Reupholstering buckets

amalgamator · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:10 pm Post subject: Reupholstering buckets

Ok, I've stripped the bucket seats down to the springs, gotten the new foam and seat covers. Now I need to know how in the world to get the tucked seams pulled in and hog ringed through and with the foam. The foam and covers are from OPG. I'm baffled as to how this is done, aside from the usual "use a plastic bag" trick to slide the covers on. I need to know how to get the hog rings attached through all that material and get it pulled in tight. Anyone been down this road?
Thanks.

Robby85 · Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:11 pm Post subject:

TTT

I'd like to know myself.
_________________
77 HD Sportster
79 Corvette L82
85 El Camino SS LG4
93 Camaro Z28 LT1
05 Dodge Caravan daily driver - yeah baby!

amalgamator · Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:44 pm Post subject: Covers

Well Robby, I think I figured it out. Or I should say I deduced this from reading an article after doing some online research.
The part of my covers that needs to be pulled into the deep groove has a long "tube" or "sleeve" sewn along that seam. You have to put a straight, stiff wire/rod, maybe like the weight of a good heavy coat hanger, through that sleeve and somehow pull or push it down close against the wire that runs along, and is attached to the springs. Then get a hog ring to go through the foam and around the "sleeved" wire and attach it to the wire on the spring. Do this all along the seat base in both deep grooves and along the vertical back deep seams.
I forget what they called it but it's that heavy rod or wire that's needed. Probably ought to put a small loop in the ends to keep it from punching through the material later too. Trick is to get it pulled down close for a time til ya get the rings through.
Well that's my theory til I get advised otherwise, and that's how I'm gonna do it.
I was told I shouldn't try to put a headliner in either but I did, and it turned out great. I hate to pay someone for stuff I can learn and do myself.

PaPa Johns 77 · Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:20 am Post subject:

I did the buckets that are in my ElCamino. It IS a pain in the butt to get it all pulled tight and straight. I used a heat gun (very carefull) to get ou some of the wrinkles.
I layed the covers out on the blacktop driveway and let them soften up good before I started and used the plastic bag method to make them slide on easier.
Getting the covers pulled down and hog ringed is the hard part but you seem to have it figured out!
One thing, you now can take pride in saying "I did it myself" plus you save a loght of dough in the proces! God knows they charged enough for the covers alone! Laugh

Post some pictures of the finished sears just for bragging rights! Cool

_________________
"Still Just Truck'in"
"Johnny"
Bradley, Illinois

amalgamator · Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 9:18 pm Post subject: Thanks Johnny

Yea, thanks bro, I like to think I can do anything if I put my mind to it. And sounds like you're the same kinda guy.
I'll try to send in some pics when all is said and done.

Robby85 · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject:

I understand how you would secure the bottom seat cushions because you have access to the bottom of the seat but how do you secure the top cushions. Once the rods are in the sleeves, how do you secure them? The back cover is in the way. What am I missing?

Thanks
_________________
77 HD Sportster
79 Corvette L82
85 El Camino SS LG4
93 Camaro Z28 LT1
05 Dodge Caravan daily driver - yeah baby!

diesel camino · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:27 am Post subject:

I am guessing you bought the new seat foam too. These and the new covers can be a real bugger to get streatched. They make these covers plenty tight (sometimes too tight) so that when they are streatched they will stretch the wrinkles out.

First get your listing wires hog ringed down. These are the sleaves on the under side of the seat cover that you put the wires in. If you have the new seat foam you may have to cut a small slit in the chanel of the foam until you get down to the wire that is inbeded in the foam. This will make it easier to get the hog ring down to the ancore wire. Just line your cover up over the channels and line you hog ring up with the slits you made in the foam. Poke the hog ring through the listing sleave just above the wire and push it down into the slit in the foam and clamp it to the ancore wire in the foam. You may have to push these down very hard as you close the hog ring to get them to catch the wire.

