Disassembly is the first step...
Disassembly is the first step and is usually the easiest. Save all theparts because you never know what you might be able to salvage. Removethe seat hinges, seatbacks, and frames.
Is your old vinyl or leather seat tattered or rotten? Are you tired ofrusty springs poking up and jabbing you in the butt? So are we. Classiccars are subject to the weathering of age and poor building materials,making the original seat covers outdated. The aftermarket world iswrought with new interior coverings for your buckets, but paying for aseat re-covering can be time consuming and costly, especially for thoseon a tight budget.
The nice folks at Paragon Reproductions let us document the installationof its '65 leather seat covers provided by Al Knoch Interiors. It's easyand requires only a few tools everyone should have in the garage.
Be careful as you remove the...
Be careful as you remove the hog rings and fastening clips fromunderneath. Removing the seat covers can be tricky. Cutters are used tofree these covers from the rusted clips.
After the old covers and rotten...
After the old covers and rotten foam are removed, the hinges andseatback trim needed some minor repairs and cleaning, so be prepared forunexpected problems. These parts will be stripped and rechromed later,providing a more complete restoration look.
The seat frames are acid-dipped,...
The seat frames are acid-dipped, which strips them down to bare metaland removes any oxidation...
...After inspecting the frames...
...After inspecting the frames for necessaryrepairs, the frames and tracks are OK'd to be electrocoated, ore-coated, which is a process that electrifies the solution dip andadheres the paint like a conductor.
The freshly e-coated and rebuilt...
The freshly e-coated and rebuilt tracks are reassembled and attached.
As the new seat foam is installed,...
As the new seat foam is installed, a layer of protective burlap is laidbetween the foam and springs, separating the soft foam from the cuttingsprings. This burlap also helps attach the hooks.
Paragon offers a complete...
Paragon offers a complete kit (PN 6886K) with new hog rings, wires, andclips for installing the new leather cover to the frame. We recommendthe new kit because original clips and hooks are usually rusted andmight break or could mar the final finish of the cover.
The new seat cover kit is...
The new seat cover kit is PN 6264K-20, which doesn't come with thenecessary new seatbacks (PN 1891K), new hinge screws (PN 1799k-12),pivot screws (PN 1172K), seat bumpers (PN 327K), and seat-adjusterhandles (PN 1529).
You might not see this on...
You might not see this on American Hot Rod or Overhaulin', butinstalling these covers is a bear. Anyone attempting to do this bythemselves better realize it won't be a cakewalk. If you'd rather nottake it on, Paragon can do it for you.
The covers must be stretched...
The covers must be stretched to ensure a tight fit with a minimal amountof wrinkles. In addition to this black leather kit, Paragon offers awide selection of vinyl and leather seats in an array of colors.
Here's what one of the seats...
Here's what one of the seats looks like now, fully rebuilt and ready for installation.
This is Paragon's Seat Cover...
This is Paragon's Seat Cover Installation kit, PN 6886K, which is correct for '65 Corvettes.