Anybody do their own headliner and seat covers?

[bobs409]

I just ordered the headliner, front and rear vinyl seat covers and carpet for my '66 Impala. Cha Ching $$$ Cha Ching $$$

I'm planning on giving upholstery a try myself because I'm self taught and like to do my own work whenever possible. (not to mention that it's also because I can't afford to have it done by someone else) :D

I'll practice on the lower rear seat which should be the easiest and if successful, I'll continue on from there. The headliner should be do-able but I can see already, patience is going to be the key.


Has anyone here done their own headliner or seat covers? Have any tips or guidance? I don't hear much about this subject on this site. :?

So far, I know enough to make sure the headliner and seat covers (and carpet for that matter) are warmed up so they are flexable. And to start in the middle and work outward to avoid wrinkles with all.

I heard of a good tip for the headliner a while back. Use large paper clips to secure the headliner in place along the sides until the glue dries.

I'll also use some glue under the carpet in any trouble areas such as around the center hump. (anywhere it doesn't lay right)


So lets see if we have any upholsterers in here...

[fatride]

I did my own interior, all of it, door panels kick panels seats and headliner. Make a table out of two saw horses and a 4'x8' sheet of plywood. If you use 1/2" plywood place two 2"x4"s under for support. Cover the plywood with a blanket or sheet. It takes quite a bit of wrestling and strength. Keep a hair drier near to heat the vinyl or it will no stretch over the seat easily. The headliner in the 60 Impala did not use glue, you pulled it tight and used staples at the sides and ends. The trim then covers the staples. You need a pair of hog ring plyers and hog rings to hold the seat covers to the seat frame. hog rings come with seat covers I presume. If I can do it so can you! I did have some help from a pro with the seat backs on the front seat.

[Impalaguru]

Hey Bob,
From doing covers and actually sewing some covers from scratch, I've learned to not get in a hurry. Another thing I would reccomend is to get some thin foam to add back to the seat buns. Any upholstery shop will have this. Ask to go through the scrap bin! They'll know what you need. I'm assuming your foam is in pretty good original shape. You'll see some wear on the foam where the passengers sit. It'll be kinda flaky and crumbly. You might need some in those areas, and also on the edge of the drivers seat. You'll know more when you get the original covers off. Wouldn't hurt to do a "test fit" and place the covers over the seats to see how they are going to lay down. Make sure the welted edge is on the "edge" of the seat. Sometimes when people install new covers, they really have to pull 'em down to get them tight over the old, shrunken foam. This puts the welted edge too low.
If you don't have a pair of hog ring pliers or hog rings you can get both at a farm supply store! That is if you have any nearby. I live in Iowa so I have this "luxury" :rofl
Best of luck!!
Ross

[bobs409]

Great help guys! :cheers I never knew you did your own interior Ray. I've seen pics and remember it looking sharp!

I have half of the old headliner out (actually it was falling out!) and noticed they had glue along the last couple of inches along the sides so figured I'd use it too. They have tack strips above the front and rear windows so I'll have to use staples there.

Now that I think of it, those staples looked kind of small, any suggestions on what kind to use?

Ross, your post got me a bit nervous but I need to hear this stuff! :D I know some of the foam is missing in the driver seat area so thought I'd patch in some new there. I'll definetly watch that welted edge. Sounds like a great place for a newbie such as myself to make a mistake. :eek:

I'll check the foam too and add some thin if needed to get some height. (again, something I would not have known)


I did buy a pair of hog ring pliers from someone on ebay. (nothing fancy, just something to get the job done) Hog rings I still have to get, I don't think they include them with the covers.


All great tips so far. Anyone else??? :D

[SteveD409]

I did my own headliner in my '63 SS and it didn't turn out to bad, but I ended up with a few wrinkles back by the rearwing panels that no matter what I did I just couldn't get rid of them. But, alas, the first time the car sat out in the hot sun they disappeared! Just thought you'd like to know that.

If I could do it over I would make sure that I totally covered the rear wing panels with adhesive before installing the material. I just spot sprayed mine and you can see where I did it when looking at them from an angle.


SteveD

[walkerheaders]

Bob, those headliner staples are only about 3/16 grip and should be available in most any big store. make sure the strip you'r stapling to is in good shape. also use spray glue along the sides of the headliner. you may have to pull it loose in a few places before it stretches in place. THEN use the staples to retain

leave the seatcovers out in the sun while you perpare the frames, foam, canvas etc.... when mine got real soft, i placed it over the seat being careful not bunch up the foam and canvas underneath, lined it up carefully, attached it and put it in the cool basement where it shrunk into place. looks factory to me.

[Mr.Jimmy]

Bob,

You may also want to find a heat gun- or a hair dryer too...It will help in the aid of putting the covers on..so one can strech out some areas that need the extra help.

