eschumac

Just wanted to share how I fixed the torn drivers side seat leather bolster on my '88 'vert.

My 88's seats are pretty crunchy after years of sun etc and are cracking a bit. The drivers side bolster had torn and a good size chunck was just a flappin' and you could see the foam. Really pathetic.

Items used:

1. Priority mail tyvek envelope. (free)
2. Permatex black weather strip adhesive #82 ($~6?)
3. Scissors (lefties swiped from kindergarten. free)
4. Chopstix (free with fuud)
5. Acrylic paint jar type (maybe $3?)
6. Exam gloves (swiped from clinic. free)

Method used:

1. Cut piece of mail envelope to cover tear plus about two inches on all sides.
2. Cover one side of piece of tyvek with weather strip adhesive and let dry completely until not sticky.
3. Insert the new coated tyvek piece into the tear in the seat so that the adhesive side is facing up and not against the foam.
4. Insert chopstix from both side of the tear as to create a separation or air space between the patch and the leater seat.
5. Put on the exam glove and lube your index finger with weather strip adhesive then coat the underside of the leather seat material on all sides of the tear. Make sure that the chopstix keep a separation between the tyvek and the seat. We want the seat to dry before sticking to anything.
6. When all the weatherstrip adhesive is dry slip the chopstix out from one side of the tear and press the seat leather down to the patch. Then pull out the other chopstix and pull the tear together and then press down to stick the whole thing together.
7. Now if you tear has some dicoloration due to the leather edge or you have some adhesive in the tear that doesnot match your seat color you can mix up some acrylic paint and dab som on the tear. I mix it a little with water and dab. It actually works really well for coloring cracks and scratches.

Viola!

BTW: I would not do this on my FD, but you can try it