Patches

After all the leather interior I had installed in Mrs. Patches C5 last year, I was going to finish it off with new leathers on her seats but a new job and moving to California delayed that a while. ECS just had a sale on leathers so I jumped on it as they are top quality pieces at a great price.

I got a late start today but did manage to get the driver's seat re-covered so here are the pics. I won't bother doing a tutorial on this one since VE's is stellar and I couldn't possibly improve on that one.

Not sure why but this pic looks vaguely obscene.


One of the reasons I wanted new leathers.




Started removing the leather


You can see the foam has been cut clean through on the outer bolster by the sharp frame edge during entry into the seat.


Upper leather off


All leather gone


The lumbar and bolster air bags


All the foam removed. I had bought new foam from VE several months ago preparing for this so all new foam will go on with the new leathers.


I put some heavy-duty Gorilla duct tape (toughest duct tape I've ever used) on the bolster frame edges to try and prevent them cutting through the new foam.


Bottom leather installed






Bolster halo leather installed




This is what it looked like before


The new look


Mrs. Patches thought she wouldn't like it, she was so in love with her TR seat leathers but she really likes the new look. Passenger side tomorrow . . .

jrose7004

Nice job!

Johnson 92

Looks great!!

TNRAT

That looks great!!!

jake2000

Looks Great! Is it as simple as you make it look?

Patches

Definitely not!

MilleniumVette

It really came out great!! One of these days I need to do the same, since my lower bolster has worn really bad and I know it affected the foam underneath. Nothing is torn through, but the leather is scuffed really bad. How long did the one seat take from start to finish?

turbocrazy

It looks

How many hours does a project like that take? Are there special tools required?

Patches

More than three hours but that included breaks and a trip to the parts store for plastic retainers that needed replacing. No special tools required. Fingers are sore though . . .

SSTG

It looks good.

Vetteman Jack

Nice job, Patches. New covers look great and the Mrs. should be very happy.

MilleniumVette

That doesn't seem all that bad, time-wise. Thanks for the info.

olbear1962

Nice job Patches as always

Hard Core GM

Hey, I would be interested in buying your old leather off the bottom of the driverside seat. Did you damage it when you removed it? I just wonder if it would match or look bad?

Mark

peter pan

Nicely done

El original

Hey doesnt VE supply you with fabric "ears" to cover bolster edges...they apply them on their "how to" site. I am buying the complete foam seats from VE and hope they come with the ears. Big also, why did you not put some material under the seat foam bottom to protect the foam from the wire support? Great project pic's. Rob

Patches

Yes, VE supplies you with felt ear pockets that go over the bolsters when you buy their seat leathers, not the foams. I suppose you could request those when you buy the foam inserts.

Hard Core GM, I'm getting the bolster re-sewn by an upholstry shop to sell these as they're in great shape other than the thread breaking at that seam. There's less than 30K miles on these and I cleaned and conditioned them often with Zaino leather cleaner and conditioner.

napacruzerc5

How would that seat look in a black interior (TR exterior)? Anyone with that set up or photoshop skills please post.

Hey Patches how much?

Hope those bad rains in SoCal kept away from you.

Patches

Would look great in a black interior on a TR C5 - that's how mine looks. I was hoping the wife wouldn't like these so they could go in mine - no such luck.

ECS was selling these for $600 for the set but was running low on sets.

Rains hit us hard here but we're back to normal now.

hoosiervette

I like it Patches, well done. If Mrs Patches likes it, that's all that counts.