Leather Seat Repair

seafood10 · 10-06-2008, 12:44 PM

Hi, I have a few small tears in the Leather seats. The local repair shops want around 4-500 to replace the middle panel in the seats where the tears are. one is about an inch and the other is a small 'L' shape that is no longer than 2 inches or so. I found this online and wanted to see what others have done to repair their seats.
TIA
Sean
http://www.leathermagic.com/Pages/dlxlthrrepkit.htm

jrumiano · jrumiano's Garage

For around 500 dollars you can get new leather seat upholstery kit for the entire seat. If you going to spend that much money, look into getting an upholstery kit.

BTW, most of those repair kits don't work very nor do they last very long.

Good luck.
John

dshepp806 · dshepp806's Garage

completely new kit,..Amen!

Doyle

84_Carrera · 10-06-2008, 02:32 PM

Exactly, I think I dropped $400+ on vinyl for 2 seats. Installation at an upholsterer's was $50 / section (each seat bottom, seat back were one section, or $100 per complete seat). Leather was $100-$200 / set more I think.

The "tear repairs" I've seen ARE visible, depends on how visible you're willing to live with.

seafood10 · 10-06-2008, 03:45 PM

Yeah, you guys are right, I should just bite the bullet and get new sets. I had a little money budgeted for the SW Chip and Cat Bypass, I will see if I can make it all happen.
How do I explain to my fiancee that kids are going to be put off for another 6 months or until the market gets better, Daddy needs the money for his P Car!

Zeke · 10-06-2008, 03:48 PM

Tell her the value of the car is being preserved, something a cat bypass won't do. You'll like what you did every time you get in the car. The bypass won't make that much difference.

BTW, I've talked to Steve W. on more than one occasion and he knows how to wake up a 3.2. I guess you'll have to brown bag it and save your money secretly.

kilodawg · kilodawg's Garage

Two words:

Jason Cullen

DRACO A5OG · DRACO A5OG's Garage

Hey Sean,

$500 for a complete kit? Not bad.

Can you post a pic of those tears?

seafood10 · 10-06-2008, 04:46 PM

Hey Jim, yeah, 500 is not bad. I have been looking around online for something and found this Porsche dismantler in our area: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/911pcar.com. Anyway here are a few pics of the tears, and after looking at the seats more closely I have noticed other small areas that are likely to rip as well. That's what happens with a Cab and having the top down, the sun just eats the seats.

seafood10 · 10-06-2008, 04:47 PM

WOW, that came out a little bigger than I thought.

DRACO A5OG · DRACO A5OG's Garage

Those do not look that bad, especially the upside down "L" one. I bet some vinyl liquid patch with color to match will keep it from going worse. Unless you plan to go Concours, just leave it alone.

Now for the 2nd photo, hmmm,

Purist will hate me but what the heck. Have you considered stitching it up? In High School, I did not want to replace my palomino interior on my 66 Stang so I stiched it up with those curved needles that taxidermists and morticions use. OK, too much drama leather/shoe repair uses. I used a base vinyl patch underneath and made very tiny stitches and it held, used shoe dye and it looked fine from a distance.

I know it's ghetto but what the heck, you will smile more with the SW Chip

my 2 cents.

84_Carrera · 10-06-2008, 05:08 PM

For the record, I was glad I went with vinyl vs leather on my '84 cab because of the sun, occasional cloudburst, etc. - my top's down way more than it's up, and I figured the vinyl would be better longer.

seafood10 · 10-06-2008, 05:10 PM

Yeah, I was thinking of fixing them, but maybe just a little patch for now and keep my out for a good deal on a set of new ones. Did you take a look at that site: www.911pcar.com?

seafood10 · 10-06-2008, 05:16 PM

Hey Fred, I know what you mean. Here in Southern California it is no different, why have a Cab with the top up? Maybe I should consider Vinyl, I can always change it down the road, it's not a permanent change. Thanks for the feedback.

Mysterytrain · 10-06-2008, 05:24 PM

I spoke with Tony Garica about seats so I have some information to share.
He feels 25/30 year old seats need more then just a recover. The foam needs to be replaced or at least built up to restore the seat to proper shape and to fill out the new leather skin. You will notice in photos of many DIY jobs that the new skins don't fit tight. Tony also likes to protect the new seat foam with layer of burlap between the springs and the bottom of the foam. His cost of installation seemed resonable to me. There also seems to be a range in prices for the seat covers from the vendors I have talked with and I'm sure a range in quality too.