redo seats in C2

BarryK · 05-03-05, 03:36 PM

Ok, trying to plan on one of the next projects in line for my car.

when I got the car the seats had been all redone but as typical of the rest of the "restoration" work on my car it was done wrong and very poorly. Half the hardware underneath seems to be missing, there is no burlap covering as I understand their is suppose to be, the foam is now splitting, and becuase it wasn't done correctly the leather covers are full of wrinkles that aren't going to come out when the leather is stretched which can't be done over anyway or the holes where the little "bumpers" stick up at the back won't line up if the leather is readjusted.
I just had a hopolstery(sp) shop look the seats over and he agreed that to do the seats properly we basically need to start from scratch again. About the only thing worth keeping on them is the seat frame itself which is in very good condition, the springs on the bottom that go from side to side, and the plastic seat backs.
I'll need new leather covers, foam, the seat cover burlap, and the kit that contains all the hooks, clips, wires, hog rings, etc. I"ll also pick up new "hockey sticks" or have the ones I currently have rechromes as they are just starting to pit and look a bit rusty.

I know Al Knoch seems to be the accepted "best source" for interior things like this but their website on-line catalog is currently down for changes.
How are Al's prices compared to other places such as Corvette America, Zip, Paragon, etc? Are the materials such as the leather and foam pretty much the same quality from everyone or are some places using better quality than others?
Obviously, like everyone else, I'd like to try to keep the expense as reasonable as possible and I see the prices really vary from one vendor to another - for example, one vendor had the leather covers at $499 and another place was only $419 - I don't know Al Knoch's price though. I'd love to save that $80.00 but if the quality is better on the more expensive cover I'd rather do it right the first time around. I'm willing to pay for better quality but not to pay more just to have a particular vendor line his pocket with more profit because I was stupid to pay more for the identical item and identical quality.

Any suggestions or comments regarding good vendors and pricing would be very welcome.

Also, I remember last year when I was at Carlise Al Knoch was doing seats and other things right there at the show. Anyone get seats redone by them at the show and any comments about the work you recieved?

Barry

67HEAVEN · 05-03-05, 03:43 PM

Barry,

If you decide to go with Al Knoch's stuff, be sure to talk to Wally Knoch, his brother, for a discount.

BarryK · 05-03-05, 03:52 PM

Thanks Bob

I went to Wally's webpage also as I heard he sold the same stuff somewhat less expensively, but no pricing there either.
I'm still in the planning stages and will be a few months before the seats can fit into the budget but i'll be sure to call Wally when the time is right. thanks for the suggestion!

Is Wally where you got the materials for yours? If so, how was the quality and fit?

JohnZ · 05-03-05, 04:55 PM

Al Knoch leather is quality stuff, and all the hardware and underpinnings to complete the installation are correct as well; like any manufacturer, he protects his dealers by not undercutting their prices if you buy direct. Wally can get you whatever you need for less than the direct-buy prices.

His installation work at shows is top-notch, but you have to make an appointment well ahead of time - his guys are busy from the time they arrive until the time they leave. If you can't make a show, you can just send your seats to him and they'll do the installation and send them back to you ready to bolt in.

BarryK · 05-03-05, 06:16 PM

John

thanks for all the info!
Does Wally do installations at Carlise also or just Al? I like it that Wally's prices are lower on the same items but I don't think Al would appreciate me buying from Wally and than just bringing it to have it installed by him. I'm sure at the show they are only going to install what you buy from him.
I'll try calling tomorrow and see if I can still get an appointment for the Carlisle show. If not, it will have to wait until winter storage time for me to pull the seats out and send them to him.
Thanks again John, I always appreciate your responses.

paul67 · 05-03-05, 07:03 PM

Barry,
These are not Al Knoch but look very nice in vinyl. There's a real mix of vendors in this project from one year ago. I am picky and get what I want from wherever. Let me know if you need details.

JohnZ · 05-03-05, 07:08 PM

When you call Al Knoch, talk to Dale Robertson - he manages the show installation schedules; his guys (Gilbert and Javier) actually do the work at the shows.

IH2LOSE · 05-03-05, 07:23 PM

Quite a sight to see these guys working in less the favorable condtions in the blazing august heat.

paul67 · 05-03-05, 07:58 PM

Or rain! No predicting Carlisle.

BarryK · 05-03-05, 09:09 PM

Paul

you seats look great. I love the headrest seats. Wish they had been available in '65 also and i'd convert mine. i'm still tempted but since most everything else on the car is "correct" I just wouldn't feel right doing it to mine although i'd love the looks of it.

BarryK · 05-03-05, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnZ

When you call Al Knoch, talk to Dale Robertson - he manages the show installation schedules; his guys (Gilbert and Javier) actually do the work at the shows.

Excellent.
Thanks again John!

BarryK · 05-03-05, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IH2LOSE

Quite a sight to see these guys working in less the favorable condtions in the blazing august heat.

I saw it as I walked by their space last year. they were working like crazy on seats all over the place. I had enough trouble just walking around in that heat and they are working out in that hot sun all day.

JL66REDCPE · 05-04-05, 09:40 AM

Barry -- just for a sanity check -- make sure your trim tag specifies leather seats.

BarryK · 05-04-05, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JL66REDCPE

Barry -- just for a sanity check -- make sure your trim tag specifies leather seats.

yes it does, leather was one of the few options on this car.
Best as I can determine (not having any documentation at all on anything makes most things a guess on this car) the 365hp motor, leather, am/fm radio, tinted glass, and 4-speed are the only options on my car. i'm assuming the sidepipes and teak wheel were added afterwards by some previous owner but don't know for sure. my car also has posi but I know the rear has been swapped out to a 4:11 so don't know if the posi was added than or it came with it originally. The rear is dated sometime from late '62 so it must have been for a '63 car. it's the only part of the drivetrain which isn't original.

the trim tag does specify black leather as the proper interior.
Actually, looking here: http://100megsfree4.com/corvette/1960/vet65.htm it looks as though if the interior was black it was only available in leather and not vinyl. my trim tag is marked 402.

ThomC · 05-04-05, 11:42 AM

Barry,

Black vinyl interiors - like mine - had STD on the trim tag.

Good luck with the seats - just one FYI... I just had my seats redone and the new foam adds some height. If you're tall, it could be an issue. I'm 6'2", and sometimes I wonder if I should just sit up straight and look out over the top of the windshield (like Lurch on the Addam's Family!).

Thom