I'm new here, and while I don't own a jbody, I do have interest in them for economical transportation. I am a poor college student, and my girlfriend drives a 2004 Cavalier Coupe (I LOVE that blue!). The interior is just fine with me, but I was curious if any of you have had experience with leather in a jbody. I think that might enhance the aesthetic appeal of the overall car. I would like to purchase a Cavalier soon; it'll likely be my car for the next ten years as I plan to attend grad school, and I'm slowly learning what options are available.
I have had previous experience on forums so I know how things work. I did a quick search for "leather interior" and pulled zero results. However, it is quite possible that I missed something so suggestions are appreciated. I used to drive a 1992 Dodge Stealth RT/TT and I rarely got over 20mpg. Last weekend when my girlfriend visited me, I figured her economy to be near 30mpg; I was astounded and would love to have those figures!
So there's a bit about me...there is probably a newb forum here so I don't want to stray too far from my original inquiry about the possible leather swap. Might there be an undertaker to such a project? Thanks!
Jordan
I called up a local upholstery shop and they quoted me $850 for the seats and $65/ per door panel. For leather that is.
Go check out katzkin. I know they make seat covers for the front and back. A couple people on here have them and they look really good.
-Seth
you might even try getting a quote for some faux leather (fake) there are some types out with the feel and texture of leather, at 1/2 the cost.
Big Boi -Coloradojbody.org- wrote:you might even try getting a quote for some faux leather (fake) there are some types out with the feel and texture of leather, at 1/2 the cost.
They look like leather, but they don't feel or wear like leather. Leather is worth saving for.
wizkiddrummer wrote:Go check out katzkin. I know they make seat covers for the front and back. A couple people on here have them and they look really good.
-Seth
I did a search for Katzkin on here and those look really good to be honest!! Anyone know what the going rate is for two-tone?? I miight try to get some if the price is right rather than go with racing seats...I like the look!!
Eh...old man with a Corvette now...it was bound to happen sooner rather than later right?
Wild Weasel wrote:Big Boi -Coloradojbody.org- wrote:you might even try getting a quote for some faux leather (fake) there are some types out with the feel and texture of leather, at 1/2 the cost.
They look like leather, but they don't feel or wear like leather. Leather is worth saving for.
i looked at leather when i did mine and i actually liked the feeling of the vinyl i got over the leather, as far as the wear its to early to tell but its not a daily driver anymore so that problaby wont be an issue.
katzkin or going to a custom upolstery shop are pretty much your two main options. that or findins some seats allready done and purchasing them.
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BlueDeuce (dnt02cavls) wrote:wizkiddrummer wrote:Go check out katzkin. I know they make seat covers for the front and back. A couple people on here have them and they look really good.
-Seth
I did a search for Katzkin on here and those look really good to be honest!! Anyone know what the going rate is for two-tone?? I miight try to get some if the price is right rather than go with racing seats...I like the look!!
If you wanted to go with the regular leather-- two toned-- prices would run yah a little over $900 for the front and back seat covers. If you wanted to do reg. leather with an exotic leather type insert, then the price would be around $1300 for front, back, and door inserts.
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~ *_(Samantha)_ *~ wrote:BlueDeuce (dnt02cavls) wrote:wizkiddrummer wrote:Go check out katzkin. I know they make seat covers for the front and back. A couple people on here have them and they look really good.
-Seth
I did a search for Katzkin on here and those look really good to be honest!! Anyone know what the going rate is for two-tone?? I miight try to get some if the price is right rather than go with racing seats...I like the look!!
If you wanted to go with the regular leather-- two toned-- prices would run yah a little over $900 for the front and back seat covers. If you wanted to do reg. leather with an exotic leather type insert, then the price would be around $1300 for front, back, and door inserts.
Thanks...that's about what I was thinking...1K or so. I had a custom two-tone leather interior put in our Mini Cooper and paid $1300 for it.
Although I did not do the install on that, how hard would it be you think?
