The Ford Barn

FrankWest · 10-14-2013, 12:29 PM

The new interiors offered by MACs and Lebarron have redone seat covers.
Has anyone tried to just install these covers over the worn original seats.
I hate to remove original stuff from my car. I would like to just repair them but I think that would take a real artist at fabric renovation if at all possible.

mike42 · 10-14-2013, 05:23 PM

Frank I'm thinking about the challenge this Winter. How tough can it be ? LOL

The kit is Lebanon Bonney.

rotorwrench · 10-14-2013, 06:25 PM

Back in the day, the seat covers offered were usually a stretchy type of material that would work well over piping around the edges and only needed some straps to hold it in place. When you spend a good bit for new upholstery, it's a good idea to replace the old spring coverings (burlap or heavy muslin) and put some new padding over the spring assemblies of the seat back and lower seat top. The spring boxes usually need some repairs anyway. The old upholstery may be too much stuff on the spring boxes to be able to stretch the new upolstery over but it depends on what kind of shape the old upholstery is in. Most all trimmers use hog rings to install the new upholstery and there may not be room left to adequately hog ring the new stuff to the spring boxes.

Lebarron Bonney has some U-tube videos that you can watch to give you an idea about how it's done. Most trimmers want to sew up their own materials rather than install some other outfits upholstery. You may be able to get someone to install it for you but I wouldn't count on it without asking. I purchased my own sewing machine and tools/ materials to do it all myself. I may not be able to sew a perfectly straight line but it satisfies me.

Willit Stop · 10-14-2013, 06:52 PM

I totally agree with Rotorwrench.The old upholstery should be removed.I did my seat myself as well.It really isn't that difficult.If your old material is in reasonably decent condition you already have the pattern.Just use a seam ripper and iron the cloth flat.I cheated and bought a headliner from Mac's for @$200 and I spent about another $300 on fabric and carpet.Recently I bought a commercial machine that works great but I wouldn't hesitate to do it again with a household Singer.

rotorwrench · 10-15-2013, 12:47 PM

A home machine is OK untill you start working with several folds of the vinyl materials. A walking foot machine works better there. The wool broadcloth is much easier to penetrate for a lighter duty machine. Covering the sun visors usually takes a walking foot. I purchase the headliners finished too. They are a lot more work and 200 bucks is not a bad price for the work involved sewing up all those seams with the listings. I would only make one myself if all the pre-made ones were way off in fit.

keith oh · 10-15-2013, 02:02 PM

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I did my 35 tudor with a complete kit from LeBanon Bonny about 8 years ago. The seats should be completely stripped down and new burlap and padding installed as it makes the covers fit much nicer than leaving the old junk there. The 35 has different door covers and headliner according to early or late year manufacture. Ask LB about tack strips as you will need some. LB did not supply them so I used heavy leather harness material glued in with contact cement. The headliner is a job since it uses both tacking to wood strips and cross wires in pockets. I put in and removed 3 times because it sagged and I couldn't get it tight. I was ready to give up when an old neighbor happened by and said it looked fine all I had to do was spray a mist of water on with a old windex bottle and let it dry. The next morning I couldn't believe my eyes, It had shrunk up perfectly. Make sure to have two sizes of hog rings and a good tool for them, the ones LB supplied were junk. A good magnetic tack hammer is also a must. The finished job was very satisfying even with smashed fingers, sore back and liberal use of second language.

keith oh · 10-23-2013, 04:56 PM

btt

rich b · 10-23-2013, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith oh

I did my 35 tudor with a complete kit from Make sure to have two sizes of hog rings.

Any details on why two sizes of hog rings?

keith oh · 10-24-2013, 06:52 PM

The big ones span wider spaces the small ones. They are very useful on parts such as seat springs, you will find many uses throughout the job.

rich b · 10-26-2013, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith oh

The big ones span wider spaces the small ones. They are very useful on parts such as seat springs, you will find many uses throughout the job.

So I take the big ones are the normally used ones.
Are the small ones similar to the 3/8" hog rings the sausage makers use?

