Epic 68 Polara bench seat rebuild for originality

[BLUPORT]

I am absolutely amazed by the time and effort you've put into this. My friend just spent somewhere near $45k in sewing/embroidery equipment with a "long-arm" on it that reaches over 8 feet.. Now I see what she could use it for.

Forgive my ignorance, but since you can't pin the layers to keep them aligned, would using strong neodymium (aka Rare-Earth) magnets to "pinch/clamp" the sections in place do any good? The only reason I thought about suggesting it is because I had one in my pants pocket and walked too close to a metal desk. it pulled so hard, it popped the seam of my slacks, and the previously mentioned friend sewed them for me.

 

[HWYCRZR]

I am absolutely amazed by the time and effort you've put into this. My friend just spent somewhere near $45k in sewing/embroidery equipment with a "long-arm" on it that reaches over 8 feet.. Now I see what she could use it for.

Forgive my ignorance, but since you can't pin the layers to keep them aligned, would using strong neodymium (aka Rare-Earth) magnets to "pinch/clamp" the sections in place do any good? The only reason I thought about suggesting it is because I had one in my pants pocket and walked too close to a metal desk. it pulled so hard, it popped the seam of my slacks, and the previously mentioned friend sewed them for me.

That is probably not a bad idea as they are much lower profile than my clamps. At issue may be when you get to the metal sewing machine it may want to stick to the base and stop. But then again I had to remove the clamps before I got too close to the machine anyway.
Those little metal binder clips would have probably worked better than my small wood clamps as they are much lower profile.

 

[HWYCRZR]

I made some progress today.
I really wish my sewing machine had a higher lift pressure foot. It gets a little bulky when sewing all the parts together.
Rear seat bench complete. Rear back is Complete.

Sewing front panel and sides. I should have done the rear wrap as well then. It would have been easier.

Added jute padding around the bottom. This goes I’ve the metal seat frame when stretching so the metal doesn’t wear directly on the vinyl.

Decided to sew on the cording first. With all the bulk it would have been difficult to sandwich it all together and keep it straight. It was a good choice.

Sewing everything together. I wish I had a full wrap around sewing table. It gets pretty bulky.

All sewing completed, ready for stretching over rear bench.

Hog ring around the edges.

Finished product

Rear seat back next.

 

[Polara_500]

That's really looking good, Marty.

 

[ImpJay]

It looks awesome!

 

[cantflip]

I am thrilled and amazed... I wonder if I could make a straight line...probably not. You've really done a great job!

 

[BLUPORT]

Less talky, more stitchy. I'm feeding off this thread.

 

[rexus31]

Awesome work!

 

[HWYCRZR]

Ok less talky and more stitchy.

About 3 hours tonight. I did do some re stitching and stretching on the LH insert. I like it better now and should stretch out when I install.
Decided to stitch the cording on the center piece first. Good choice and much easier to align. Thread is cheap vinyl is not.

Still clamped it good making sure the quilting seems were lined up and straight.

First half done.

After clamping the second piece I folded it over to make sure the lines were straight from the other side.

Finished rear seat back inserts.
Maybe tomorrow I will build the edges and install.

 

[swisherred]

You are doing a wonderful job and the info is priceless.

 

[HWYCRZR]

Had a couple of hours tonight. Got the bottom hog ring cord attached as well as the sleeve for the bottom hog ring wire. Also sewed the cording to the seat inserts this time. I think it will be easier as this piece wraps around top and bottom and should keep the visible fabric from bunching when I see it. We will see tomorrow if it helps.

Sewed hog ring cord into side panels.

Sewing top and bottom hog ring wire and cord sheaths.

Indexed cording so it was symmetrical from side to side. You need to think mirror images.

Sewed on side cording in prep for side panels

 

[HWYCRZR]

Woo hoo.... my rear seats are finished. Not without a mistake or two I will share.

Be prepared to need to was everything up to fit it under the sewing machine to sew around corners.

Now for the mistake that wasted about an hour.
See the arrow on the flap? You don’t see an arrow on the front insert. I had a small one, but it kind of rubbed off.
I sewed the RH flap on the LH side upside down.
Mark big direction arrows!

Re marked on the insert. They don’t align.

Cut the stitches out and aligned the correct piece. I have alignment marks were the seams align with the side flap.

Since this piece has to wrap around, I didn’t trust clamps to hold it. I pu a few stitches on the straight edge of the panel to hold it in place.

I did have to force some upholstery pins through to get the corner wrapped around. I only shoved them through my fingers twice. Good thing vinyl wipes off.

Finished panel sewn together.

On this one I had to center and hog ring the top wraparound first keeping the vinyl tight as I worked towards the edges.

Then flipped it around and attached the bottom and edges keeping it stretched.

There we are.

 

[HWYCRZR]

Rear Seat installed. Back not bolted down yet. I think It looks ok.
I still have to clean off the marks. At 62 degrees you can still see my body imprint where I did a test sit. They are actually very comfortable.

 

[HWYCRZR]

I am starting on my front seats, I think I am going to take a little gamble with the layout. Based on what I learned from the rear seat, the seat inserts should be square. Based on my pattern of old stretched, ripped vinyl the seat edges by the door have a little radius. Another clue my original vinyl was really stretched there is the fact that my seat edges are straight. In order to keep the cording on the top edge and not sag down I think my inserts need to be straight as well.
Here goes.

 

[HWYCRZR]

Front seat inserts.
Tacked vinyl to foam. Really helps keep it from bunching. About an hour and a half from gluing to finish stitching. I also changed the needle and oiled the sewing machine.

 

[HWYCRZR]

Back to the salt mine.
Days like today you gotta love heated garages.

 

[cantflip]

Back to the salt mine.
Days like today you gotta love heated garages.
View attachment 248485 View attachment 248486

Brrr... I'd move south... oops, already did that.

 

[Mr C]

Amazing skills. Wow...just wow!

 

[HWYCRZR]

Front seat puzzle ready to sew together. Time to break out the original pieces to make sure I am not missing anything. Then plan my assembly order.
I think outside skirting and the sew to the inserts.

 

[HWYCRZR]

Almost there. Need to let it stretch overnight and finish the edges. I think I should have left the rounded edge on the top of the seat pad. It’s a little tight right there. It will probably be alright after a few uses.