I wanted to knock out the headrests since I can heat them up easily inside. There was a lot of bad stitching where the metal headrest supports poke through including one torn. I emailed LSeat. They got back to me within hours and said to send them back and they will fix it. The address is 10 min from my house so I am just going to drop them off on Monday.
So the LSeat guy wants me to come by between 9am and 1pm and I am a working stiff so that cannot occur without taking a day off. I just asked for a shipping label and he sent one. I will ship out tomorrow.
It has been a bit since I posted but I have been busy. Put the rebuilt alternator in, took it on a trip, it wasn’t charging. Removed it. Bought a new (remanufactured) Denso unit. I hope to put that in today.
I got both the front seats done. Not very difficult. I did not even need a warm day. Pulled the seats out, pulled all the trim off, labeled wires to motors, separated the bottoms from the backs and got to work. I probably spent about 4-5 hours per seat...
On each seat I took a clothes steamer and steamed directly on the foam... it really brings it back into shape and takes out collapsed and wrinkled areas and spots where the old leather seams imprinted into the foam. I just used a cheap hand held $30 steamer.
I cut the bad foam out as straight as possible with an electric knife. This is patching a low spot with 1/8” foam.
I then put one full strip of 1/8” across the front (to even it out). Then put one strip of 1” foam with a angled cut to taper into the old foam. Then I took one full piece of 1/8” foam across that whole front pad. Every layer is 3M spray adhesive glued in place. The glue adds rigidity to the finished product and must be done.
I also added 1/8” layer to the middle pad in the seat. The dirty looking top layer is the seat heater.
For these seats I highly recommend a sharper nosed pair of hog ring pliers. I have 3 types but only used these. You really have get down into the valleys of the foam to clip the cover wires to the foam wires. This one is made by the Chick Tool Co. I do not remember where I got it.
The one they sell at Harbor Freight WILL NOT WORK. The nose is too blunt and the hog ring holder in the mouth of the pliers is set back too far
My headrest cover are getting fixed / replaced by LSeat. I must say that they were really receptive about my issue. I have not received them back yet but it is still within a reasonable time period. I expect a month.
The quality and ease of the install really needs to be attributed to the quality of the LSeat covers. They are very complex and LSeat definitely nailed it!
I am not going to install the seat yet as I am going to pull the carpet and attempt to re-dye it. Time to pull the rest:
Anyone have a solution without buying a new one to this eyesore?
My brother runs a vinyl die cut sticker shop so I might see if he can do something with it.
(Maybe strip all the paint off the back, a mirrored sticker, tape over sticker and repaint black)
Your seats look really good, can wait to see them steamed and reinstalled especially after a good interior scrub down. No suggestions on the gear selector cover, maybe a salvage yard?
Also, it's amazing the beat down your wife's uncle put on this thing before you bought it.
We are getting close! She seems to feel like it will be mid April. I need to kick it it into gear.
Still need to power wash and dye carpet, install new suspension, I need to fix those nets in the back of the front seats (I have grey bungee on the way from eBay), wrap the shift knob, and sow up some loose odds and ends...
I am keeping my uncle updated as well. He feels bad that it has broken down twice and offered to pay my tow. No biggie, it’s not his fault... he got rid of it at a good time. He is happy to see it getting refreshed.
I had to take a break and clean all dead stuff out of the yard and clean it up as my wife’s baby ‘sprinkle’ (I guess after the first one you don’t get a full on shower anymore) is next weekend. Spent a good 6 hrs on the yard after the 1.5 hrs spent on the alternator this morning.
I had a beer and had a little more energy so decided to pull the carpet... there was so much plastic removed it filled up my 4x8’ trailer...
...with my little helper...
Should fold up decently to fit into a larg trash can for dyeing.
I also pulled all the wood trim off the center console and cup holder... the results looked horrible so I am going to have to paint it or something... this took some time and some Goo Gone...
Howdy neighbor!...Just now seeing your build thread. We had our second child back in October(and moved 10 days prior) so there hasn't been much time to peruse Mud or work on my 100. I'm envious of the time you seem to make for yours with 2 kids and house work.
Need to meet up for beers around the hood. Most of the cruiser guys in town seem to be on the north and south side, and not close by. I'm close to NRG, off Stella Link.
You're also welcome to drive mine for suspension ideas, although, right now I'm trying to track down some loose front end issues.
Howdy neighbor!...Just now seeing your build thread. We had our second child back in October(and moved 10 days prior) so there hasn't been much time to peruse Mud or work on my 100. I'm envious of the time you seem to make for yours with 2 kids and house work.
Need to meet up for beers around the hood. Most of the cruiser guys in town seem to be on the north and south side, and not close by. I'm close to NRG, off Stella Link.
You're also welcome to drive mine for suspension ideas, although, right now I'm trying to track down some loose front end issues.
Hi Jeb... It is insane keeping up with the kids until their 8:00 bedtime then going to work on the cars till 10-11pm then getting up at 4:30 for work... I am also trying to put disc brakes and a 200-4R Tranny in my 57 Bel Air... Have had all the parts for maybe a year... but no time.
You are really close to me and I like beer...
What suspension are you running?
I have already purchased stock shocks and a 1' spacer...
