We started with a pair of used buckets purchased from Memory Lane Collector Car Dismantler. They're for a '66-'72 GM A-body, but the tips shown in the story apply to nearly any musclecar seat. Judging by the covers these were GTO units, but the frames are so similar to other Buick, Olds, and Pontiac units that they can be considered interchangeable for all but the most die-hard resto freak. We're putting 'em in an El Camino. This seat had been spray painted black and some plastic parts were missing.We started with a pair of used buckets purchased from Memory Lane Collector Car Dismantler It's hard to write a witty intro for this story. It's like, duh-seats get thrashed and you have to fix 'em. Companies like Original Parts Group are at the ready with all the parts you need to do the job, but it's scary to try and re-cover seats at home if the seats are really wasted. That's what we thought, until we started hanging out at Mike Ambrose Custom Interiors where they make stuff like this look really easy. Of course, it's always easier to just pay guys like Mike, but it'll be far cheaper if you can handle it yourself. Follow along to see how, then practice a lot on friends' seats before you try your own. OK, start ripping the sucker apart-but do it with tact. Make sure to take note of how stuff was attached and where all the clips and hog rings go. The plastic seat back comes off with four screws at the base and two screws under the seat-back button, which can be carefully pried out with a screwdriver. The chalky texture means these seatbacks are toast.OK, start ripping the sucker apart-but do it with tact. Make sure to take note of how stuf It's a no-brainer with a Phillips to pull off all the plastic trim and small chrome parts. Again keep track of what goes with what.It's a no-brainer with a Phillips to pull off all the plastic trim and small chrome parts. Ambrose told us that the seat tracks are a bit different than Chevy units because there isn't lock-wire going from one side of the seat track to the other. No big deal. Plenty of WD-40 and a hammer freed the sliders, which will need to move if you want to get to the bolts holding the slider to the seat base. The factory used welded blind nuts but expect them to be broken off.Ambrose told us that the seat tracks are a bit different than Chevy units because there is To separate the seatback from the base, begin by removing the two boots holding the slider. The two oval-shaped rubber bumpers (arrow) should also be removed. You'll want new ones from OPG.To separate the seatback from the base, begin by removing the two boots holding the slider The bracket that bolts the seat halves together will be revealed once you use your side-cutters (are we allowed to say dikes?) to clip the hog rings (half-circles of stiff wire) attaching the upholstery to the frames. Unbolt the brackets and remember which is right and left because they are different.The bracket that bolts the seat halves together will be revealed once you use your side-cu Go to town with the dikes and cut off all the hog rings (sounds like a dirty movie). We'll show the rest of the re-covering procedure on the base of the seat, but the basics apply to the seatback too-for that matter, they apply to nearly any musclecar seat.Go to town with the dikes and cut off all the hog rings (sounds like a dirty movie). We'll With the upholstery un-ringed from the perimeter of the seat base, pull the vinyl back far enough to get your fingers between the foam and cut the hog rings from what we'll call the main wire of the seat base. This wire is crucial to the integrity of the seat; it holds both the foam and the upholstery, provides tautness to the vinyl of the base, and locates the main pleat in the upholstery.With the upholstery un-ringed from the perimeter of the seat base, pull the vinyl back far Here's another view of the main wire with the foam removed. We're showing it to you again so you can make sure to remember not to mangle it. Not that we think you have a short attention span or anything.Here's another view of the main wire with the foam removed. We're showing it to you again Keep cutting the nasty, old, rat-pee-smelling burlap off the springs. Now's the time to inspect the seat base for any broken springs. If you find any, it's a big bummer. Pro upholstery guys can buy a roll of spring material and work it into the seat to save it, but you probably shouldn't try it yourself. An easier option may be OPG's application-specific seat-support-spring kits. Luckily, our stuff was good. Now it's clean-up and spray paint time, if you feel like it.Keep cutting the nasty, old, rat-pee-smelling burlap off the springs. Now's the time to in The True Cost ITEM SOURCE PRICE Used '68-'72 A-body bucket seat cores Memory Lane $100.00 Pair of seat covers OPG $169.00 Seat-back kit, includes: seat backs, edge trim, chrome endcaps, lower seat sides, and chrome seat-back lock buttons OPG $220.95 Pair of seat foams OPG $89.95 Chrome seat adjustment knobs OPG $23.90 Seat-back bumpers OPG $7.95 Hog rings and pliers OPG $9.95 4 square yards of burlap Local supplier $8.00 TOTAL $629.70 Note: Prices were good as of press time but may change. The OPG items listed are available seperately-we have shown the most economical method of purchasing them. Nearly any other interior item you need for a Chevelle, El Camino, or GTO is available from OPG. Just FYI, Mike Ambrose would have charged about $250 for this installation. The True Cost ITEM SOURCE PRICE Used '68-'72 A-body bucket seat cores Memory Lane $100.00 Pair of seat covers OPG $169.00 Seat-back kit, includes: seat backs, edge trim, chrome endcaps, lower seat sides, and chrome seat-back lock buttons OPG $220.95 Pair of seat foams OPG $89.95 Chrome seat adjustment knobs OPG $23.90 Seat-back bumpers OPG $7.95 Hog rings and pliers OPG $9.95 4 square yards of burlap