TMI upholstery questions

[pcm1978]

Can anyone explain the difference between the different TMI seat styles?

Here is a link to the catalog page I'm talking about: http://www.tmiproducts.com/volkswage...t/upholnos.pdf

Car is a 1980 Cabby with the original sport equipment package, including the sport seats, which are just like the ones in the pic below from the 1980 Scirocco S - except mine have the silver/black strobe fabric. Car is in another state at the moment, so I can't post a pic of the actual seats.

I'm looking at the TMI catalog and figure I need either seat style H or J, but I can't tell what they mean by "pillow effect". In my car the backrest center portion definitely has the "pillow effect", it even has little pleats on the vertical sides that you can stick your hand into. But the bottom center cushion is not pillowy. it is completely separate from the side bolsters, but is just a solid block of foam covered by (disintegrating) fabric.

So does "pillow effect" just mean it's separate from the side bolsters, or is there supposed to be some extra pillow material on top, like in some mid 80s GM product?

Thanks in advance for any and all advice on this. I already tried to contact TMI and they were nonresponsive. Awesome.

Pic of identical (except for color) seat from Scirocco S brochure:

[mk13nb]

It may help to contact the retailer instead. TMI doesn't sell to the public, so you may not get a response from them. Jbugs.com and mtmfg.com both carry the TMI line.

[pcm1978]

Thanks - I actually tried jbugs earlier and they also didn't respond. (Which I don't understand - don't they want to take my money? I try to respond to clients/potential clients within an hour. I guess business must be really good for them.)

I know TMI didn't sell direct to consumer but now it looks like you can order stuff through their web site directly, for a price that's much higher than that at the regular online retailers.

I'll check with mtmfg - their prices are favorable as well.

[clintg60-16v]

Mtmfg gets my vote.

[mk13nb]

I checked my records. Mine were style "D" ("Pillow" bottom and 1 piece back). They look similar to your picture.

[pcm1978]

Thanks. That's in an 84?

Those look phenomenal - did you install them yourself? Is that oxen vinyl on the outside?

Your seat bottom part looks the same as mine, but the backrest portion on mine has this weird pleated separation between the center sections and the bolster. You can actually reach your hand inside and touch the springs/wires in the backrest. On yours it looks like the center is stitched to the bolsters.

[mk13nb]

Thanks. Yes, those are in the 84. I'll check tonight if the were oxen or not. I installed them 12 years ago and have to check the receipts to know for sure.

My backs are 1 piece. If your bottom cushions are the same and your top cushions have the "pillow" I think that makes yours style "J"

[pcm1978]

How did you get them to fit so well? Is it just making sure the hog rings or zip ties are tightened properly, or did you have to add padding between the cover and the foam?

Also, have they held up well?

[mk13nb]

There is no extra padding, just what they came from the factory with.

I'm not sure if you have taken yours apart yet, but there are wires and rods that are inside sleeves. These wires are pulled down into pockets in the foam and then clipped in place with hog rings. It helps to have the new cover warm (lay out in the sun for a couple of hours first). If you are doing both fronts and back seats, start with the back seat first. It's the easiest to get the covers in place and allows you to practice a bit. On the front seat backs, I place a garbage bag over the seat first. It helps you slide the covers in place over the foam. Once the cover is in place, you can reach up and just rip the bag out.

I've had my covers on for 12 years now and they have held up very well. This car is not a daily and does not get the abuse.

[deathhare.]

I checked my records. Mine were style "D" ("Pillow" bottom and 1 piece back). They look similar to your picture.

Looks good.

[pcm1978]

Thanks for the tips. I have looked at the various reupholstery DIY threads, so I have at least a theoretical understanding of the process.

I do plan to start with the back seat. Mine is the super flat early style, so it shouldn't be that difficult. Depending on how that turns out, I will either tackle the fronts myself or take them to a local guy who will do the work for a very reasonable hourly rate. I also need to rebuild/replace at least one piece of bolster foam, so that should be fun.

It won't be for a couple months at least, but I'll post pics once it's all done.

[mk13nb]

Is that oxen vinyl on the outside?

Yes, it is oxen vinyl

[rabbitnothopper]

Thanks for the tips. I have looked at the various reupholstery DIY threads, so I have at least a theoretical understanding of the process.

I do plan to start with the back seat. Mine is the super flat early style, so it shouldn't be that difficult. Depending on how that turns out, I will either tackle the fronts myself or take them to a local guy who will do the work for a very reasonable hourly rate. I also need to rebuild/replace at least one piece of bolster foam, so that should be fun.

It won't be for a couple months at least, but I'll post pics once it's all done.

the rear seats are easier to work on, your flat kind probally even easier than the curved late style ones

front seats can be a pain because of the foam which is held to the cloth via some metal bracketing buried in the foam
nearly impossible to remove and probally just as hard to install
otherwise actually removing and installing the fabric+foam to the metal frames is straight forward

carefully remove all the upholstery clips and save them for later, you can clean them or replace them
there are two plastic clips on the front seats which go through the fabric into the metal frame
do not lose those......
you'll see what i mean


hmmmm.........and those red seats you have in the first post are Effin EPIC

[pcm1978]

I wish those were my red seats - those are out of the brochure. My car has the black/silver version of that same pattern, but they are looking pretty tired after 32 years of being in a convertible.