Porsche Recaro Front Seat Restoration Part-1 Seat Backs

A close up look at the restoration process on your Early Porsche front seats.
Part-1 of two..this segment will cover the seat back in detail.
Lots of tips and techniques to re-upholster your front seats!
www.amazon.com...
Upholstery materials supplied by Autos International Inc. Or for complete professional restoration! www.porschetops...
Injection molded foam used in this video here:
rover.ebay.com... molded seats

[@Zincaloom]

Recently did my seat backs on a 356. I was having trouble getting the cover over too. Mine actually started to tear. I ended up using a trash bag like you but i wrapped the bottom of the trash bag around a vacuum hose, turned it on and sucked the air out. I left It running while I quickly pulled the cover on. The vacuum compressed everything so well the seat back cover just slid right on. Couldn’t believe how much easier it went on. I read about that method on the 356 Registry. Obviously too late to help you. Your seats look fantastic.

[@MikesRestorations]

Thats a fantastic idea.. Yes I sure wish I had that one before squeezing the covers over the foam...Its tight!! Thanks for sharing the secret!

[@jhammond4344]

Boy that POR15 goes on well. Did you spray it or brush it on?

[@MikesRestorations]

Hello j Always either by brush or sponge gives incredible results Cheers!

[@gplusgplus2286]

Wow. I don't think theres any "pro" upholsterer who would have done a better job.

[@MikesRestorations]

Thanks Gplus My hat goes off to those professionals.. What a tough trade to work in and very hard work I couldn't imagine doing upholstery 8 hours a day..its tough!

[@markevans1013]

Great work Mike - as usual. Can I ask why you decided to use the foam cushions rather than use new coconut fibre pads as were originally used? New coconut fibre pads are roughly the same price as foam.

[@MikesRestorations]

Hello Mark Sure thing..Injection foam will fill out the covers and keep its shape for as long as the seat cover lasts. The foam alternative is much more comfortable to sit in and will always return to its correct shape. The coconut fiber will break down relatively quickly after use and become crunchy and noisy to sit in..also the irregular construction of the fibers will produce lumpy telegraphing thru the cover material down the road. The foam will fill out the shape perfectly and last virtually forever.. It defiantly makes for a much tighter and more precise fit

[@gtate4200]

Mike, how did you dress up the seat rails that the seats ride on? Yours look great. Mine are stained and I can’t get them cleaned like your? Many thanks

[@stephencook754]

So glad I found this! I am getting started on my 356 interior, and I cannot imagine a better tutorial for doing the work.

[@MikesRestorations]

Thanks Stephen Im glad the series is helpful. Would love to see some pictures of the final out come! Best of luck Cheers

[@stephencook754]

@@MikesRestorations It's empowered my to take this on by myself. Your instructions are so incredibly good. If I may ask, where does one get the cardboard strips for the lower seat cushion (the strips that tuck under the frame to hold it in place)? Is there anything special about these?

[@MikesRestorations]

@@stephencook754 Thank you Stephen I sourced the cardboard strips from Autos International. They provided them with the seat sets. The card strips a a particular stiffness and specific dimensions. I recommend reaching out to them for any interior parts you might need.

[@stephencook754]

@@MikesRestorations Thanks again!

[@DooganReginald]

You make this look so easy Mike! I did my top dash on the 68 912 a few weeks back. If that was a 10, this seems like a 100 in terms of difficulty 😮

[@MikesRestorations]

Thanks Doogan, Watching video can be a little misleading at times.. some of these task really are quite involved and difficult. Hopefully the videos will help with some of the mysteries Cheers!

[@rodneynelson3862]

Hi Mike, Big question... Are you going to keep this car for your own use forever or do you have plans on selling it? Just trying to wrap my mind around how much time you are spending on this build. I have been thinking about redoing my 911 seats, but you lost me at 7 days. If it takes you 7 days it could take me 14 days! As usual your seats came out perfect. Better than new.

