I'm almost done with the interior upholstery of my Fordor, but haven't figured out how to attach the cloth to the back of the front seat. The top has the tack strip but the bottom of the seat is metal with no apparent provision to attach the cloth. In addition, the sides have no apparent way to attach up in the depths of the V. I got the Cartouche kit from Mac's. The instructions are very sparse with nothing about this part. The cloth came folded up, no backing or anything else. Help please.
Dale, the upholstery wraps around the bottom and is stapled to the wood, then its brought up and wrapped around the top and stapled to the wood. The front cushion is put on next. Start at the top and flip the front over the back of the seat. Staple the cord and the front cushion at the same time but stop about 2 or 3 inches from the both sides. You will need to leave the sides undone until the seat is mounted to the pillars. Then you can finish by stretching and stapling the bottom of the seat. Hope this makes sense and helps...
Forgot to mention I used 1/4" foam on the back of the seat for padding. You can use what ever you want but it does make for a better looking job and gives some cushion to the steel seat back.
Oh crap let me clarify. You staple the top of the front cushion with the cord in place and then staple the bottom. By leaving the ends undone it allows you to get to the screws to mount the seat to the pillars. I really got to get in the habit of proof reading before hitting the enter button...sorry.
Don, how is the top finished? I am following instruction that have you installing the back cushion, then the back. The cushion is in place.
You can see in this picture how it was done in the day..
This is how I did the two Fordors...I did the back of the seat first and then the front of it. I really couldn't figure out any other way to put the cord in without having the staples or tacks show.
You want the front of the seat on top of everything else when its finish. So, my feeble little brain couldn't come up with any other way to do it. Maybe someone else can add to the mystery.
Here is a quick sketch I just now made up.
Thank you, Don, that helps.
Great looking job Dan. I am now waiting for my upholstery to arrive from Classtique. I chose the same color that you did, so it was good for me to see it done. Thanks for posting photos.
John, just holler if you have any questions. I will try to help you out. I have tons of pictures and have done two Fordors recently. The real fun begins when you have to install the seat to the pillars. Getting the fabric correct with no wrinkles is not easy. The seat has to be screwed in on the pillars and the seat riser at the same time. I worked back and forth on both to get a wrinkle free install. I also suggest the seat back cushion be left a bit loose so the bottom seat cushions can be installed without stressing the seat back material. When the bottom seats are installed it will tighten the back seat cushion. If that makes sense?
This picture shows the pleats lined up with both the back seat and bottom seats. It also shows that once the bottom seats are in place it tends to pull the back seat cushion tight. This picture is before the interior was steamed to relax the fabric.
Wow, where else could a guy go to get this kind of help with a relatively obscure model of car? Don Booth is the Man
I sprayed adhesive on the metal back and installed the foam padding and then the fabric, it can be pulled up and stretched or smoothed out without the need for two people.
Rick
Edwardo might be a bit bias...
Rick, that is exactly how I ended up doing it. Another suggestion I have for those doing the interiors of a closed car. Take the time to build a sliding seat to put in the car. It makes the job so much easier to do and saves your back and knees from all the twisting and turning.
You can see the sliding seat I built for working the interior. Not the best picture but it sits on the front seat riser and the rear seat riser. It allows you to slide back and forth and really speeds up the whole job and keeps you comfortable while in a confined area.
Damn right I am biased. People like you are getting more and more rare these days. Ever wonder what it feels like to have your car selected to be on Chip Foose's Overhaulin' TV show? I do.