Trying to get the seats done on a streetbeast 356. My upholstry guy is not sure which is the best way to start this project. I've got the fiberglass bucket and foam. How do you attach it to the bucket?
Stephen
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Trying to get the seats done on a streetbeast 356. My upholstry guy is not sure which is the best way to start this project. I've got the fiberglass bucket and foam. How do you attach it to the bucket?
Stephen
Stephen
Hope its better than that supplied with the CMC Speedsters. Check the library for CMC instructions -they recommend using 3M "90" Spray adhesive. There are wood pieces that need to be glued (I used Liquid Nails) too. Its quite a construction job vice really upholstery. I opted to get a pair of Porsche 914 seats and modify them (cut off head rest).
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The fiberglass Speedster seats (they're really go-cart seats) are a challenge to upholster.
I uphosterd mine (FiberFab /CMC)in Marine Vinyl that I got from the local Jo-Anns fabric. It's fairly inexpensive, so I experimented. I wanted to see if I could make the seat covers myself. I didn't like the 1 piece cover that came with the kit as I couldn't get a fit without major wrinkles. So I made my own.
To make things easier, I ended up making the seat back a separate cushion, just like the bottom seat cushion. It attaches at the top and bottom of the cushion. That let me uphoster the sides of the seat without the major wrinkels that happen when I tried using the factory i piece cover.
The wood strips are necessary. Both Inside and around the perimeter of the seat. I used wood screws and 1/4 strips of wood. The CMC manual (In this sites Library) has the proceedure documented. It's a little sparse but it explains the steps.
The two things I did differently from the CMC manual were:
Make the back cushion a separate piece, same proceedure as the bottom cushion.
For the carpeting that covers the back of the seat, I trimmed and bound the edges. Contact cement and staples hold everything together.
I found that the carpet didn't like to stay glued in place, until I used Shoo Goo or one of those contact cement RTV type of glues. I applied the glue to the carpet edge and to the edge of the seat. After it set up, 15 minutes or so. I used a zillion close pins (some backwards to accomodate the thickness of the seat) and let it cure for 24 hours. Shoe Goo, whatever it is.. It works!
The bad thing about it is that it's hard to clean it off of places that show.
I found that GOOP hand cleaner ir Go Jo (Sears has it) cuts goop and cleans the vinyl better than anything I've tried.
Also.. go the Intermechanica's website and look for pictures of Speedster seats in their cars. Who ever does them, does a beautiful job!
Greg B
I uphosterd mine (FiberFab /CMC)in Marine Vinyl that I got from the local Jo-Anns fabric. It's fairly inexpensive, so I experimented. I wanted to see if I could make the seat covers myself. I didn't like the 1 piece cover that came with the kit as I couldn't get a fit without major wrinkles. So I made my own.
To make things easier, I ended up making the seat back a separate cushion, just like the bottom seat cushion. It attaches at the top and bottom of the cushion. That let me uphoster the sides of the seat without the major wrinkels that happen when I tried using the factory i piece cover.
The wood strips are necessary. Both Inside and around the perimeter of the seat. I used wood screws and 1/4 strips of wood. The CMC manual (In this sites Library) has the proceedure documented. It's a little sparse but it explains the steps.
The two things I did differently from the CMC manual were:
Make the back cushion a separate piece, same proceedure as the bottom cushion.
For the carpeting that covers the back of the seat, I trimmed and bound the edges. Contact cement and staples hold everything together.
I found that the carpet didn't like to stay glued in place, until I used Shoo Goo or one of those contact cement RTV type of glues. I applied the glue to the carpet edge and to the edge of the seat. After it set up, 15 minutes or so. I used a zillion close pins (some backwards to accomodate the thickness of the seat) and let it cure for 24 hours. Shoe Goo, whatever it is.. It works!
The bad thing about it is that it's hard to clean it off of places that show.
I found that GOOP hand cleaner ir Go Jo (Sears has it) cuts goop and cleans the vinyl better than anything I've tried.
Also.. go the Intermechanica's website and look for pictures of Speedster seats in their cars. Who ever does them, does a beautiful job!
Greg B
The marine vinal was a smart choise. It will hold up better in the sun.
The fiberglass seat hulls may allow short staples to secure the covers. I would conduct a small test before doing much tacking and cracking.
The fiberglass seat hulls may allow short staples to secure the covers. I would conduct a small test before doing much tacking and cracking.
I couldn't get staples to penetrate the fiberglass seat.
I tried a hand staple gun. nothing...
I tried my air staple gun. nothing
The air nail gun worked, but way harsh... nails too long.
The wood strips screwed to the outside perimeter using short wood screws from the interior of the seat is what I ended up doing.
The CMC manual posted in the Library here, has the correct proceedure and dimensions for the wood tack strips.
Greg B
I used plywood strips and Liquid Nails for the "tack strips" and then used stainless steel marine-grade staples and contact cement (plus 3M spray adhesive). Make sure the vinyl is warm (stretches easier) -- several hours in summer sun is best (guess hair dryer or heat gun on low setting would work too).
Any ideas how to sew the plastic edge on the carpet that goes around the back end of the seat? I had mine done by a guy who did a fairly good job, but wasnt too concerned with the details. Is there like a mini-hand sawer for this?
You want to bind the seat back carpet like the original floor carpet was bound, right? Would give a nice finished look. CMC intent was just to glue the fuzzy carpet-like stuff to the seat back. I would think thin foam covered by maching seat vinyl would be nice alternative to the carpeting.
Check this link-
http://www.worlduph.com/porsche1.htm
http://www.worlduph.com/porsche1.htm
thanks for the info... ~jJ~