Upholstery options

[ICON 1956]

Beautiful ! nice top notch work.....

[FlyAngry]

Looking for recommendations.

Of all the usual Thundrbird parts suppliers, who has the best bucket seat foam replacement? Or is it all the same product from the same manufacturer?

The vinyl is still in good shape but the foam is going. I figure it's better to replace the foam now before it tears the vinyl. And new foam is a heck of a lot easier than losing weight!

Will also need to replace one of the plastic side skirts. I assume you just have to cut out an appropriate hole for the power seat control.

Thanks!
JP

[Steverino]

It is just crazy how time flies... or how easily I get waylaid by other matters.

At any rate I finally got my upholstery done... I ended up buying pre-sewn vinyl covers and foam from Bird Nest. Originally I was going to install them myself, but upon further reflection I decided to have a local upholstery shop do the work instead. They say discretion is the better part of valor...

The shop quoted $800 - $1000 but I ended up paying $583 tax included. The quality of the kit seems good and the installation, while not concours (yes I tend to be picky) will be fine for a driver, I think. In any event it will be an improvement over the 59 year old originals.

No pics yet - just picked them up tonight. I need to paint the new skirts I bought, install the skirts and backs, and then I should be ready to reinstall. Well, except I may proceed with some other interior panel refurbishment while the seats are out of the way...

One question: I do need to cut a hole in the skirt for the driver's power seat switch. I don't have the original skirt (thanks, P.O.) so can anyone give me a measurement or two for locating the hole correctly?

Thanks!

[Jim Wulf]

Here you go:

[Steverino]

Thanks Jim - you're the BEST!

[andy2175m4]

my experience:

1. in 2007 I got lucky and found a very large piece of black Italian furniture leather for sale in Hollywood, and had my 63 T bird re-upholstered from scratch by a local shop and they did a very good job, I was quite pleased with that, wish I still had that car. It was not that expensive, all said and done less than $1k. and very nice.

2. a year ago for my 1965 T Bird I bought pre-made seat covers in aqua blue from Larry's Thunderbird catalog, I was very impressed with the quality of the pre-made seat covers, the fit was excellent, but taking out the seats, disassembling them and installing the new seat covers was much more difficult than I expected. If I had to do it over, I would not go that route, for an amateur upholsterer like me, it's just too hard. the motorized driver's seat weighs about 100 lb, a gut buster.

3. 71 Mustang....I tried 2 different sets of pre-made upholstery From CJ Pony Parts and did not like the fit at all of either of them, very dis-satisfied. so it's hit or miss with the pre-made.

bottom line: Larry's Thunderbird catalog has excellent upholstery, but I'd recommend you have a shop install it unless you have infinite patience.