Eh...old man with a Corvette now...it was bound to happen sooner rather than later right?
if i remember right dont F-body seats and sliders bolt right up on cavi's...if so you might be able to get leathers out of them
Try these guys
http://www.leatherseats.com/ when I did mine about 3 yrs. ago it was $803 to my door. I think they've gone up about $50 since then.
The install will take the better part of a day and take about $50-75 in spray adhesive but well worth it.
"The FACTS are always subject to CHANGE once the TRUTH is applied"
"In the entire history of man the only stupid questions are the ones that don't get asked"
john317 wrote:Try these guys http://www.leatherseats.com/ when I did mine about 3 yrs. ago it was $803 to my door. I think they've gone up about $50 since then.
The install will take the better part of a day and take about $50-75 in spray adhesive but well worth it.
Did you take the old material off? If you did, wasn't the cloth glued down? I might be interested in doing this rather than racing seats as I like the OEM seats much better than racing seats!
Eh...old man with a Corvette now...it was bound to happen sooner rather than later right?
Yea it's glued , but if you peel slow and steady it comes right off the foam padding. If you start to peel foam just use a hot hair dryer and it'll come loose.
The toughest part to recover was the headrests. But if you warm the new cover in the microwave a little and squeeze the foam in the headrest until it gets a little more ply-able it goes right on.
"The FACTS are always subject to CHANGE once the TRUTH is applied"
"In the entire history of man the only stupid questions are the ones that don't get asked"
Thanks for the info...may have new seats then come spring time :-)
Eh...old man with a Corvette now...it was bound to happen sooner rather than later right?
sndsgood wrote:BlueDeuce (dnt02cavls) wrote:Thanks for the info...may have new seats then come spring time :-)
well your seats will still be old. they will just be in new clothes lol
True
But who doesn't like new clothes!!
Eh...old man with a Corvette now...it was bound to happen sooner rather than later right?
ok, so I'm looking to do this as well. I have been looking alot and found leatherseats.com to be the best priced and appear to have the best product. They will do custom graphics cheap too.
Anyways, I have been fighting with the idea of the seat heaters. I would like that up here in Maine if I keep it out alittle longer in the winter... and for when the top is down on a chilly evening.. but they are having arguments about if they would fit well with the glue down style seat... any of you have any thoughts?
I've got heaters in mine and I love them. Makes the Canadian winter that much more tolerable.
As for heating the headrest pieces... I'd recommend a hair dryer or heat gun over a microwave. That way you've got them right there in front of you as you heat them so you won't ruin them. I can see people over-nuking them and ruining them. Just a heads-up.
Cool, or warm I guess. Ok, stupid joke. How did you secure your leather down where the heaters are? I am having people tell me that I can't have the leather at all, or that I have to put it on over the top of the cloth, or that I can't have the heaters.... on and on.
I can't really answer that since mine were put in by a professional automotive upholstere.
Those people are definitely wrong though and don't have a clue what they're talking about. If you're putting something over your stock cloth... then you're pretty much just putting on seat covers.
I don't really think there's anything special about putting in seat heaters. I think they just sit between the seat forming foam and the upholstery.
When you upholster the seats, you don't just use leather or cloth or whatever. The material you're using is bonded to a thin soft foam backing so it's around half an inch thick or so. Then that's what's over top of the heaters.
Ok, so I looked at my seats today... finally pulled it out of the temp garage into the real garage!!! yeah!!! summers comming!!!
They look like they are covers... not glued... they have straps and stuff holding them at the bottom and I can put my fingers between the foam and the cloth up the seat bottom as far as it will reach.
Is it possible that the newer j's have covers or something? I don't know what year your car is, but by that nose its probably 01 or 02.. but yours was done professionally. The other guy up higher has a 96 I think if I remember right, and had glued. My 96 vert just like his had completely different seat material then my 00.
If anybody knows great!! I'm going to pull a seat from the car in the next couple of days and see if it will come apart easy.
