Refurbishing Recaro's
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 490
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From: NE Ohio
Car: 82 MSE/89 TTA/89 Formula/99 TA
Refurbishing Recaro's
Picked up a set of these and have been working on them a couple months. Finished yesterday and put them in the car. They turned out really nice! Heres a thread of the process.
Pros:
seats had no rips, tears or burnholes
came complete with all hardwear, including tracks
got them for a very reasonable price
out of an 82 Recaro TA, were in storage for 17 yrs
Cons:
driver seat had been recovered, so they were 2 different shades
shipping was expensive-came from out west, 2000 miles
were very dirty and covered with white animal hair
driver seat back was bent
This is a picture from the sale ad, no surprises when they arrived, looked just like the picture
Totally dis-assembled them, steam cleaned the fabric X 2, cleaned all the parts and painted some of the metal.
Used clamps and a few crowbars to straighten the back. Metal has a memory.
Pros:
seats had no rips, tears or burnholes
came complete with all hardwear, including tracks
got them for a very reasonable price
out of an 82 Recaro TA, were in storage for 17 yrs
Cons:
driver seat had been recovered, so they were 2 different shades
shipping was expensive-came from out west, 2000 miles
were very dirty and covered with white animal hair
driver seat back was bent
This is a picture from the sale ad, no surprises when they arrived, looked just like the picture
Totally dis-assembled them, steam cleaned the fabric X 2, cleaned all the parts and painted some of the metal.
Used clamps and a few crowbars to straighten the back. Metal has a memory.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 490
Likes: 7
From: NE Ohio
Car: 82 MSE/89 TTA/89 Formula/99 TA
Re: Refurbishing Recaro's
Next, painted the frames. The backs were green from the factory and the bottoms were black.
Restrung the webbing on the bottoms.
Restrung the webbing on the bottoms.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 490
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From: NE Ohio
Car: 82 MSE/89 TTA/89 Formula/99 TA
Re: Refurbishing Recaro's
The task of dyeing the fabric to match was the most difficult. Did a lot of research and found a product called "Simply Spray". It is a fabric dye in a spray can with propellant. Watched videos, read a lot before trying it. The secret is to use many light coats, not to soak the fabric. Bought 6 cans, used 4 on the passenger and 1 on the driver to get them to match up. Let it dry about 12 hours between coats. It does not feel hard or sticky and does not rub off if done properly.
After painting and putting back together.
After painting and putting back together.
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,938
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From: Huntsville AL
Car: 88GTA
Engine: 5.7TPI
Transmission: Auto
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: Refurbishing Recaro's
I really like them! They turned out super. Attention to detail for sure Kim!
Nice Westi by the way...
Nice Westi by the way...
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From: NYC
Car: 1982 Recaro TA, 1989 TTA#948
Re: Refurbishing Recaro's
I am amazed how good those came out. The color match looks good as well. There are so many variations on the original color and that color is close to an original match.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 12,213
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From: Il
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Refurbishing Recaro's
Wow, looks great! Now time for some burnouts!
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 490
Likes: 7
From: NE Ohio
Car: 82 MSE/89 TTA/89 Formula/99 TA
Re: Refurbishing Recaro's
And thanks to everyone else for all the nice comments! Means a lot. The seats turned out much better than I expected!! Happy to share my experience with all of you. This forum has helped me numerous times and I don't mind giving back a little.
Shout out to my hubby who did the painting! He did a great job!
Last edited by kymmee; Mar 7, 2017 at 07:58 AM.
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From: WINDSOR, CO
Car: 91 Z28, 87 SC, 90 IROC, 92 RS
Engine: LS1, 305 TPI, L98, NADA
Transmission: T56, 700r4's, and NADA
Axle/Gears: 3.89, 3.42, 3.23, NADA
Re: Refurbishing Recaro's
Those look so good. Makes me want to get working on my set.
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From: South Texas
Car: '89 Iroc Z28-15,100 Original Miles
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip, 2.77 Ratio
Re: Refurbishing Recaro's
Very impressive work Kim, nice job bringing them back.