Local supplier $8.00 TOTAL $629.70 Note: Prices were good as of press time but may change. The OPG items listed are available seperately-we have shown the most economical method of purchasing them. Nearly any other interior item you need for a Chevelle, El Camino, or GTO is available from OPG. Just FYI, Mike Ambrose would have charged about $250 for this installation. On to your first venture into reassembly. You'll need to hit a local supply store and buy about 4 yards of burlap. Ambrose uses more burlap than the factory and strongly advises folding it over double and covering the entire spring portion of the seat. Attach it to the springs with hog rings and special hog-ring pliers, both available from OPG. Begin by attaching it to one main wire and then the other (arrows), making sure to keep it taught.On to your first venture into reassembly. You'll need to hit a local supply store and buy Here's a closer view of how to attach the burlap around the perimeter of the seat. First, note that the burlap is double-folded for strength. Next, notice how Ambrose puts the hog rings on the thickest part of the perimeter (arrow) where two pieces of the wire join. This keeps the rings tighter so the burlap doesn't get saggy.Here's a closer view of how to attach the burlap around the perimeter of the seat. First, When you were removing the old seat covers you may have noticed that the vinyl was reinforced with wire most of the places where it needed hog rings. The new covers don't come with wire, so you need to install your old ones in the channels in the new covers. Old coat hangers or welding rod will also work.When you were removing the old seat covers you may have noticed that the vinyl was reinfor The first seat-cover wires to install are the ones that attach to the main wire in the seat base. They are also the same ones to get reattached. First, set the seat foams in place. Ours had turned to dust and the Pontiac foams didn't match the Chevelle seat pattern, so we got new foams from OPG. Next, hog-ring the seat cover to the main wire-you'll be going through the cover, the foam, and the burlap, so make sure the hog rings get firmly hooked to the main wire. This is an important step because it sets the main pleat in the seat; keep tautness in mind as you start ringing to the second main wire.The first seat-cover wires to install are the ones that attach to the main wire in the sea With both the main wires done, you need to add a wire around the perimeter of the seat-base cover. Ambrose folds a loop in the end of the wire so it doesn't snag as it's being fed into the fabric.With both the main wires done, you need to add a wire around the perimeter of the seat-bas Pull the vinyl over the foam, smoothing wrinkles as you go. It'll help if you leave the new covers in the sun for a while to soften 'em.Pull the vinyl over the foam, smoothing wrinkles as you go. It'll help if you leave the ne Now it's time to hog-ring the cover to the sides and front of the seat base. We hope you remember where the rings attach, but it's fairly easy to figure it out if you don't.Now it's time to hog-ring the cover to the sides and front of the seat base. We hope you r The tougher part is at the back of the base where the vinyl is designed to be folded over at the seams before it's attached. Compare the loose material at the left of the photo to the folded portion being worked on at the right. The very outer edges of the material (arrow) need to be left loose for now so you can access the seatback brackets.The tougher part is at the back of the base where the vinyl is designed to be folded over If you follow the steps shown for the seat base, then the upright part of the seat will seem easy to cover. It's the same procedure, the wires are just in different places. Once the back was covered, Ambrose installed the new OPG plastic seatbacks-they're available in black, dark blue, dark green, ivy, gold, and red. Holes need to be drilled for the screws. OPG also provided new chrome seatback buttons.If you follow the steps shown for the seat base, then the upright part of the seat will se To assemble the seat, reinstall the left and right brackets as well as the oval rubber bumpers and the seatback slider shown earlier.To assemble the seat, reinstall the left and right brackets as well as the oval rubber bum Only now should you fold the extra flaps in the seat-base upholstery over the brackets and hog-ring them in place. This is the toughest part of the seat to get wrinkle-free.Only now should you fold the extra flaps in the seat-base upholstery over the brackets and OPG also has new plastic for the seat-bottom sides available in the same colors as the seatbacks. The material is a bit harder than stock, so be careful not to crack it by overtightening the screws. We were amazed by how well the plastic matches the color of the vinyl. Stock seats come with chromelike trim on the plastic (shown), and OPG offers it new. Ambrose doesn't recommend installing the chrome for use in hot SoCal climes because the glue inside it tends to melt and drip.OPG also has new plastic for the seat-bottom sides available in the same colors as the sea Here's the done deal-a brand new '70 Chevelle seat. We opted for red, which, truth be known, takes some getting used to. Now we think it's cool. OPG offers all the hardware and covers for the headrests, but we chose to leave 'em off for now. Coming soon: seeing more red in the ElCo gut!Here's the done deal-a brand new '70 Chevelle seat. We opted for red, which, truth be know SOURCES Memory Lane 1320 E. Lomita Blvd. Wilmington CA 90744 800-281-9273 www.oldautoparts.com/ Mike Ambrose Custom Interiors By appointment only North Hills CA 818-891-8819 Original Parts Group (OPG) 1770 Saturn Way Seal Beach CA 90740 800-243-8355 www.opgi.com By David Freiburger Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