For the head liner, try to borrow a steam wand.....Its a machine that makes steam with a 6 foot hose and a wand on the end of it. It will make the headliner wrinkles go away pretty good. One will have to do it maybe 3-4 times, but it shrinks the material nice and slow. I was looking through the ads in the Sunday paper a few weeks back, and even Marshall Fields has them for like $99.00 for taking the wrinkles out of your suits!!!

[Brian64SS]

I installed the upholstery and headliner myself. The headliner was the original one and the panels were in good shape but the thread holding the panels together rotted. My wife sewed them back together by hand and sewed new muslin tubes in for the rods. It was a hassle to install without help. I used the original cardboard tack strips and an ordinary office-type stapler. I angled the staples in to minimize having them bend in the thin cardboard strips and so the tightness of the headliner wouldn't pull them out. It's been in for probably 4 years now and still looks good.

The bucket seat covers were a much bigger hassle because the new foam from Lutty's was way too thick. Not having any experience in this, I didn't realize what was wrong until I fought for hours trying to get the bottom seat cover to fit over the cushion without ripping the cover apart. The PUI seat covers were a near perfect fit but the hogs rings I ordered with the covers were just soft wire. I found real hogs rings at an upholstery shop. The pro's use a real hog ring pliers too - not the junky one that came with the rings. It was a big learning experience but like the headliner, most people won't notice an amatuer did it.

[bobs409]

I'm happy to say, I have successfully reupholstered the bottom rear seat today! My fingers are sore as heck but I'm very happy with the results. The job was about as I expected it might be, not too difficult but it does take time. I spent 3 hours on just this one! Tomorrow I'll probably to the upper rear, maybe I'll get faster as I go.

There are some wrinkles/indentations from the way it was folded in the box but they'll come out. Too cold today but will put in the sun on the next nice day.

I couldn't justify the cost of the cloth/vinyl type so I opted for the next best thing, all vinyl. These are made by PUI were $339.00 for the whole set. These are the two tone bright blue/medium blue and match the 2 shade on the door panels.

Headliner and carpet will have to wait for spring but it gets nice and warm in my workshop so I can at least do the seats. Not much room to spare but enough to get the job done anyway.

[bobs409]

Oh yeh, here's a before shot. YUK! :eek:

[jester]

Oh yeh, here's a before shot. YUK! :eek:
Hey Bob , DON"T mix up the roof rods, If you use plastic bag over the cushions the cover will slide easier.

[Johnny Impala]

On the headliner, it helps to install any mounting screws for the visors, coat hooks, or anything that mounts through the headliner, in their holes before installing the headliner. They don't need to be screwed all the way in, just far enough to stay in place. With these screwed in first, it makes it easier to find the screw holes after you put the headliner in. You just feel around through the headliner with your fingers til you find the screwhead, and then make a small cut on top of the screwhead. This way you don't have to guess where the screw hole is, and end up with holes poked in the wrong place. This works pretty well, as long as you find the right screw. :doh

[bobs409]

Great tips for the headliner. Thanks, I'll be sure to use them.

I'm hoping for the same success with the headliner when the time comes.

Doing these things for yourself is so much better than "farming" it out to others. Everytime I sit on those seats, I'll know I did them! :D (not to mention the wads of cash that I don't have to shell out!) :p

[bowtieollie]

Hey Bob,

Pertaining to the seat covers - install plastic trash bags on the foam before you install the cover.

It allows the cover to slip on easier - and you can adjust it easier also.

You may need a "steamer" for the headliner if you run into pulling - usually found near the rear C pillar. The warmer the day - the better the results..... :)

[bobs409]

I'll probably be using the garbage bag trick on the front seat backs. I didn't need it for the rear seat but the front is a split bench so I'm sure that will come in handy with those.

I will wait for a nice day to do the headliner. It was 10 out this morning! :eek: Not good headliner weather! :p

I remember reading in a magazine about someone that put a boiling pot of water inside the car with the windows up and it removed the wrinkles from the headliner! Don't know how effective that really is though.


I did the rear upper yesterday and it only took 2.5 hours so I must be getting better! ;)

[bobs409]

Seats are done and now that the weather is warming up, I'm now onto the headliner. I have it in the car hanging by the rods and now it's time to start stretching and glueing the outer perimeter into place.

I thought I better ask though, should I start in the center of the sides working in each direction or do the front/back center and work out to the sides first? Or???

I haven't found anything even close to those original staples but was thinking of maybe using dabs of hot glue instead. That should hold better than those thin wire staples anyway. Right?

Any further advice is welcome...

Bob

[JimKwiatkowski]

Bob,I don't if a 57 headliner is like yours,but it sounds like it.I've done my headliner about 4 times now,I've got 6 rods or I call them bows :dunno I've always stated from the center and work one section at a time.I use a staple gun the same kind of gun you use for ceiling tiles.If you use a staple gun you can pull the staples out if you make a mistake.

[bobs409]

This one has 5 bows (thanks for the correct term) :D There is a tack strip at the front and rear glass and in both sail panel areas.