[@MikesRestorations]

Hello Rodney Thanks Thats a big question for sure.. The build time to date for this car is approximately 4k hours Its extreme for a restoration but there are shops out there that also put this kind of time into their recreations as they call them. My intention has not been to restore and sell as the purpose. Although it probably makes no rational sense to put this kind of time into a any project. I do however appreciate a nicely done car and will surely enjoy this one when she is finished. As for selling..who knows what the future brings but for now Im really looking forward to driving her and parking the finished product in the garage=) I finished my Tiger 14 years ago and over time have had a few respectable offers but to date nothing that would encourage me to give it up.

[@ArrowheadGarage]

Mike perfect timing on your videos sir! After a 600 mile run in my '67 912 am on the hunt to redo my seats! Awesome video as always!!!

[@MikesRestorations]

Hello Brian thanks A 600 mile run sounds like a blast!! Good luck on your seat restoration!

[@danwood1047]

Hi Mike. You are fearless! Are there any components of the restoration that you will have someone else work on or will you do everything yourself?

[@MikesRestorations]

Thanks Dan Thats a good question! I may bring this up in a future video as I do get asked occasionally. There are things I will avoid. As a general rule for myself I usually try to do as much a s possible. However there are times when special tooling usually leads way to the experts in those fields. For example..I don't mind taking on upholstery work and trying to figure out what makes it go but in no means would try to sew seat covers and special molded parts. Also engine/gearbox..Im fairy knowdlegable on mechanics but do not have special presses or high end machine tooling to do the machine work. Those type of things would be sent out to the experts. Engine building though Im okay with as long as I have everything ready to assemble. A good point thanks for bringing up!

[@martinback187]

I usually leave it to the upholstary shop, maybe next time I do it myself.

[@MikesRestorations]

Hello Martin Its worth a try!

[@graham6229]

In 1967 ( I owned an Austin Healy then and waited 50 years to own a 986 ) it seems that it took as long to make all the seats in the 911 as it does now to make a complete production line Ford or Vauxhall or whatever. Simply amazing work from the genius that is Mike. Amazing Sir.

[@MikesRestorations]

Thank you G E F Seats are an incredible amount of work in a restoration. My hat goes off to the upholstery shops that do this everyday..A tough line of work!

[@pknguyen3482]

Amazing work. Where can you buy those o-ring fasteners?

[@MikesRestorations]

Hello PK thank you The O-rings are viable in kit form from Sierra Madre. They are sold as Burlap complete kits Good luck!

[@pknguyen3482]

@@MikesRestorations I meant the fasteners

[@capitainrex]

Hi Mike, where you found the elastic and caoutchouc

[@MikesRestorations]

Hello captainrex The cover set was sourced from Sierra Madre. Sierra Madre kit includes the black o-rings. The lumbar straps and clips are original and the cord was a Home Depot item

[@capitainrex]

thank you Mike, i ordered it

[@americanix7951]

You could also used steam to install the covers Great work look comfy

[@MikesRestorations]

Thanks Americanix Not sure show steam could help us here..any ideas how to benefit from a steamer?

[@restoblast1387]

Excellent work again Mike, very interesting to see the seat restoration. Thank you. 👍

[@MikesRestorations]

Thanks Resto Blast I'm glad you enjoyed!

[@daverph]

Great video! Thanks for sharing the wisdom!

[@MikesRestorations]

You're welcome David!

[@derekmats]

Amazing, as always. These videos are so good.

[@MikesRestorations]

Thanks Derek I sure appreciate the feedback!

[@namenotavailable11]

Concours quality restoration Mike.

[@MikesRestorations]

Thanks Jeff She's coming out nice

[@FeeeshEP3]

Those really turned out great Mike!

[@MikesRestorations]

Thanks feeesh I'm thrilled with the result!

[@mooney0086]

They look great. Bring on part 2

[@MikesRestorations]

Thanks mooney Part 2 on the way!

[@michaelscott4766]

Just beautiful work, as always.

[@MikesRestorations]

Thank you Michael

[@ianoshea8817]

❤️

[@brunomarangoni58]

fantastic job!

[@MikesRestorations]

Thanks Bruno!