that doesn't help you.
If anyone has a couple of days to figure out the rhyme and/or reason to how Porsche arranged these files, here are two links to the '85-'06 Porsche seat parts
https://webfiles.uci.edu/redwards/pu...SA_KATALOG.pdf
https://webfiles.uci.edu/redwards/pu...SA_KATALOG.pdf
http://www.classic9leathershop.com/u...8-automobiles/
If you don't have it, download the 78-82 928 pdf copy of PET here:
http://www.porsche.com/usa/accessori...artscatalogue/
Your seats are listed in major group 8, subgroup 8.
Seat part numbers are a little squirrely, there's a separate section in the PET parts catalog for seats for 1985-2006, but that doesn't help you.
If anyone has a couple of days to figure out the rhyme and/or reason to how Porsche arranged these files, here are two links to the '85-'06 Porsche seat parts
https://webfiles.uci.edu/redwards/pu...SA_KATALOG.pdf
https://webfiles.uci.edu/redwards/pu...SA_KATALOG.pdf
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I guess I am fine with recovering so long as the recovering includes foam. Some of the kits I am seeing do not include foam so that does not really help me. I would be wasting the leather which is really not bad but if that's what I am faced with it's not the worst thing in the world.
#5
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IMO upholstery is one of those things that is best to hand off to someone else, unless you've done something like this before. It's really an art, and takes a lot of skill IMO to get right. Hand em off to someone like Rob Budd or Paul Champagne to do them right. Worth the price.
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Not planning on doing this specific installation or work myself. I want it nice and I'm not cheap, just don't like to replace things that are fine.
Rob's site isn't working currently but I will call him once it's back up.
Rob's site isn't working currently but I will call him once it's back up.
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#8
Three Wheelin'
No reason to thank me lol. I guess you could theoretically open the seats up and redo the foam inserts, but there's the getting it back together part. Could redye them too, that might high the wear better.
#10
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Paul, and probably Rob Budd too, builds and sculpts the foam cushions and pillows with layers of differing densities of foam. Done properly, these give you that soft initial feel but also maintain the great support you need. Contact them for their recommendation.
"Assembling" the new foam with tired leather is not a great idea. The foam needs to be worked under the leather to get the leather to fit just right. Tired leather probably won't survive that without failing. Even with new soft leather, it takes a lot of work and hand strength to get the fit just right. It's pretty easy to spot most DIY efforts, since there are odd folds stretches and bulges in the leather covers.
I rebuilt the seats in my old 356, using the original horsehair base with fabric pillows sewn into the covers. Pain in the butt then. The newer better foam plastics are much better and more durable than the foam rubbers used then. The leather seemed a lot tougher then too, no baby butt soft hides were used in those seats. They were tough and hard!
"Assembling" the new foam with tired leather is not a great idea. The foam needs to be worked under the leather to get the leather to fit just right. Tired leather probably won't survive that without failing. Even with new soft leather, it takes a lot of work and hand strength to get the fit just right. It's pretty easy to spot most DIY efforts, since there are odd folds stretches and bulges in the leather covers.
I rebuilt the seats in my old 356, using the original horsehair base with fabric pillows sewn into the covers. Pain in the butt then. The newer better foam plastics are much better and more durable than the foam rubbers used then. The leather seemed a lot tougher then too, no baby butt soft hides were used in those seats. They were tough and hard!
#12
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Just looking at the title of this thread, I thought you were gonna post that you might start dating strippers or something.
I think that Rob Budd will do the work for you or send you the parts you need to recover/refurbish your seats yourself or someone local to you. Check out his website and then call him to discuss what you want to do. He's a real good guy and easy to talk to.
I think that Rob Budd will do the work for you or send you the parts you need to recover/refurbish your seats yourself or someone local to you. Check out his website and then call him to discuss what you want to do. He's a real good guy and easy to talk to.
#13
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Personally, I like leaving some character and originality where possible. It's all a matter of opinion. I have done my own upholstery work and even some hand sewing of hides before. Some seats are easier than others of course.
If you do decide to replace the leather, I would wait it out a little. Get a feel for the cars other needs first.
I would be interested in acquiring the covers that come off
Good luck!
If you do decide to replace the leather, I would wait it out a little. Get a feel for the cars other needs first.
I would be interested in acquiring the covers that come off
Good luck!
#14
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Seems to me your leather is fine. All you need is foam and redye, which will make those seats look brand new again. Any good upholstery shop can do these things for you. No need for you to go hunting for foam yourself.
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Before I do anything I am going to have the car checked out by some reputable local interior and upholstery shops. I know several who do extremely good restoration work. They have worked on extremely costly exotics.
I am at this point leaning towards entirely redoing the seats but as there is no rush, I intend to think about all options.
The interior on my E Type is as you can see, close to perfect. The 928 won't be far off when I'm done.
I am at this point leaning towards entirely redoing the seats but as there is no rush, I intend to think about all options.
The interior on my E Type is as you can see, close to perfect. The 928 won't be far off when I'm done.
Last edited by rlich8; 12-19-2013 at 12:16 PM.