First, I'd just like to say, the posts on how to recover your seats especialy, Recovering '70 SS Bucket Seats (http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118256), are outstanding. Fantastic tips and tricks and discussion. I feel like I'm ready to do this thing.

My one question is, the order of the steps you go in. My covers and foam have the provisions for the bolster seams. Can anyone with experience jot down some numbered steps on "The order in which you proceed to hog ring" (i.e. start in the back? do the bolster area first? sides first?) Especialy the bottom part of the seat. I think that would be the trickiest.

Thanks!!

Jim

I did some bolstered Camaro seats many years ago, and I think I hog ringed it in this order:

1: The front/sides perimeter
2: The back
3: Bolster

On this particular job (which was my first time doing upholstery), I was afraid that the hog rings would pull too much on the bolster seams, so I used wire instead (the kind you use for rebar, like a heavy baling wire). I ran it between the metal rods and the springs, and twisted the wire until it was "tight enough" and left it there. If I would do it again, I would probably use the same technique, but attach it with hog rings and remove the wire afterwards. It made it very easy for me to control the tension and see how it turned out while I was twisting the wires.

I did the bolster seams first. That gave me enough loose material to push them into the grooves in the foams. Then I did the parameter.
There are small metal rods that slip into sleeves on the seat cover bottoms where you attach the bolster seam to the seat bottom. Thats what holds it solid when you hog ring it down. JMO.

Put the covers in the dryer or lay them out in the sun (dryer works quicker) and let them get nice and warm for easier fitting.

Either way, be prepared for tired hands from pulling and puting on hog rings.

Now when I think of it, you might not be able to get to the wires in the bolster area after you have done the perimeter of the seat, unless you use the wires as I described. I attached them and ran them through the foam before doing anything else.

bolster first. I was thinking that too.

Instead of wire, it looks like my PUI covers have a piece of rolled cardboard that loooks like a wire. Should I replace that with metal wire?

I have a wagner heat gun. I heard that works really well if you're careful. I'll give it a go this weekend.

Instead of wire, it looks like my PUI covers have a piece of rolled cardboard that loooks like a wire. Should I replace that with metal wire?

I suppose what they gave you would work fine.
67 (guessing by your nickname) may not have used a solid wire, don't know.
I saved mine when I pulled the old covers. Basically dumb luck found them in my case. They almost got tossed into the trash with the covers.
As a matter of fact I used a piece of wire coat hanger to replace one.

Good luck this weekend :thumbsup:

That's funny, I was thinking of doing the same thing! I am missing one of the original wires (bought the buckets with one seat already disassebled). So I was going to replace the paper/cardboard pieces with a piece of a metal coat hanger.

Thanks. Hope it goes smoothly.