Seat cover swap

[toyroom]

During my long career in Bertone X 1/9 ownership, I swapped the seat covers left for right on several occasions in order to promote even wear of the hip bolsters etc. How easy is this on the Esprit/ How easy would it be to swap the seat cushion material. In the X 1/9, this was composed of foam shapes which were glued to a metal frame. The cover was then stretched over th foam. A total cover and cushion swap took about three hours with an 8 hour break in the middle for the glue on the foam to dry. How would this compare to the Esprit. My car is a '97 V8 with full magnolia leather. The seats are cushioned rather than the Sport 300 plastic bucket type.

[teigan]

why not swap the whole seat? i think left and right are identical.

[jk1]

teigan said:

why not swap the whole seat? i think left and right are identical.

No they aren't. The seat back adjustment knob needs to be on the outside or you can't reach it...

[teigan]

live and learn. at least i won't try it now.

[toyroom]

So is it easy or dead hard? Has anyone done it? I wish that I could just swap them. I suppose I could as I never use the adjustment wheel anyway. I could swap the seats, drive for another 40,000 miles and then swap them back again...Presto!! Even wear on the seats for 30 minutes labour....And no-one any the wiser......No fun though !!!

[toyroom]

Perhaps I should give it a go and then publish the adventure. Seriously, for a couple of hours toil, anyone who uses their car for everyday transport as I do will effectively double the life of their seat covers and cushions. At 80,000 miles I will have two seats with identical wear of 40,000 miles each instead of a nearly new passenger seat and a "on its last legs" driver seat that's done 80,000 miles.

[toyroom]

What about re-Connolising ? Anyone know about this. Once saw a car with this at Paul Matty's and it was outstanding.

[wedg1e]

jk1 said:

teigan said:

why not swap the whole seat? i think left and right are identical.

No they aren't.

They are on the earlier, non-adjustable seats...

[teigan]

i've seen many reupholstery jobs, and it looked like the workmanship was top notch. however, they were far too ruffled and rouched for my taste. i don't want my car looking like the cloakroom at a spandau ballet reunion.

[toyroom]

Right, got day off....Will attempt seat cover swap today and will also attempt to document it for anyone wishing to follow

[toyroom]

YEEEEE--EsSSSSS !! From a very tired driver's seat and an almost unused passenger seat, I now have a very tired passenger seat ready to re -install and a heap of almost immaculate bits including a driver side seat frame. If I had put my foot down, I would estimate six hours or less, especially now I know what I'm doing, no thanks to the manual !
The redundant hole for the winder knob is hidden behind the centre tunnell, as is the most seriously worn leather on the driver's seat cover right thigh bolster.
So, another two hopurs tomorrow should see it all back together.
The priciple behind this apparent tomfoolery is to keep the car to ninety thousand miles but for the seats both to show an even fifty thousand (allowing for a passenger about ten percent of the time (yes I know it is just over ten percent (11.1111111...)really!!!

[toyroom]

I have made a set of pictures showing the various stages of the performance. I dare not try and put them up here as I have things to do before I grow old and infirm (Don't start me, please!) If anyone wants a set of these pictures though, please e-mail me and I will send you a set. If anyone is interested in doing an article for the site's mods and fix-it pages, please let me know and I will write it and send you the words and pictures for you to compose it into an article.

[toyroom]

Well, cleaning fluid has now fully dried and I sat in the rebuilt driver's seat for the first time. AMAZING...It's like a totally new car! After being used to the worn seat for so long, there is an enormous difference and well worth the effort !