Seat Restauration - Lakwell seat covers
Discussion
Not that SEAT, the only thing Spanish here will be the glass of sangria I shall be pouring when its finished.
With grateful thanks to philpott for identifying a source of these eyelets:
We can begin extract seat and separate the two parts. carefully remove the cover undoing all the clips, ties and wires. The instructions are simply pages of photos that show each stage of teh process. You will need to remember how it came apart to be able to re-fit the new covers.
The old vinyl leathercloth had truely had it:
The lakewell covers are quality nappa leather very well made up:
Which after a few hours work will reward you with this:
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/lcnyBSc0.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/IrIkCmBQ" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/IrIkCmBQ.jpg)
With grateful thanks to philpott for identifying a source of these eyelets:
We can begin extract seat and separate the two parts. carefully remove the cover undoing all the clips, ties and wires. The instructions are simply pages of photos that show each stage of teh process. You will need to remember how it came apart to be able to re-fit the new covers.
The old vinyl leathercloth had truely had it:
The lakewell covers are quality nappa leather very well made up:
Which after a few hours work will reward you with this:
The seat bases are a totally different scale of difficult to get on straight after 6 attempts I ended up here:
To summarize, superb quality materials but fitting them will test your patience not forgetting all the cuts and grazes from forcing your arms into the seat frames; Upholstery experience would be very useful. If there was a Haynes manual for upholstery this job would probably have a 5 sewing machine rating!
To summarize, superb quality materials but fitting them will test your patience not forgetting all the cuts and grazes from forcing your arms into the seat frames; Upholstery experience would be very useful. If there was a Haynes manual for upholstery this job would probably have a 5 sewing machine rating!
You're a brave man to attempt that job. It is one of the mysterious black arts that can usually only be mastered by people mostly called "Dave". 
Do Lakewell suppy the foam pads to replace the seat cushions? My driver's seat getting tired and saggy. ( Stop sniggering at the back there!
)
Do Lakewell suppy the foam pads to replace the seat cushions? My driver's seat getting tired and saggy. ( Stop sniggering at the back there!
)Well after everything that @kitchski did for the mechanical restoration I'd better crack on:
Re-trimming the roof hoop is a major excercise in patience even if you trace round the vinyl that you have removed it doesnt fit. Sort of thing that could drive a lesser man to malt whisky
Start with the roof also from Lakewell and it seems to be a better fit than the last one i had from TVR back in the 90s:
Just pegged in place to recover from being rolled up for the last few weeks.
I should have recovered from impact adhesive exposure by the morning
Just the door hinges to do now
Re-trimming the roof hoop is a major excercise in patience even if you trace round the vinyl that you have removed it doesnt fit. Sort of thing that could drive a lesser man to malt whisky
Start with the roof also from Lakewell and it seems to be a better fit than the last one i had from TVR back in the 90s:
Just pegged in place to recover from being rolled up for the last few weeks.
I should have recovered from impact adhesive exposure by the morning
Just the door hinges to do now
While you have the fabric off the rear hood hoop I recommend you consider extending the moulding to the 'B' post. This will allow a much better fitting of the hood in this corner, and trim off the join with the tub much more neatly than sticking and pop-riveting Velcro to the body. See my hood thread for the idea.
Re-trimming now complete:
Car now has that wonderful smell of new leather and the less wonderful smell of evostick
Haven't done the targa panels as the material was still perfect but slightly darker Navy than the rear.
To protect the rear window I have used 6 in lengths of foam insulation tube intended for 22mm Copper water pipes. Clearly better than the original thin strips of rubber.
Just waiting on the door hinge bushes from TVR Car parts now for the final job. Just a little paintwork to do after that but that's someone elses job.
Car now has that wonderful smell of new leather and the less wonderful smell of evostick
Haven't done the targa panels as the material was still perfect but slightly darker Navy than the rear.
To protect the rear window I have used 6 in lengths of foam insulation tube intended for 22mm Copper water pipes. Clearly better than the original thin strips of rubber.
Just waiting on the door hinge bushes from TVR Car parts now for the final job. Just a little paintwork to do after that but that's someone elses job.
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