Custom seats in LA - Ventilated?

[Tremelune]

I need seats for my 1970 coupe, and while I'm at it, I'd like to have some made for me that would be both heated and ventilated. The heated bit is pretty straightforward, but I'm struggling with the ventilated bit. I've spoken to a few upholsterers who don't offer it as an option, and I'm trying to figure out if it's just unfamiliar or if it's intrinsically too onerous for anything that isn't mass produced on an assembly line.

I don't need cooled air blown in, but if I can get enough ambient air flowing such that I don't sweat through the back of my shirt, that would be pretty sweet. I've also read that one company's ventilated seats are useless and another's are great. How might I ensure that mine are the latter...?

Anyone ever commission a set of ventilated seats? I'm trying to figure out what constraints and costs are associated with them...

If anyone has any favorite seat makers and upholsterers in SoCal, I'm all eyes...

[PorterF]

There is a "universal" seat ventilation kit. Uses a Peltier thermoelectric device to cool or heat the air provided by the little fans. The air is ducted through the foam cushion and distributed through the pads that sit under the leather/cloth. I would think a competent upholsterer could install one. I have not used this kit, but have seen good reviews of them on the Landcruiser forums.

Leatherseats.com calls it the Sanctum Seat Ventilation Kit.

https://leatherseats.com/shop/seat-comfort/seat-heater-cooler-unit/

[lindbhr]

That ventilation system looks very impressive. Just what we need in Texas. It would be great if someone like GTS seats could incorporate that technology into custom seats.

[Tremelune]

That is good to know about! I'd never considered peltiers...

I spoke with Stefan Schleißing from GTSclassics about it, and he said this:

"For true ventilation you need perforated foam and a cover material that allows easy air flow. The room needed underneath the seat for the channels and the ventilator. All these are not feasible with our seats, sorry for that."

I was asking specifically about their Monte Carlo seats, but it sounds like it's across the board.

[Tremelune]

The Sanctums look very similar to the Katzkin Degreez...Just the fact that these exist shows promise.

I stumbled on this...DIY approach: https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/diy-ventilated-heated-seat-options.1241514/

[PorterF]

Leatherseats.com has a full DIY install video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66JSqDfw46w


I think its the same kit for the Katskin, but I am not sure Katskin will sell as a standalone.

[Tremelune]

Is it stupid to think I could buy late-model Porsche ventilated seats and have them "backdated"...? Same cost, worse value?

[kach22i]

Awesome thread.

I was sketching up some schemes last summer, never knew something was already out there.

[Tremelune]

It seems like it's been around for a few years, but...it's certainly difficult to find information about performance and installation constraints...

It seems simple enough to install, but any time I do upholstery it looks like I stuffed a basketball in a leather bag in the end...

[Tremelune]

I'm starting to come to the conclusion that the real challenge will be finding a pro who will build me these seats...Sourcing components for them is maybe a solved problem.

If anyone has a favorite company or craftsman...Lemme know...