I'm in the process of re-covering the stock seats of my 89 RS with a set of seat covers from Hawks. Currently, I have a set of cheap racing seats installed, but I don't like the reduced head room (I'm 6'2").

Here's what I got when I bought the car 3 years ago, the outside bolster of the driver seat is worn so that the springs are poking through.



After removing the headrests and carefully dismantling the seats, it was time to remove all the hog rings holding the covers on. After fighting with them a bit, I found more hog rings holding steel rods which separate the panels of the seats. After all the upholstery was removed, I ended up with this.

The seat cushion with slots for steel rods for panel and bolster separation.


The backrest with the torn foam visible on the right. The black strip is velcro which basically separates the lumbar panel from the rest of the back, then the slots for rods to separate the bolsters.


I went to Jo Ann's and bought a 2 1/2 yard roll of 1/2" high density foam and spray adhesive (made by Loc-Tite) to rebuild the cushions, with coupons, about $25.

I bent over the exposed spring ends and glued closed the tears in the foam, then glued more foam over the bolsters and seat cushions. I used almost all of the 2 1/2 yards of foam and now waiting for my covers to arrive. This is what it looks like now, the seats are still not assembled, just sitting against a box.

 

Looks good... I can't wait to see the finished result.

 

As soon as the kit arrives from its cross-country trek, I'll be busy on them. Hopefully this weekend. Door panels to follow after the new year

 

How much were the seat covers i am also thinking of doing this to my car also

 

It looks like you know what you're doing. Are you going with black again? (sorry if I missed it)

 

$350 for all 4 seats from Hawks, one of our site sponsors. Supposed to come with hog rings and pliers.

Ordered the stock black and silver.

 

Nice how to project with excellent pics! Looks like you're doing a really good job so far. I am also waiting with anticipation to see the final results. Thanks for keeping us posted

 

This looks good but won't the springs rip through that foam somewhat easily? I also have springs coming through my foam (butt and back unfortunately) and have been looking for new cushions. Haven't had much luck so I've been pricing seats as well.

I would really love to do something like this with mine but I would just be worried about the spring coming through it after getting it all together (though I don't know how much you bent them back).

I was also thinking of something like a spray foam. Has anyone ever tried something like that?

 

Wish I had an update, but so far I'm still waiting on a package from UPS with the seat covers in it. I got an e-mail from Hawks on Nov 30 that they had been shipped that morning. It is the slow time of year and they are shipping coast to coast.

 

Actually, I'm pretty sure those ship directly from the manufacturer, who is located in California. They're just a little slow because they make them to order.

 

I'm curious to see how this works out for you. I'm about to order an upholstry kit for my GTA seats and i was thinking of patching a couple or worn spots on the foam. Hadn't thought of checking at a fabric store but that's a good idea. FYI for anyone else who is thinking of recovering seats, Classic Industries has a sale going on right now and their upholstry kits are exactly the same as Hawks. I'm getting my GTA kit for $340 instead of $390. Sorry Hawks.

 

Seat covers came today. I started in as soon as I got home from work and finished covering the driver seat, still need to assemble and attach the hardware and do the headrest.

Here is the kit right out of the box, just by looking at it, I'll need to get some more hog rings.



The re-covered driver seat, the only thing different that I could see is that there is no "CAMARO" embroidered in the lumbar panel.

 

the cover doesnt look like it fits tight enough?

 

That's actually quite tight, the fabric is pulling against the vinyl piping on the seam. I have some work to do and smooth out the wrinkles.

 

lets us know what it takes to smooth em out. hopefully doing this to mine soon. gotta get the t-top leak fixed first though

 

Fronts are in (less headrests) rears removed so I can do those. Wrinkles pretty much came out on their own while sitting in the heat of the house, a hair dryer helps also.

I'm looking into getting something done to the headrests before I put them back on, but for now they're finished.





Door panels to come after the holidays.

 

They look good, how did you get the wrinkles out?

 

Thanks, I worked the stubborn ones out with the help of a hair dryer. As the seats sat in the house overnight, most of them smoothed out on their own with the heat.

 

Great job!! Thanks for letting us see the results!

 

Just noticed your Surface and Subsurface ... Airdale myself! Do you know Rick Rose? A retired PN MasterChief?

 

Never been surface. Always submarine related duty. My avatar shows Dolphins and a Deterrent Patrol Pin for for which I made 11 Poseidon and Trident patrols. I retired a First Class Navigation ET.

 

Very interesting. I worked on design for the Fire Control system in the Ohio class subs, now I work on training systems for the SSGN boats.

 

on a scale of 1 to 10. If i've never worked with recovering seats. What's the ease of install, and how would they turn out? I'm a quick learner and take my time with things, just curious about stretching it and applying the hog rings..

 

I'd have to go on the upper end of that scale. This was a first for me. Just need to pay attention to how the covers come off, don't pull too hard because there may be some hog rings holding things together. Once you get the hog rings out, slowly pull the piece out until you get resistance again, there will be more rings to remove. The key to removing the old covers is not to force anything, this saves the framework of the seat. The istall was pretty much reverse of the breakdown. The only hard part to the job was the physical workout you get.

 

Oh I see! Doesnt sound too bad. Would leather be more difficult you think? Or the same

 

Leather may stretch a little easier with a bit of heat. A coworker did some leather seats during the summer and laid the covers out in the yard for a while to let them get soft and stretchy. He said that it made life much easier

 

Right on! maybe i wont flip an $1500 bill now next winter. Winter 2010 project= seats + door panels =)

 

It's a pain and definitely a 2 person job.If you have patience, a patient helper, and the right tools, you can do a good job.You need to have hog ring pliers and a needle/hook tool. Suppliers of your seat covers will have the tools too.

 

I can't believe they wouldn't add the CAMARO. I mean i guess it's not the end of the world, but i'd want my seat covers to be close as can be to stock/original. Can kinda understand some generic manufacturer to miss that, but you'd think hawks might have that on there.



Oh well

 

Without getting involved with licensing agreements with GM, they can't legally do it... and let's face it, for the extra cost that would have to get added into the price for that licensing, 99% of the cheap-*** thirdgenners buying these wouldn't pay the extra money.

As for the "generic manufacturer", whether you buy them from me, from Hawks, or from anywhere else, they're all coming from the same manufacturer. There's only one company making these.

 

Looks great man!

 

Great Idea...great info

 

For cloth covers a hand held steamer is very helpful in removing wrinkles/smoothing your installed covers - you canget a cheapie of the internet/ebay for about $15 including shipping. Also works for convert tops. Saw a trim shop guy do this once and now I have a small hand steamer.

 

nice job, looks like it turned out really well..

 

I've noticed one big difference between the original covers and the repros from your pictures : the original covers "zebras" are opposed symetrically in the middle, but the repro "zebras" go in the same direction on both sides of the seat.

 

I would never have noticed if you hadn't pointed that out. I'm still very satisfied with the results.