Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Using other manufacturers seats... (Read 1103 times) previous topic - next topic

Using other manufacturers seats...

Hey guys, someone stopped in at my work tonight and is putting racing seats in his '02(?) Celica...the factory seats look like racing buckets already, and they feel quite nice...I don't have a problem with losing power seats or modifying the tracks to work.  I just am not too happy about them being black...I've seen fabric paint, but I don't know about that.  Does anybody know about how much it costs to have seats recovered or might I be able to do the job myself? 

Thanks,
Don
Project 3G: Grandpa Grocery Getter-'85 Crown Vic LTD 2-door, 351W with heavily ported/polished GT40 heads, heavily ported/polished Typhoon Power Plus upper & lower intake, Comp Cams 265DEH retarded 1*, FAST EZ-EFI, HD T5, 8.8" 3.73 trac lock with extra clutches, 3G alt. swap, '99 CVPI front brakes, '09 CVPI rear disc brakes, '00 CVPI booster&m/c + wilwood adj prop valve.

Parted & Gone-'88 T-bird Sport, 351W swap, ported GT40 heads

Using other manufacturers seats...

Reply #1 –
If they're black you can forget about painting them - painting over a dark color with a light color won't work.

As long as they'll physically fit in the car any seat could be made to work, it would just require some modification to the brackets. One thing to keep in mind is that the stock T-Bird/Cougar seat belt attaches to the seat bracket, not the floor, so whatever you came up with you'd have to use the stock floor brackets
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Using other manufacturers seats...

Reply #2 –
BALLS!  I didn't even think about that.  Yeah, I wouldn't be painting them anyway...I think that's just cheesey.  I'll have to investigate more in depth before making my decision.  Thanks for the response!
Project 3G: Grandpa Grocery Getter-'85 Crown Vic LTD 2-door, 351W with heavily ported/polished GT40 heads, heavily ported/polished Typhoon Power Plus upper & lower intake, Comp Cams 265DEH retarded 1*, FAST EZ-EFI, HD T5, 8.8" 3.73 trac lock with extra clutches, 3G alt. swap, '99 CVPI front brakes, '09 CVPI rear disc brakes, '00 CVPI booster&m/c + wilwood adj prop valve.

Parted & Gone-'88 T-bird Sport, 351W swap, ported GT40 heads
 

Using other manufacturers seats...

Reply #3 –
It costs a lot to get seats reupholstered because it is time consuming and people that do it generally have so much pride in their talent that they do not care to do 2nd rate stuff.  That is to say, don't think a few hundred bucks will do it.  HOWEVER, do consider those more upscale seatcovers if your seats are torn & dirty & ugly.  The more expensive ones can fit quite well if you take your time and install them carefully and securely and properly.  Who would not rather sit on something new and clean compared to soiled and torn?  Depending on current condition of seats, $50 might freshen things up quite a bit... and a lot of the pickup truck bench seat models will fit the back if you take out seats etc.  Note that LOWES has carpet that is very thin and comes in rolls 6 ft wide in black and it is PERFECT for covering the deck under the back light ($6 or $7 total)