Seat Covers - DIY or Not - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

BAMO · 04-25-2012, 02:18 PM

Need some opinions here.

Cost to get an LMC seat cover and the repair kit is about $225 (not sure but probably need to get new foam too so that probably increases the price by another $100). So total for materials would probably be closer to $325 (correct me if I am wrong or way off here).

I got a quote for about $525 to have it done at an upholstery place - new foam, fixes springs, everything.

So three questions.

1) Are the LMC/Tuckers/Brothers covers decent and how hard is the install especially wanting to get it right and fix some of the springs?

2) Given that there's probably at least a half day of labor on the seat if custom, what's the going rate. I don't want/need the cheapest, just don't want to get screwed either.

3) Finally, opinions on which way to go?

Thanks in advance.

JRANGER · 04-25-2012, 03:13 PM

I like custom and had mine made at a shop here in TN... They had extra padding in them but I didnt need new foam...Cost me $215 shipped but i am almost local so im not sure but I liked there work a lot. I installed them myself and it took around 5 hours. I did have the seat disassembled before hand though.

http://www.ricksupholstery.com/

1963c-10 · 04-25-2012, 03:26 PM

Did mine myself in my 63. Took 2-3 Hours and looks great. Got my cover from Classic Parts of America $185 + s/h..

BAMO · 04-26-2012, 12:35 AM

Did either of you need to add foam and spring repairs as well?

koda360 · 04-26-2012, 07:45 AM

I'd buy the foam. Even if it don't have holes in it, consider the age of it, it's gotta be broken down.
Get a heat gun, hog ring pliers, diagonal cutters, turn the cover inside out and work slow. Also helps if you leave it in the sun on a warm day before you start.

1963c-10 · 04-26-2012, 08:19 AM

I repaired a 6x6 in section. Got the foam from the hobby store. Springs were in great condition.

kieth · 04-26-2012, 10:37 AM

I redid my seat, it needed new springs, and due to my size and weight I added seatolators (replace the piano wire which was inside the foam) and then sandblasted everything, repainted it, then started the build. I spent $500.00 on my seat parts, seatolators, new foam, 2" firm, 2" soft glued together) then installed a $165.00 seat cover set from classic parts. It came out really well for the first effort but it would have been easier to let the upholstery shop do it. Kieth

http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...652330&k=ifC6F

We also added additional bolsters to the edge of the seat bottom (I am heavy and most seats I see are broken down on the front and outer edge of the drivers side) so we added dense foam covered with black trunk liner material. click thru the thumbnails and you can see the various steps.

I spent $500.00 but felt I got a lot better seat for me than a upholstery shop could have done for the same money. Kieth

04-25-2012, 02:18 PM	#1
BAMO Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Pasadena CA Posts: 51	Seat Covers - DIY or Not Need some opinions here. Cost to get an LMC seat cover and the repair kit is about $225 (not sure but probably need to get new foam too so that probably increases the price by another $100). So total for materials would probably be closer to $325 (correct me if I am wrong or way off here). I got a quote for about $525 to have it done at an upholstery place - new foam, fixes springs, everything. So three questions. 1) Are the LMC/Tuckers/Brothers covers decent and how hard is the install especially wanting to get it right and fix some of the springs? 2) Given that there's probably at least a half day of labor on the seat if custom, what's the going rate. I don't want/need the cheapest, just don't want to get screwed either. 3) Finally, opinions on which way to go? Thanks in advance. __________________ Frank http://backyardbuilt.tumblr.com Last edited by BAMO; 04-25-2012 at 02:25 PM.

04-25-2012, 03:13 PM	#2
JRANGER Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 3,595	Re: Seat Covers - DIY or Not I like custom and had mine made at a shop here in TN... They had extra padding in them but I didnt need new foam...Cost me $215 shipped but i am almost local so im not sure but I liked there work a lot. I installed them myself and it took around 5 hours. I did have the seat disassembled before hand though. http://www.ricksupholstery.com/ __________________ PLEASE HELP WITH PROJECT UNDERHAULIN http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=306320 Gemini - 1978 GMC C15 High Sierra - 305 c/e - Given to Mother Electra - 1967 Mustang Coupe - 302/w 3 speed Build Chyna - 1968 Chevy C20 Long Stepper

04-25-2012, 03:26 PM	#3
1963c-10 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: fayetteville nc Posts: 10,338	Re: Seat Covers - DIY or Not Did mine myself in my 63. Took 2-3 Hours and looks great. Got my cover from Classic Parts of America $185 + s/h.. Attached Images __________________ 1963 Short bed step side SBW 427 big block and borg warner T-16 HD 3 speed manual http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=519869 1963 Short bed fleetside BBW 348 1st gen big block w/Powerglide http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=619024 1964 Short bed trailer

04-26-2012, 12:35 AM	#4
BAMO Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Pasadena CA Posts: 51	Re: Seat Covers - DIY or Not Did either of you need to add foam and spring repairs as well? __________________ Frank http://backyardbuilt.tumblr.com

04-26-2012, 07:45 AM	#5
koda360 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: White Cottage, Oh. Posts: 99	Re: Seat Covers - DIY or Not I'd buy the foam. Even if it don't have holes in it, consider the age of it, it's gotta be broken down. Get a heat gun, hog ring pliers, diagonal cutters, turn the cover inside out and work slow. Also helps if you leave it in the sun on a warm day before you start. __________________ 1960 C-10 2000 Dakota R/T 1966 Fury I 2dr post 1984 Big Bronco 2002 Durango SLT (Bride's Ride)

04-26-2012, 08:19 AM	#6
1963c-10 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: fayetteville nc Posts: 10,338	Re: Seat Covers - DIY or Not I repaired a 6x6 in section. Got the foam from the hobby store. Springs were in great condition. __________________ 1963 Short bed step side SBW 427 big block and borg warner T-16 HD 3 speed manual http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=519869 1963 Short bed fleetside BBW 348 1st gen big block w/Powerglide http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=619024 1964 Short bed trailer

04-26-2012, 10:37 AM	#7
kieth Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,925	Re: Seat Covers - DIY or Not I redid my seat, it needed new springs, and due to my size and weight I added seatolators (replace the piano wire which was inside the foam) and then sandblasted everything, repainted it, then started the build. I spent $500.00 on my seat parts, seatolators, new foam, 2" firm, 2" soft glued together) then installed a $165.00 seat cover set from classic parts. It came out really well for the first effort but it would have been easier to let the upholstery shop do it. Kieth http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...652330&k=ifC6F We also added additional bolsters to the edge of the seat bottom (I am heavy and most seats I see are broken down on the front and outer edge of the drivers side) so we added dense foam covered with black trunk liner material. click thru the thumbnails and you can see the various steps. I spent $500.00 but felt I got a lot better seat for me than a upholstery shop could have done for the same money. Kieth



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