Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

Nope, just 1 per side. Between the hinge arm and seat vinyl.

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

So, the 73-80 seats will bolt right in and work in an 81-87 truck?

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

Yes

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

What is this. I realy like it. Would go great with my interior. Rather then this blue tweed.

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

That is a 77-80 bench seat in Camel Tan. I’ve done a couple this color

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

This is an 1981-1987 Black Velour Deluxe. Bench seat has been fully restored and was rebuilt using a new seat bottom foam. This one is staying here in Ohio.

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

I got a set of CrewCab seats yesterday for cores. They look pretty decent, don’t they? Well looks can be quite deceiving! This is why I restore & repair the seats the way I do. There is so much hiding under the covers that you’ll never see. But I do, because every core I get for restoration, gets completely stripped down and any thing that needs repaired will get repaired.
There wasn’t much I could save on this pair of seats. They were so badly rusted, I saved what I could and the rest went directly to the dump. Here is a list of what I was able to save.
Both of the seat backs.
2 sets of seatbelt bezels.
1 seat bottom foam
A few bolts & hardware
A set of front CrewCab/Suburban tracks, and that is even iffy at this point. They are totally seized up. I beat them with a rubber mallet and couldn’t even get them to budge. So they will soak in some EvapoRust for several days and then I’ll have to reinspect them.
Everything else was completely trashed. The seat bottom frames were so ate up with rust. I have to say, I have never seen any this bad! I only got a picture of the one seat bottom. The other one was just as bad as this one!

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

Looks like that one had a mouse house in it.
:jdp:

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

Nope, no mouse house. They were being stored in the guys barn, so the chickens had been using them, lol. Lots of rust, spiders and straw!

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

Birds are worse than rodents. Stored on the floor doesn't do em any favors either.

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

I’ve had mice damage, chipmunk stash and now chickens! It’s disheartening to purchase a seat core, only to have to throw most of it out. :waah:
Some of those were NASTY! And just to clarify, I do wear gloves and a mask, especially when they look like these, jeez.

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

HOLY COW! :jdp:

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

Yep, pretty NASTY!! These have been my worst. A lot of this ended up at the dump. Not a whole lot that can be saved when they are this bad.

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

Them are awful ,,please keep them a far distance from any Mahogany Seat Belts please ,if you know what I am getting at ..
You are one of a few ,,that will make something out of what a lot of people wouldn't take up their time with ,, you know that don't you ? hats off to ya

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

You don’t have to concern yourself about that. Most of these nasty seats was some time ago. And when I strip these seats, I immediately take what needs to go to the dump right away. The most recent were the the CrewCab seats I just posted. And those were just ate up with rust. Yes, they had been sitting in someone’s barn with the chickens, but it was the rust issue more than anything.

When it comes to the seatbelts, each set is in a box on the other side of the garage. And most of them are out in the heated insulated shed. They are stored out there with the restored seat frames.

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

Thanks for the photos of your very nice organized work shop,,enjoyed seeing it all .. """hope you know I was only kiddin ya""" ..I feel that any one who does very neat and exact workmanship as you do ,,and also you have shown to us...I will tell you ,,many ,,, many more times than not ,it will be is a very clean place to work..

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

I’m a bit OCD when it comes to my garage and shed, lol. It’s starts getting a bit disorganized at times, and that happens when I have a lot going on at one time. So then I have to take a break and get everything back under control. Then I feel better, lol.

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

Took a little road trip over to Indiana for a core seat. This one is a 77-80. And it looks like it will make a nice core. Just never know until it get stripped.

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

Built 2 1981-1987 fully restored Black Velour Deluxe, with New Foam.
One is heading to Georgia. The other one stayed local and was picked up.

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

"When it comes to the seatbelts, each set is in a box on the other side of the garage. And most of them are out in the heated insulated shed. They are stored out there with the restored seat frames."

Yes, but is there natural light and ready access to food and water?

Haha, that's quite an operation TKCR. The setup looks as good as your finished products.

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

I have natural light and access to food & water in the garage:lol: I didn’t mention what up in the attic above the garage. I do have a few parts up there, but that’s where I store pretty much all the foam. It’s not heavy, so it’s easy to put up there and get down.
My problem is, I’m severely OCD. So everything has to have its place, and I like to know what I have and where it’s at. Although that’s not how it goes sometimes.

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

A good set of Hog Ring pliers and good hog rings are a must, for installing covers. That first set is probably my favorite. That one helps to pull the cover, to hog ring it in place. That is, if it is a well made cover. Some of the pre-made aftermarket covers that people get from LMC or Classic Industries, they vary too much in size. They are mass produced by ACME, so the focus is more on just that, quantity versus quality.
When I first started dabbling in restoring seats, I used a few covers from LMC, because I had no knowledge of sewing up covers. Nor, did I have the room. Well I can honestly say, that the quality is just not there with these covers. Most of them were made too big, which made for a lot of excess material. And the sewing techniques were awful, way too many puckers. He are a few examples.

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

For quite a few years now, I have someone that makes my cover for my seats. The quality is A++++! Better materials, thicker padding and they are made to fit nice and tight.
Here are some examples.

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

You do great work Tina! And I appreciate you taking the time to show us how you do it and the good and the bad of the products out there. I was just about ready to order the Silverado interior kit for my build from USA1 and was wondering if you have installed any of their seat covers and what the quality was like? Thank you!

Re: Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered
 

I love this thread, wish I had your talent for this work.

Quick question, for the plastic inserts that the seatbelts go through on some seats, how do you affix them? Some kind of glue?

Also do you know why do some seats have those inserts, and some do not?