Though not in horrendous shape...
Though not in horrendous shape for its age, it's obvious our '97 C5's driver's seat was due for some restorative attention.
Having repaired our Shoestring C5's A/C and headlamp motors in our last installment, we decided to devote this month's project to restoring the car's seats. As one might expect from a 10-year-old vehicle-particularly one driven as regularly and as spiritedly as our Corvette-the seat bolsters and cushions had worn down sufficiently to require a comprehensive freshening.
While it was obvious the previous owner was diligent about conditioning the hides, the driver's seat was showing wear at the points regularly subjected to friction during ingress and egress. Additionally, the seatbacks and cushion supports felt as though they had lost much of their pliancy. Since we intended to replace these parts outright, we turned to Mid America Motorworks to add a little more color to the entirely black interior.
To say that Mid America has a wide selection would be an understatement of vast proportions. The company not only offers a huge variety of leather hides, it recently introduced a line of vinyl replacement covers as a cost-effective alternative. Mid America actually manufactures both cover type lines in-house, so it can guarantee OEM-level (or better) quality and craftsmanship.
After ordering a Seat Foam Set (Part # 606-250), we spent some time viewing all the different types of covers available. In the end, we chose black leather with Torch Red piping and stitch work (Part # 636010BKTR), which we felt would add a splash of color to the cockpit without being overwhelming. We also ordered a pair of replacement seat-adjustment bezels (Part # 618-494), since our factory units were no longer staying attached to the sides of the seats.
Utilizing an application-specific set of hog ring pliers (available from Mid America Motorworks under Part # 100-179) and a can of specialty adhesive for the foam, a moderately skilled backyard mechanic should be able to complete both seats in about a day. To minimize our downtime and ensure the job was done right, we enlisted the services of David Miller at Wheels To Wings, in Pinellas Park, Florida. Miller was ableto complete the whole job in under five hours for the quite reasonable fee of $200 (supplies included).
Follow along as Miller removes both of our C5's sport seats, strips them down to their bare frames, and reassembles them with the new Mid America Motorworks parts.
The passenger's seat was faring...
The passenger's seat was faring better, but we decided to restore it at the same time for a consistent appearance.
After John Wilson-from Clearwater,...
After John Wilson-from Clearwater, Florida's Whisper Motorsports/Auto XTC-pulled both seats from the car, we took them to David Miller at Wheels to Wings, in Pinellas Park, for the resto work. Miller's first step was to strip the seats down to their frames. (Note: Consult a shop manual before attempting to do this yourself, as the job requires specialty tools and precise procedures in order to prevent damage.)
Once the hides and foam bolsters...
Once the hides and foam bolsters were removed, we could see the bladders for the lumbar support and the bolster-adjustment flaps. At this point, it's a good idea to check the seat frames for any damage they may have sustained during their life. It is not unusual to find broken pivot points and bent hardware.
Our Mid America Motorworks...
Our Mid America Motorworks replacement-foam set included these formed seat-bottom cushions.
The new seatback bolsters...
The new seatback bolsters fit perfectly over the factory framework and flaps. You may notice a difference in the color of the two pieces. This is due to their being formed at different times and is completely normal.
The included foam inserts...
The included foam inserts were a perfect match for the seatback bolsters.
Prior to installation, the...
Prior to installation, the new covers were laid out and checked for tears or flaws. None were found.
New seat-adjustment bezels...
New seat-adjustment bezels were also necessary, as the originals were no longer staying attached. This common malady is caused when the breakdown of the foam cushions puts too much force on the holding tabs, breaking them off.
According to Miller, the edge...
According to Miller, the edge of this aluminum rail tends to wear through the seat foam, causing tears and splits.
To prevent this, Miller glued...
To prevent this, Miller glued a piece of soft mat material over the rail. It's a simple fix, and it works.
Prior to installing the foam,...
Prior to installing the foam, Miller spread open the slots that slide over and onto the frame tabs. Next, he sprayed adhesive into this area. In the foreground is the pressure sprayer Wings To Wheels uses for this purpose.
With the adhesive applied,...
With the adhesive applied, Miller slipped the foam into place on the seat frame. You can see where he applied some additional soft mat to another damage-prone area.