Re-covering 2nd gen sport seats?

[Solamar]

Either my Google-Fu is on the fritz, or there is not much info on the web regarding re-covering 1st and 2nd gen sport seats, 1974-1979 and 1980-1983.

Anyone have any links or tips?

My plan is to have covers made by either World Upholstery or Autos Int' and I'll do the install.

[chrismorse]

Hi Solamar,

I just did a pair of 84 944 sport seats. I ordered the covers from Classic 9 and had a local upholstery guy put them on for $500. Classic 9 got the perforated german leather and sewed them up - "Champaign" leather to match my dads interior.

Classic 9 recommended using "French" seams for a smoother look and better durability/comfort. Their covers weren't cheap, about $1700, including shipping, but they came out very nicely.

Unfortunately, no pics, they are wrapped and on the top shelf in the garage, as i go through the car.

Try appending "pelican" to your google search, there have been quite a few good threads discussing recovering on this forum.

[Ian Comerford]

Try Lakewell. https://www.lakewell.com/en/porsche/911/84-89/sport-seat-restoration-kit-2-seats-porsche-911-74-84

[JackkTheMackk]

I used a guy in Orange County who did an amazing job at a very reasonable price. He did my front and rear to match. Could not recommend him enough.

https://instagram.com/mst_upholstery?utm_medium=copy_link

[Antomero]

I just recently purchased a pair a second generation sport seats. I hav them shipped directly to classic 9 leather shop in Michigan. They come highly recommend.

Are the first generation any better or worse?

[josephvman]

Are they doing new seat foam as well as leather? Would you mind sending me a PM and sharing the cost? Thanks!

Originally Posted by Antomero

I just recently purchased a pair a second generation sport seats. I hav them shipped directly to classic 9 leather shop in Michigan. They come highly recommend.

Are the first generation any better or worse?

[RDM]

Originally Posted by chrismorse

Try appending "pelican" to your google search, there have been quite a few good threads discussing recovering on this forum.

Alternately, this is a custom Google search link that someone set up years ago for searching this forum. Works great.

[Solamar]

Thank you all for the links and suppliers.

I should have been more clear, I have several local sources to have the leather covers made. I will be doing the install myself, so what I am searching for is a previous write-up or some helpful tips/tricks to make the job turn out exceptional.

Discseven did this great write-up, but it looks to be for a set of later Carrera sport seats. Still lots of great info!

Full grain leather seat covers in the making

[Solamar]

Here's a tip I wish I had previously known -

To remove the seat back from the seat base:

You need to remove the center cap of the side knob (anyone know a trick to remove this cap?) exposing a lock ring that can be rotated counter clockwise to release the knob







Then the escution behind the handle can be gently pried up, has a single pin/clip

[Solamar]

Originally Posted by RDM

Alternately, this is a custom Google search link that someone set up years ago for searching this forum. Works great.

This is my google search trick -

separate seat back site:Porsche 911 Technical Forum - Pelican Parts Forums

Only pulls up results from Pelican tech

[Solamar]

I'll keep adding tips here as I come across good ones that are relevant to the 2nd gen sports.

The flip forward mechanism has a single cable connected to the base at the outboard hinge -



At first look it isn't obvious how it comes apart. The end cable ferrule is cone shaped and to install, just gets pushed into the clip from the bottom. To remove you can use a small screwdriver to gently spread the tangs on the clip -

[Solamar]

The seat bottom side bolsters use wire to tension the bottom where it wraps around the frame. My new covers had a very tiny channel for the wire but I was able to work it through -





I was able to find the correct wire on McMaster, PN 8872K15. Welding wire and safety wire were much too stiff, this wire is annealed -

[Solamar]

The outside seat bottom frame has a slot riveted to it to accept a piece of fiber card that is stapled to the upholstery. It's purpose is to prevent the piping/stitching from rolling open and creating a loose pocket -







My new bolster upholstery did not have this card so I removed the staples from the old bolster and stapled it to the new -

[Solamar]

Last tip for now.

The seat back and seat bottom upholstery is glued to the exposed face of the foam (I used 3M 74 Foam Fast) and the sides are wrapped around the foam and stapled to the back with outward clinch staples.



Outward Clinch staples -





I bought the 1/2" staples, should have gone with the 9/16 (longest option).

[Flat Six]

Hey, nice additions -- thanks for sharing.

[Jdub]

This is a good writeup which might help? DIY Re-upholstery Front Sport Seats kit 85-89

[Solamar]

Originally Posted by Flat Six

Hey, nice additions -- thanks for sharing.

👍

Originally Posted by Jdub

This is a good writeup which might help? DIY Re-upholstery Front Sport Seats kit 85-89

I forgot about that one, lots of good info in there!

[tvickery03]

Originally Posted by Solamar

👍



I forgot about that one, lots of good info in there!

Solamar,

keep going with pics please. that link is great for 85-89 seats but I just bought 81-84 sport seats and needed that detail on the seat release cable - thanks.

[ed317]

I use Oscar at Escondido Custom Upholstry
Great guy, not cheap but quality work never is.
We are fortunate in San Diego to have a few great Porsche interior specialists.
Good Luck, Ed.

[Discseven]

Originally Posted by Solamar

Thank you all for the links and suppliers.

I should have been more clear, I have several local sources to have the leather covers made. I will be doing the install myself, so what I am searching for is a previous write-up or some helpful tips/tricks to make the job turn out exceptional.

Discseven did this great write-up, but it looks to be for a set of later Carrera sport seats. Still lots of great info!

Full grain leather seat covers in the making

Thanks for the compliment Sola. That project was for Standard 911 Seats. I've also done a set of early Sport Seats. If you haven't already thought about it, I suggest you install new stainless control/release cables. Not sure how the cables run in your seat model but the early versions had an interference that Recaro ignored that predictably resulted in the release cables snapping. That interference was down by the pivot between the bottom and back. The cable rubbed on a bar in that area.

Another trick is getting the cover over the foam. If your cover has a hard time going on, cut a single layer of thin garbage bag material and place it on the foam. The cover will/should slip on easily and a single layer of that material won't make any difference once the cover is installed---I say this on behalf of a leather cover.

Looks like you're referencing Sports. That's a good idea as there are subtle configs that if not duplicated on the re-cover, the cover won't look right.

.