alini Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 So after disassembling all of the back and the drivers seats. My foam is shot. It's so hard and brittle. I can't just cover it with more foam or batting and drive it and feel comfortable about the job I did. So I visited a local foam supplier and for $155 bought the foam the batting the burlap and mat for the corners of the frame like they did from the factory. No will need to cut each piece myself but if I take my time I'm sure I can produce something that's comifortable and looks great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 The level of your success with be directly proportional to the number of times you are willing to do a step over again. AND, since you are not a professional, you don't have a firm understanding of the limitations of the job; should look great. I have two upholstery jobs I want to do over the winter.Bernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alini Posted September 27, 2015 Author Share Posted September 27, 2015 (edited) So it took about 6 hours. Removing the foam from the frame and then attaching the center of the pad/upholstery is the hardest part. Once that's done it's like a pillow case. One seat down. I like it considering I'm not a pro Edited September 27, 2015 by alini (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alini Posted October 1, 2015 Author Share Posted October 1, 2015 (edited) Got the rear seats backs done. I'm 1/4 inch high on the drivers side and I would like to see the tops fit the package tray a bit better but I did the work and am pleased so far. Talking about three hours per pad so far Edited October 1, 2015 by alini (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petelempert Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 Looking good brother. You must be in hog (ring) heaven. I'm about to embark on the same project and I'm curious about the rear seat install especially related to the package tray. I re-did my package tray (strengthened it with fiberglass and basically made it hard as a rock) and I'm wondering how flexible it needs to be when I try and re-install the back seats. Since you are in the midst of that process, how much flex if any, is needed to get the rear seats to fit up against the tray. Let me know. Thx PRL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alini Posted October 1, 2015 Author Share Posted October 1, 2015 (edited) I used Clarks upholstery and 2 inch foam, they called it HR-50, not sure if thats their local number or a industry standard. Let me say the 2 inch makes it fun, its a bit thick. If I did it again I would do 1.5 inch. The area that would contact the package tray would only be batting, not foam. The original seat config had batting along the bolsters and top between the foam and vinyl. I padded mine alot and its still about 1/2 away. I dont think I could fit anymore batting in. it already pulled a seam around the back top corner. My insert seam is right where the factory was, so Im not sure how to fix it.I went out and installed it at the highest I could get it, The top middle makes nice contact, the inside corners have about a 1/4" gap. Its the outer corners I have concerns with. These are the corners I also have the tighest fabrics(and a tear in the fabric on one side). Im settling for the gaps I have, im more concerned about making all the seams line up, thats going to be a more obvious flaw people will notice. You have to look over the back of the seat to see the gap. Lets face it, how many people are gonna climb in the backseat and go "hey look how bad this is lined up" Edited October 1, 2015 by alini (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petelempert Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 That helps, mostly about the lack of foam around the back of the seat where it touches the tray. I'll tell you, the Riv rear seat upholstery is sort of complicated. The seat is sort of like Siamese buckets, the speaker console, spacer and package tray all need to align. When I see a Riv with all the back seat stuff lined up I want to salute it. PRL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alini Posted October 1, 2015 Author Share Posted October 1, 2015 Ive been thinking about alot since last night. I think if you go with he thinner foam, it will allow for more vertical batting to make up the gap. So dont use 2 inch. I didnt have good referece material when we looked at what to use. My foam was so dry and brittle, it was hard to tell just how thick factory foam was and how firm it should be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alini Posted October 9, 2015 Author Share Posted October 9, 2015 34 man hours in and I have the seats installed. I need to work on the power motor/trans of the drivers seat, its touchy. Still waiting on seatbelts to come in, so the rear lower isnt mounted just set in place. Need a hornbar. But otherwise the interior is finished. Need to get my driveshaft rebuilt, hang the exhaust when it arrives. Install a radiator and hoses and a distributor and wires and Im ready to crank. I still need to do the body work on the hood, my garage wasnt big enough to paint the whole car at once, but I have the paint ready. Just need to drive the car out of the way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 Pretty spiffy there Skippy. I'm just curious. Why did you elect not to use the buttons where the panels meet? I know they can be more trouble than they're worth. Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alini Posted October 9, 2015 Author Share Posted October 9, 2015 Buttons belong on sofas not automotive seats I think it gives it a more modern look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Stoneberg Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 Did I see the pictures correctly, you look like you are doing this in the kitchen, my wife would kill me. Good job and you have given me the information needed to try mine next summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alini Posted October 10, 2015 Author Share Posted October 10, 2015 Bill. I ensured I out a protective cover over the dining room table and I cleaned everyday day. My wife is a great patient woman who knows I'm happy working on cars and she's happy when I spend more money on her than the car. So know you see why it's take over three years to do 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 Buy a later model Riviera and call it hers. Take it to an ROA event, register it in her name, let her walk up front to receive a class winner plaque, get her name published in the Riview as a class winner, and you're set for the rest of your life. The '93 is hers listed in my signature is hers. When we went to St. Charles this past summer, the '90 also got a class winner plaque. It was registered in my name but when the winners were called forward, they called her up instead of me. One more feather in my cap, more "Riviera love" for her. I'm now trying to sell both of these and she's asking "Well if you sell those, which one of yours am I going to be able to call mine now?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alini Posted October 10, 2015 Author Share Posted October 10, 2015 My wife doesnt drive....so every car in the signature is MINE. She gets her name in the front of everything though. Her name is Ali, hence the Ali'N'I name. Its the license plate on the Cruiser.We've been married 24 years, shes known nothing but me working on cars. I was always working on the 1979 Toyota Corolla hatchback I had in England, the 85 Supra, the 97 FIrebird, the 01 Cruiser and now the three in the sig. As long as I take care of her, like going downtown for dinner tonight, shes happy and I can get away with alot. Not many guys take their wives out EVERY Friday and Saturday to the Strip at Vegas for dinner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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