Upholstery

[brennent]

The vinyl on my bench seat is starting to come apart. The tears are starting to become bad, is there any ways to fix that you guys know of. I want to try to keep it cheap though. Are there any Vinyl repair kits that you guys know of? Thy vinyl is burgundy and not really easy or cheap to replace. 

[hatzie]

Even high quality book binding tape will not last more than a few weeks at most.  I've seen that exact stuff used on Vinyl seat covers on 1970's vintage GMC transit coach seats in Victoria BC.  It barely lasted a week and it was curling at the edges.  Just long enough to get the replacement cushions covered to swap out on the weekend.  If there are any gaps in the vinyl DO NOT use any kind of tape because it'll stick to and shred the foam seat cushion.  Cushions are really expensive so if you have a good one don't screw it up.

The foam cushion will start to break down immediately when it's exposed to sunlight.  You want to cover it with something ASAP even if you use a beach towel just to keep the sunlight away from the foam.

If you're only doing one and done then I'd just buy new vinyl or cloth upholstery.  It's just over $200 from Classic Parts for new matching vinyl or cloth bench seat upholstery.  You could check with a local upholstery shop but don't be surprised if you get sticker shock.

If you want to DIY...
How are you with a sewing machine?  It's very similar to using a scroll saw but it's a skill that needs to be practiced often.  You get rusty pretty quick.

You can buy low temp marine grade vinyl and fabric backed upholstery foam at JoAnne Fabrics but you'll still need a very patient and understanding wife or mom or grandmother or mother in law with a pretty heavy duty sewing machine not made in this century. Or.  You'll need to purchase equipment that'll cost more than new seat upholstery and learn to use it. 

If I were doing this I'd remove the stitching from the edge seam and use the top and edge/back panels as patterns.  The seams will need to be absolutely straight and properly parallel or perpendicular to the appropriate reference seams otherwise it'll look like complete crap.  If you're up to the challenge go for it but after you factor in the your time and or favors owed to female relatives it will not be cheaper than buying new vinyl seat upholstry made by Asian or South American women that do this 12 hours a day for decades.

If you think your plastic and stamped tin foil Brother sewing machine from China Mart will do upholstery think again...  They choke on patching blue jeans.
Late 1940's through early 1950's vintage Singer machines or actual upholstery sewing machines are what I would recommend for upholstery work.
I own a 1947 Singer 201 that's a straight stitch only Cast Iron body machine with steel, stainless, and brass innards.  It's built like a tank.  It looks like the old Singer treadle machines with a motor mount machined on the back casting.  I can sew through 4 layers of heavy Canvas or 3 layers of leather with that machine and it dutifully plods on.  These are sought after machines and will not be cheap.
I have a sweet old Singer 319K but I wouldn't recommend this for a beginner and wouldn't abuse it with most of my automotive upholstery work.  It will do some really nice fancy stitching for things like emblems on headrests and center of the back cushion vinyl or cloth covers.  Way too expensive and complicated to be a production machine even now.

[hatzie]

Inexpensive but not cheap.  On sale right now includes the hog rings and hog ring pliers.
http://www.classicindustries.com/product/1978/truck/parts/w1027300115.html

[brennent]

I want to try avoid getting a whole new bench seat, if i absolutely need to they sell them for $190 in   which looks like my best deal. But only the vinyl is torn, the mesh between the vinyl and cushion is still intact. I'm trying to save some money because the headliner is sagging and i know fixing that is a pretty penny, thanks for your input guys.

[hatzie]

I want to try avoid getting a whole new bench seat, if i absolutely need to they sell them for $190 in   which looks like my best deal. But only the vinyl is torn, the mesh between the vinyl and cushion is still intact. I'm trying to save some money because the headliner is sagging and i know fixing that is a pretty penny, thanks for your input guys.

Headliners are easy and really inexpensive.  Materials are under $75.  You can do one in a Saturday afternoon.  If someone is quoting you big bucks run don't walk away.
I'll dig up my post with videos...



My Droid from orbit

[hatzie]

You can get the foam backed headliner material at JoAnn Fabrics or online.  I was wildly overstating the price.  Headliner materials are less than half what I was thinking.  The foam backed headliner fabric is between $10 & $15 a yard.  You'll likely only need 1.5 to 2 yards.

I've used 3M aerosol headliner & fabric adhesive 38808 on two trucks and three VW Rabbits.

The pickup truck cardboard backer is much smaller than the VW compact car units so it'll be even easier to deal with.

These two videos should give some idea of the process.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MmT72NDtTs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MxxaYgEJ8E