Reupholstering Seats

[mgbruno]

Greetings all,
My name is Mike Bruno and I'm new here - just moved here last fall. Was actually just told about this forum and am glad to find a local place to ask questions, etc. I have an 84 911 cab and just bought a pair of tan manual sport seats. They are exactly what I've been looking for but they need to be reupholstered. Anyway, the guy I bought them from recommended a place in Rockville called leather clinic. Was wondering if any of you could recommend any other places. I'd really like to get these seats in awesome condition. I don't know if any of you have seen a set of brown leather sport seats on Pelican done by a guy named Jason Cullen. Thats what I'd like mine to look like when they are done. Any help you could give me would be great.

Semper Fi,
Mike

[Charlie Stylianos]

Welcome:)

I've heard good things about Lims in Tysons Corner.

Here are some older threads:

http://www.dorkiphus.com/porsche/showthread.php?t=5682

http://www.dorkiphus.com/porsche/showthread.php?t=5080

http://www.dorkiphus.com/porsche/showthread.php?t=4586

http://www.dorkiphus.com/porsche/showthread.php?t=4194

http://www.dorkiphus.com/porsche/showthread.php?t=4001

http://www.dorkiphus.com/porsche/showthread.php?t=3749

[Jase007]

Welcome Mike.

Post a pic of you cab if you get a chance. If you need some help doing so just send me a PM or email and I'll help you set it up.

As the good Dr. mentioned above Lims has a good rep around these parts.

Jase

[mgbruno]

Thanks you guys. I'm at work and don't have any pics here. Will post some soon. Was told I'd also be given a hard time if I didn't do that as well as tell a bit about myself. I'm a Marine - stationed in Quantico. Have 17 years in the Corps. Was at Naval Postgrad my last two years and thats where i bought my 84 cab. Was clueless at the time and bought the thing on Ebay! Boy had I only known then what I know now. I think I paid too much but in all, I think I could have done worse. The car only has 51,000 miles on it, zero rust, but it was out in the desert for 20 years, so, the interior is very sad. And the tranny - 1st gear for sure and perhaps more - is going bad as well. Then, the guy who had it before me dropped some building material on the left fender. He replaced the fender and had it repainted - pretty decent job, but he didn't have the frame straightened/alligned. I guess the car gets put on a machine for that. So, now, the fender is slightly missaligned with the hood. It can be fixed but why the knucklehead just didn't do it right when he had it all apart... Then again, I was a knucklehead for not mentioning it when i bought it. But I've wanted one of these sine I was 5 and all I saw was Porsche Porsche, Porsche at that time. Oh well, I've had it for 2 years and love my baby. Can't wait to get it where I want it. Thanks for the threads and advice.

Mike

[mgbruno]

Ok,
I looked at the threads - at least some of them. Lims seems to have changed hands. Anyone had any work done by the new LIMS???

[Patrick3000]

Mike,

Very nice to meet you yesterday and good luck with the sport seats.

[mgbruno]

Hi Karl,
Same same. Great to meet you as well. I sent you an email to your other account earlier.

Mike

[GM2006]

Lims in Tysons Corner is a good shop. Just had some repair work done on one of my 993's seats. Jun is the current manager. Phone number is 893-7373. Tell him Gary Madison sent you. He should remember me -- I just picked-up the seat at lunch today. :D

He does a lot of work for HBL and other high-end dealers in the area. Plus, Dogan at Intersport said good things about the shop this week.

Good luck, and remember that every older Porsche is a work in progress.

[My87Targa]

how much does it averagely run to get seats re done and what do you do just take them out and take them to the place??

[mgbruno]

You know, I don't rightly know. I've been swamped with other projects and have run out of money. So, my nice tan, 911 sport seats, are sitting down in the basement. If I ever have time :) I'll try redyeing them first. Then, if that doesn't look as good as I want - has to be perfect - I'll go the reupholsteriung route. But first try the cheaper solution.

[Trak Ratt]

This would likely make a nice DIY project. Some have done it with good results. The later seats use foam that replaces easily. The covers are the tricky part put just pull over the frames/foam. Kits are available at a fraction of the cost of what shops charge. Sport seats have some extra “wire” braces under the back and bottom foam that may need rewelding, but simple to do when apart. Quantico used to have a nice Auto shop (~10 years ago) that could likely order at discount and provide some tech help.

[mgbruno]

Hi David,
Yep, thats actually what I thought as well, but was as of yet unsure. I looked at the seats and they seem to be like this - ie, that you just pull the covers over the foam. Quantico does have a nice shop but I never thought to go there to order parts. Hmmmm, thats a great idea and I wonder if this service is available. I'll check. Recovering those seats has struck me as being VERY expensive - depending on who you go with, and from the looks, its not rocket science. But my alternator is giving me headaches rioght now, so, first - tackle this project - then get my wife back on my good side because I spent the last four days trying to fix electrical problems :( and then the seats. :) But the Quantico idea is definately a thought that I hadn't considered. Thanks,

Mike

[Trak Ratt]

Check the internet for How to articles. Essentially the covers are turned mostly inside out then “unwrapped” over the foam.

Allso, get a copy of the 101 Projects by that Pelican guy. Covers the alternator exchange. Plenty of other net articles on that too. Many here have done it here as well, some more than once!