The only staples I found are too long. The tack strips are only an 1/8" thick if that. I think the smallest staples I found are 5/16". Guess I could try it but would be alot sticking out. I wonder if a paper stapler would work??? The ones I took out are very thin like something you would staple papers together with. Hmmmm......

[JimKwiatkowski]

Bob,they do make 1/8"staples,I would do some more shopping around I think the brand name of the staples are Arrow.The thin ones won't work because you want pull on the headliner to make it tight and the thin ones will pull out.

[JimKwiatkowski]

Bob,I found this site on Google,Arrow makes 3/16 staples
http://www.hardwarestore.com/brands/77-517-arrow-fastener-company.aspx

[bobs409]

Thanks Jim. I'll try some more local hardware stores first, someone MUST have them.

[bowtieollie]

Hey Bob,

With all this rain - you better start building a 409 powered boat! :help

Use the staples - do not use the hot glue.

Work from the center towards the sides. You may want to attach the center front and rear first - this way you work the "wrinkles out towards the corners.

You may need a steamer - especially on the C pillar area.
You tack strips sound awful thin at 1/8". You can increase the thickness of those - new strips are plastic.

[bobs409]

I found some 1/4" staples and I'm hoping they will do. Now I just need some sunshine to finish this up.

One thing about all the rain, I got to make sure there are no leaks before laying the new carpet! :D It was a pouring here lately!

[bobs409]

Wow, that was tough! And that floor was not comfortable! :eek: I wouldn't want to do headliners for a living. :D

I'll have to go back and try to smooth it out better, it's got wrinkles. Wish I had a steamer. Maybe a fresh start tomorrow will help.

Oh well, it's better than the old droopy, filthy headliner that was there.

[bobs409]

Ok, time for show and tell. Here are some before and afters:

[droptop62]

The two-tone covers look great.

[Dond409]

Very nicely done Bob. Maybe you have found yourself a new sideline.

[jim_ss409]

Nice job! :cheers

[bobs409]

Thanks guys. The heck with that for a side line though. :D That's too much like WORK! :p

Actually, I had a great time doing the seat covers. It was a great way to work on the car when the weather was still lousy as I was able to hike these up into my workshop above my garage where I am able to heat it to 55-60. But that headliner..... I'd be happy never to do one of them again. I will have to go at this one again to make it nicer but for now, that's gonna wait.

The carpet was a dream to install. The last one I did was in my 66 Chevelle and it fit like #!@# So bad, I'll be replacing it again just so I can get rid of it! This one however, dropped right in and fit like a glove. The manufacturer of this carpet is ACC.

The only problem is everytime I install something, it ends up making something else look lousy. So now I have to get new door sill plates, arm rest bases and pads and pedal pads! ;) Among other things...

It's so much fun seeing something that's been neglected come back to life and to know that your responsible for it. I think that's the most fun of working on these old cars.

Well, front clip came off yesterday so today it's metal work. Won't be long until I'm spraying 2 gallons of pure black!

Can't wait to hit the streets in this ol' gal. She's gonna turn heads.


Bob

[droptop62]

Bob,
How come Black paint on the 66 Impala?
My parents had a 67 Caprice 2dr hardtop that came factory as Black with black vinyl top and light blue bucket seat interior. weird color combo. My dad had the caprice painted marina blue with the black vinyl top. It looked good blue.
I wish we still had that car, it was loaded!!! 396 TH400 buckets, console, pwr windows, A/C, pwr seat, tilt, wood wheel, AM/FM with 8 track and multiplex, dual exhaust.
bumper guards, .......you name it, and it had it!

[JimKwiatkowski]

Bob,Great job on the interior :clap Don't listen to Droptop about Black Paint,thats his favorite color :D

[droptop62]

Bob,Great job on the interior :clap Don't listen to Droptop about Black Paint,thats his favorite color :D
Yeah Jim, you are right. I do love a Black car, just not to used to seeing it with lite blue interior. I'll just have to wait and and see it. you never know...........
;)

[bobs409]

This car is originally Danube blue which is very, very dark metallic blue. It almost looks black in the right conditions. The problem is I don't care for dark blue so I thought I'd go with black since I never had a black car before and it is one color that would go with the interior. The only other choices would be white, blue or perhaps silver? I am familiar with Marina blue and it's a great color but not sure it would be appropriate with a light blue interior. I wouldn't go with that color because it's too close to the color of my 69 Chevelle. (Lemans blue)

My dream '66 Impala (from back when I was a kid when I first fell in love with the 65/66 cars) would be white but since my '63 is white, I really don't want another the same. Hmmm, maybe I have too many cars! :D

Since I replaced just about everything on the interior, I could have changed it to black but since all of my cars (except 1) have black interiors, I really don't want to bother doing this one the same. The light blue grew on me almost immediately. I kept on picturing how it must have looked when new.

I guess I just want something a bit different this time and this is my chance.