Once the listing wires are ancored good and tight to the cushion you need to streatch the outside cover. The easiest way to do this is to set the seats out in the sun on a good warm day. This will soften the vinyle and allow it to stretch. I usually try to start at the front and work my way back. These covers are going to be very tight so be carefull not to tear the material. Once the cover is compleatly stretched over the frame hog ring it to the frame.

Good luck
Steve
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yes it really does have a diesel engine

Robby85 · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:05 pm Post subject:

Steve, thanks for the reply. Actually, I acquired a set of seats. The previous owner had installed new covers. The bottom cushions appear to be installed correctly - the covers pulled tight to the foam. But the top cushions are not pulled tight to the seat foam. Unzipping the cover, I can reach my hand up and feel two wires that run vertical down the cushion but they don't seem to be anchored to anything. It's the installation of this upper cover that I can't figure out and how to anchor? How would you hog ring the listing wire of the upper cover.

I look forward to your response.
_________________
77 HD Sportster
79 Corvette L82
85 El Camino SS LG4
93 Camaro Z28 LT1
05 Dodge Caravan daily driver - yeah baby!

diesel camino · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 6:43 am Post subject:

I haven't recovered this exact seat but I think I know what you are dealing with.

If there is a zippered panel on the back, there are probably hog rings holding the outside panels to the back. You will need to remove these hog rings and peal the outside cover back over the seat to expose the listings on the center section of the seat. Who ever did it either didn't ancor the center listings at all or failed to get the hog rings all the way down to the ancor wires in the seat itself. There again sometimes if this is new foam it is very difficult to get these hog rings deep enough to catch the wire so sometimes it helps to make a small slit in the foam and push your hog rings down through the slit. Once the center listings are ancored stretch the outside covers back around and re ancor them to the frame or springs the way they were.

If this doesn't sound like the seat you have and I have totaly confused you. You might try posting some pictures of the back of the seat with the zipper panel open.

Steve
_________________
yes it really does have a diesel engine

Robby85 · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:11 pm Post subject:

Steve,

These are the seats (1983 Camaro)

_________________
77 HD Sportster
79 Corvette L82
85 El Camino SS LG4
93 Camaro Z28 LT1
05 Dodge Caravan daily driver - yeah baby!

diesel camino · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 7:58 am Post subject:

It has been a while but I have re covered a set of seats like this and as I remember the listings are kind of a bugger to get hog ringed down.

There will be a listing wire on the top seam (wear the vinyl meets the cloth at the headrest) and the two on the outside of the center panel where they meet the bolster panels.

Leave the two wires (they may be heavy rods in these seats) on the center panel out and turn the covers inside out up to the top listing wire on the headrest. Slide the cover over the head rest foam and pull it down tight and hog ring the listing to the back. Now roll the rest of the cover down the seat (kind of like a condom) and pull it down tight. Now comes the tricky part. insert your listing wires (or rods) into the cover and you will have to reach up inside the cover with your hog ring plyers and ring the wires down to the back making sure to get them attatched firmly to the rods inside the foam of the seats. It helps to have an angle head hog ring plyers for this.

At this point the really frustrating part is done and you can zip the cover up and put the back on the bottom cushion and put them in the car.

Steve
_________________
yes it really does have a diesel engine

Barry · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 3:32 am Post subject: BUCKET SEATS

My 84 Elky needs a complete interior redo. . . Butt the bucket seats are the first priority. . . . As the drivers seat has broken wires that jab you in the butt and tear pants, I've used agricultural seat covers to temporarily fix the problem, i.e. feed bags. . . . My first question is, can these wires/springs be replaced ? Two, can I switch the passenger side seat to the drivers side while having the drivers side re-done ? And three, where can I find a "swivel/rotating seat frame" set up ? With bad arthritis the swivel seat would sure be nice. . . . Barry-Maryland
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84 El Camino
75 T-160V Triumph MC
95 F-150
09 Toyota Yaris grocery getter