1977 front seat reupholster question

[cheesehead]

Please for those who have reupolstered their front seats...
How do you get the seat part upholster off, since it seems to be wrapped around a rod at the base of the seat? The seats are out and the backrest is off but the original cover seems to be imposible to remove?
Help..
Any web pages showing how other have done this?
My bug was easy compared to this.
Peace,
Meg

[dtrumbo]

It's been a few years since I've done this, but I think that rod gets stretched over some metal barbs that are welded to the seat frame. Look at where the rod passes through the seat cover material and see if you can see some little metal pokey-things showing through. You need to GENTLY pry them up a tiny bit to get the rod out from under them. This requires pulling harder than you think you should on the seat cover with the rod passed through it. You have to "unhook" the rod from those barbs and then the rest is easy.

Of course I may be completely wrong.

[chitwnvw]

That sounds about right, Dick...unless his has some sort of PO mod.

[sped372]

That sounds pretty much identical to when I did my Beetle years back.

[cheesehead]

No the bug was completely different. The bus seat is stock right now no mods...so I I have the bottom seat out of the bus with the rails of course part of the seat. But the seat cover is attached somehow to the frame and I can't seem to figure out how the metal piece holding the cover (seems to be threaded around the base of the seat bottom cover)to the base comes off.
You say pry it up a bit to see the barbs? Are they the kind that are pointy and bend to hold like the bug seat covers? Then how will I get this back on? Are you all sure? seems like I am missing something. Look at a stock seat how is the cover held to the frame and you will understand what I am asking.

[dtrumbo]

If you don't get gooder facts by then, I'll try to get my eyeball's on my '78 seat in the morning. Then my memory will be as good as new! Yeah, right!

[cheesehead]

I think what I am going to do is since I am already going to replace the upholstery I will go ahead and cut the old one so I can see inside. Ahhh brillant right I should have just done this first:)
I will let you know what I find...
Thanks for the help.

[Amskeptic]

I think what I am going to do is since I am already going to replace the upholstery I will go ahead and cut the old one so I can see inside. Ahhh brillant right I should have just done this first:)
I will let you know what I find...
Thanks for the help.

Don't cut!



The bottom of the seat has a baling wire along the bottom on original upholstery that you have to unwind and relax to allow it to get free of the frame. The new upholstery uses a nylon string. You may see similar little tabs to the above photograph that you must gently pry out. I press a knee onto the seat to relax the sidewall tension of the seat cover and pull/roll the metal rod inside the vinyl down and free of the tabs.
ColinIHaveAStupidWrite-UpNotDone

[dtrumbo]

Colin with pictures = Dick's memory. One is more reliable than the other. Can you guess?

[cheesehead]

Ugh these TMI seat covers from gowesty do NOT fit am bummed. Anyone have a recommendation...

[chitwnvw]

Ugh these TMI seat covers from gowesty do NOT fit am bummed. Anyone have a recommendation...

Stick them in a dryer to make them pliable. Also use a hair dryer on trouble spots as you work it over the cushions. It is an art, take is slow and be patient.

[cheesehead]

Really really?
I tried the dryer trick but I think these are too small. I should put up a picture tomorrow night but too tired right now.

[chitwnvw]

Really.

Use the Force, Luke.

[BellePlaine]

Ugh these TMI seat covers from gowesty do NOT fit am bummed. Anyone have a recommendation...

Did you keep the old cover, how does it compare to the new cover, sizewise? Did you replace the horsehair pad with the coconut one or a foam one?

There is a difference in the seat frame of the base between some '75 and 76+. The '75 is wider at the back but since you have the narrower '77 that shouldn't be a problem.

[Amskeptic]

Really really?
I tried the dryer trick but I think these are too small. I should put up a picture tomorrow night but too tired right now.

I cuddawuddashudda help you.
I did the BobD front seat pads over the winter. You really MUST draw the upholstery tight over the pads and frames to prevent sags and wrinkles. When I said a "knee" to push the seat pad down, I meant "160 pounds of force" . . .

Here, the upholstery has said, "no more". Look at how much further I have to go:


Here, that sucker is drawn tight under the hooks.


But here, with new pads stuffed in there, there is not a wrinkle to be found:
Colin