10-14-2013, 12:29 PM	#1
FrankWest Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 3,157	New Mohair Interior seat covers? The new interiors offered by MACs and Lebarron have redone seat covers. Has anyone tried to just install these covers over the worn original seats. I hate to remove original stuff from my car. I would like to just repair them but I think that would take a real artist at fabric renovation if at all possible.

10-14-2013, 05:23 PM	#2
mike42 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Gaylord, Michigan Posts: 1,628	Re: New Mohair Interior seat covers? Frank I'm thinking about the challenge this Winter. How tough can it be ? LOL The kit is Lebanon Bonney.

10-14-2013, 06:25 PM	#3
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,410	Re: New Mohair Interior seat covers? Back in the day, the seat covers offered were usually a stretchy type of material that would work well over piping around the edges and only needed some straps to hold it in place. When you spend a good bit for new upholstery, it's a good idea to replace the old spring coverings (burlap or heavy muslin) and put some new padding over the spring assemblies of the seat back and lower seat top. The spring boxes usually need some repairs anyway. The old upholstery may be too much stuff on the spring boxes to be able to stretch the new upolstery over but it depends on what kind of shape the old upholstery is in. Most all trimmers use hog rings to install the new upholstery and there may not be room left to adequately hog ring the new stuff to the spring boxes. Lebarron Bonney has some U-tube videos that you can watch to give you an idea about how it's done. Most trimmers want to sew up their own materials rather than install some other outfits upholstery. You may be able to get someone to install it for you but I wouldn't count on it without asking. I purchased my own sewing machine and tools/ materials to do it all myself. I may not be able to sew a perfectly straight line but it satisfies me.

10-14-2013, 06:52 PM	#4
Willit Stop Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Eureka Calif. Posts: 990	Re: New Mohair Interior seat covers? I totally agree with Rotorwrench.The old upholstery should be removed.I did my seat myself as well.It really isn't that difficult.If your old material is in reasonably decent condition you already have the pattern.Just use a seam ripper and iron the cloth flat.I cheated and bought a headliner from Mac's for @$200 and I spent about another $300 on fabric and carpet.Recently I bought a commercial machine that works great but I wouldn't hesitate to do it again with a household Singer.

10-15-2013, 12:47 PM	#5
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,410	Re: New Mohair Interior seat covers? A home machine is OK untill you start working with several folds of the vinyl materials. A walking foot machine works better there. The wool broadcloth is much easier to penetrate for a lighter duty machine. Covering the sun visors usually takes a walking foot. I purchase the headliners finished too. They are a lot more work and 200 bucks is not a bad price for the work involved sewing up all those seams with the listings. I would only make one myself if all the pre-made ones were way off in fit.

10-15-2013, 02:02 PM	#6
keith oh Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Millersport, central ohio Posts: 668	Re: New Mohair Interior seat covers? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I did my 35 tudor with a complete kit from LeBanon Bonny about 8 years ago. The seats should be completely stripped down and new burlap and padding installed as it makes the covers fit much nicer than leaving the old junk there. The 35 has different door covers and headliner according to early or late year manufacture. Ask LB about tack strips as you will need some. LB did not supply them so I used heavy leather harness material glued in with contact cement. The headliner is a job since it uses both tacking to wood strips and cross wires in pockets. I put in and removed 3 times because it sagged and I couldn't get it tight. I was ready to give up when an old neighbor happened by and said it looked fine all I had to do was spray a mist of water on with a old windex bottle and let it dry. The next morning I couldn't believe my eyes, It had shrunk up perfectly. Make sure to have two sizes of hog rings and a good tool for them, the ones LB supplied were junk. A good magnetic tack hammer is also a must. The finished job was very satisfying even with smashed fingers, sore back and liberal use of second language.

10-23-2013, 04:56 PM	#7
keith oh Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Millersport, central ohio Posts: 668	Re: New Mohair Interior seat covers? btt

10-24-2013, 06:52 PM	#9
keith oh Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Millersport, central ohio Posts: 668	Re: New Mohair Interior seat covers? The big ones span wider spaces the small ones. They are very useful on parts such as seat springs, you will find many uses throughout the job.