Mini Mad
Posted 10 October 2013 - 10:31 AM
Was just wondering if anybody has had a go at recovering their seats and interior. Any pics of the finished job would be great. I fancy having a go at doing mine in leather look trim....still got loads to do before i make a start on the interior but thought i'd do a bit of research.
Also what colour interior do you think on a white saloon??
Up Into Fourth
Posted 10 October 2013 - 10:34 AM
do you mean actually sewing the seats covers?
Mini Mad
Posted 10 October 2013 - 05:24 PM
yes, think it would be possible to take the fabric off the seat and use it as a template...then with a bit of help from the Mrs and her sewing machine, have some bespoke seats and door cards. We've got a Volkswagen T5 as our family car and i've followed some of the guy's on the T4/T5 forum that have had a go covering their rock and roll bed conversions with impressive results
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 10 October 2013 - 07:09 PM
Mini Mad
Posted 10 October 2013 - 10:54 PM
I've not had a go yet but i've been having a look at other peoples work...think its got to be worth a go. Here's a web site that sells the stuff a lot of re-trimmers use if your interested.
Edited by DiscoDarren, 10 October 2013 - 10:56 PM.
Previously known as shaunarmes.
Posted 11 October 2013 - 12:12 AM
Previously known as shaunarmes.
Posted 11 October 2013 - 12:20 AM
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 11 October 2013 - 06:41 AM
Up Into Fourth
Posted 11 October 2013 - 07:46 AM
Previously known as shaunarmes.
Posted 11 October 2013 - 09:27 AM
Up Into Fourth
Posted 11 October 2013 - 09:42 AM
I paid about £120 for the seat covers from AllTrims. (eBay).
He will make them with any colour stitching or pipe work you like.
I'm sorry but I do not have any pics whilst I was doing it but
To fit them I removed my old smelly fabric seat covers , there is metal clips on the bottom of the chair holding the fabric to the seat frame. The head rests need to come out & old covers are stapled around the bottom of the head rest.
Fitting the new covers to the head rests were the hardest but as they were really tight. You need to cut a small hole & refit head rest after the new covers are fitted to the seat.
I then stretched the new seat covers over the foam & replaced the clips over the seat frame ( you need to pull the covers down tight then pull them down a bit more before you put the clips on. Otherwise they will sag a bit after you've sat on them a few times.
With the rear lower seat it's a block of sponge basically with staples holding the covers in place underneath. The same applies. I removed old cover & staples. Then pulled the new cover over & re-stapled. Again you need to pull extra tight.
With the upper rear seat. It's basically a thin metal frame with a bit of sponge & the cover over it.
At the back of the seat there is clips holding the covers to the thin seat frame. & some glue.
The old covers will come off easily enough though
New cover again is stretched over & re clipped at the back of the frame.
It really is just fit it all on then pull bits tight & re Clip until it looks right.
The door cards dash & centre console were from optimise automotive.
The dash rails are still the grey rubber ones only covered with vynal I bought from optimised automotive aswell.
This bit was tricky pulling it all tight around the squiggly rails & clipping it at the back. With the clips that were originally for the chrome strips that run along the rails.
Then I had to cut out holes for the instrument switches & I chose to not have a cigarette tray. But that would need cutting out also
Thats great, but he is thinking of actually making the covers from scratch.
I also plan to try and make my own covers, when i get a worthy project.
I have always thought to take the old covers, and cut the seams with a razor blade. steam or iron the sections flat and use them as templates.
I am pretty handy on the sewing machine, but i still think it is a big job if you want it to be just so. Probably you will need various feet/needles for the sewing machine for starters. And thats if your machine is up to the job.
Previously known as shaunarmes.
Posted 11 October 2013 - 01:02 PM
Mini Mad
Posted 11 October 2013 - 04:00 PM
Yes. I did the lot on mine
There's a few pics here
http://www.theminifo...teriors-please/
That looks brilliant....might prove easier and probably cheaper in the long run to do it that way. The leather look vinyl is £18/m and is usually 54" wide but i'm not sure how much you need to do 4 seats. Just thought if i got pretty decent results i'd do the T5 (its a 8 seater shuttle) and Lisa's 66' beetle interior is looking a bit tired too
Mini Mad
Posted 11 October 2013 - 04:07 PM
I paid about £120 for the seat covers from AllTrims. (eBay).
He will make them with any colour stitching or pipe work you like.
I'm sorry but I do not have any pics whilst I was doing it but
To fit them I removed my old smelly fabric seat covers , there is metal clips on the bottom of the chair holding the fabric to the seat frame. The head rests need to come out & old covers are stapled around the bottom of the head rest.
Fitting the new covers to the head rests were the hardest but as they were really tight. You need to cut a small hole & refit head rest after the new covers are fitted to the seat.
I then stretched the new seat covers over the foam & replaced the clips over the seat frame ( you need to pull the covers down tight then pull them down a bit more before you put the clips on. Otherwise they will sag a bit after you've sat on them a few times.
With the rear lower seat it's a block of sponge basically with staples holding the covers in place underneath. The same applies. I removed old cover & staples. Then pulled the new cover over & re-stapled. Again you need to pull extra tight.
With the upper rear seat. It's basically a thin metal frame with a bit of sponge & the cover over it.
At the back of the seat there is clips holding the covers to the thin seat frame. & some glue.
The old covers will come off easily enough though
New cover again is stretched over & re clipped at the back of the frame.
It really is just fit it all on then pull bits tight & re Clip until it looks right.
The door cards dash & centre console were from optimise automotive.
The dash rails are still the grey rubber ones only covered with vynal I bought from optimised automotive aswell.
This bit was tricky pulling it all tight around the squiggly rails & clipping it at the back. With the clips that were originally for the chrome strips that run along the rails.
Then I had to cut out holes for the instrument switches & I chose to not have a cigarette tray. But that would need cutting out alsoThats great, but he is thinking of actually making the covers from scratch.
I also plan to try and make my own covers, when i get a worthy project.
I have always thought to take the old covers, and cut the seams with a razor blade. steam or iron the sections flat and use them as templates.
I am pretty handy on the sewing machine, but i still think it is a big job if you want it to be just so. Probably you will need various feet/needles for the sewing machine for starters. And thats if your machine is up to the job.
yes my plan to dis-assemble the old covers was pretty much the same. I'd not thought about the machine tho - would be handy if i could borrow (or buy a cheap 2nd hand) industrial sewing machine. i remember watching a program on tv once where the guy was trimming the interior of a hot rod - was amazing job and he made it look easy. Think the idea has stuck with me ever since
Mini Mad
Posted 11 October 2013 - 04:13 PM
Problem is getting wearable fabric...
Alcantara doesn't wear that great.. Bed sheets wouldn't last long I expect...
think the vinyls on the site i linked to here are ok and not mega money...guess time would tell though how good it is. Think my stitching will give up before the fabric wears out tho :)
0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users
