Fixing Seat Pleats
01-12-2014, 01:37 PM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fixing Seat Pleats
Have any of you guys or gals done this job? Scroll down to post #49.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...s-fixes-3.html
I have decided I really feel it is unnecessary to replace my seat covers. They are very nicely patina'd, not ripped, or damaged in any way. The pleats are just pulling away. I hate to spend thousands of dollars to fix what I think is a solvable issue. I have done a lot of looking around the web and that little post is the only insight I have into fixing this specific problem.
That guy appears to have gotten very good results with R&R'ing his old seat covers and by the way I would argue mine are in almost exactly the same shape as his when they started off.
Just curious if anyone on here has done that. I've been going back and forth on what to do here and I've thought about replacing the covers, putting 944 seats in, R&R'ing my current seats, or doing nothing at all. I am by no means trying to be cheap but I am trying to avoid unnecessarily spending upward of two thousand dollars for such a minor issue on the surface.
As always, the insight is greatly appreciated.
Royal
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...s-fixes-3.html
I have decided I really feel it is unnecessary to replace my seat covers. They are very nicely patina'd, not ripped, or damaged in any way. The pleats are just pulling away. I hate to spend thousands of dollars to fix what I think is a solvable issue. I have done a lot of looking around the web and that little post is the only insight I have into fixing this specific problem.
That guy appears to have gotten very good results with R&R'ing his old seat covers and by the way I would argue mine are in almost exactly the same shape as his when they started off.
Just curious if anyone on here has done that. I've been going back and forth on what to do here and I've thought about replacing the covers, putting 944 seats in, R&R'ing my current seats, or doing nothing at all. I am by no means trying to be cheap but I am trying to avoid unnecessarily spending upward of two thousand dollars for such a minor issue on the surface.
As always, the insight is greatly appreciated.
Royal
01-12-2014, 02:43 PM
#2
Burning Brakes
I haven't Royal... but if you do this procedure could you document it with a lot of pictures? It would be very helpful to some of us!
Good luck!
Good luck!
01-12-2014, 02:52 PM
#3
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Royal,
I couldn't agree more judging my the images of your seats. They really are quite nice and should be preserved.
In the past, I have sewn new cloth pockets and "listing" wire on either side of the pleats on previous cars. I then tie them through the foam and into the springs below. I don't believe I have images on this one but will check. I will be doing my 79's soon as well and will be sure to get images.
I couldn't agree more judging my the images of your seats. They really are quite nice and should be preserved.
In the past, I have sewn new cloth pockets and "listing" wire on either side of the pleats on previous cars. I then tie them through the foam and into the springs below. I don't believe I have images on this one but will check. I will be doing my 79's soon as well and will be sure to get images.
01-12-2014, 03:15 PM
#4
Rennlist Member
This is probably one of the better "seat" thread; at least on how to take it appart and what's underneath.
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...s4-gt-gts.html
It will be a little different with your '81 but a lot will be the same. The Pelican pictures are spot-on as far as what needs to be re-glued.
You'll need a set of hog-ring pliers and hog rings too--although some have used zip ties with good results. For glue, on my 84 I used 3M's Super 90 and never had any issues with it coming undone. Now I use Welwood contact cement (you can buy it in a can at Home Depot/Lowes.) It works very well--the only difference is Super 90 is spary on and Welwood is brush on. I would say a 2-4 hour project depending on how well things go. Good luck!
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...s4-gt-gts.html
It will be a little different with your '81 but a lot will be the same. The Pelican pictures are spot-on as far as what needs to be re-glued.
You'll need a set of hog-ring pliers and hog rings too--although some have used zip ties with good results. For glue, on my 84 I used 3M's Super 90 and never had any issues with it coming undone. Now I use Welwood contact cement (you can buy it in a can at Home Depot/Lowes.) It works very well--the only difference is Super 90 is spary on and Welwood is brush on. I would say a 2-4 hour project depending on how well things go. Good luck!
01-12-2014, 04:58 PM
#5
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks, guys.
NoVector - did you do the sewing/webbing like the guy on Pelican did? That seems like something that's logical to do. Provided I can get the covers off I think I can do this job. I happen to really like the look of the early seats so that's one of the reasons I'm trying to work with what I've got, too.
These look slightly more complicated than the later ones, but I think it's a manageable job.
Royal
NoVector - did you do the sewing/webbing like the guy on Pelican did? That seems like something that's logical to do. Provided I can get the covers off I think I can do this job. I happen to really like the look of the early seats so that's one of the reasons I'm trying to work with what I've got, too.
These look slightly more complicated than the later ones, but I think it's a manageable job.
Royal
01-12-2014, 05:23 PM
#6
Rennlist Member
No sewing - just glue. It was ~12 years ago when I did the 84 so I can't remember if they're like the newer ones that have a wire going the length of the pleat - and that wire is hog-ringed on the bottome side of the seat.
E.g., here's a picture of new Paull Champagne leather I put in the GTS a couple years ago. You can see the wire on the right side of the picture in the pleat fabric. The bottom of the seat is on the left of the picture - the wire fits in those grooves and then hog-ringed through the bottom.
FWIW - I always wondered when people post about soaking their seat leather in goop and wraping them in saran-wrap if they understand that glue is on the under side of that leather... what might cure hard leather in the short-term probably isn't doing the glue/adhesion any favors in the long term. My $.02...
E.g., here's a picture of new Paull Champagne leather I put in the GTS a couple years ago. You can see the wire on the right side of the picture in the pleat fabric. The bottom of the seat is on the left of the picture - the wire fits in those grooves and then hog-ringed through the bottom.
FWIW - I always wondered when people post about soaking their seat leather in goop and wraping them in saran-wrap if they understand that glue is on the under side of that leather... what might cure hard leather in the short-term probably isn't doing the glue/adhesion any favors in the long term. My $.02...
01-12-2014, 06:22 PM
#7
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The picture is very helpful. Thank you.
Also, yes, I will be absolutely sure to document this via photo and text tips if I do the project. Unfortunately I think there is very little documentation on R&Ring these seats. While I agree that in many cases for a thirty year old car that has miles on it needs new seats, I don't think it's necessary to always just throw the old ones out. A car is only original once and it's fun to try and preserve that authenticity.
Also, yes, I will be absolutely sure to document this via photo and text tips if I do the project. Unfortunately I think there is very little documentation on R&Ring these seats. While I agree that in many cases for a thirty year old car that has miles on it needs new seats, I don't think it's necessary to always just throw the old ones out. A car is only original once and it's fun to try and preserve that authenticity.