The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors 46 seat and back

I am getting estimates for recovering my 46 chevy seats..I have 3 estimates that include tuck and rolling the seats out of cloth and vinyl....I have been surprised that all the estimates are around $1000.00. These are all local people and I want to support them but I also do not want to be taken for a ride....Is this what most of you are paying for new seat upholstery? Thanks for any insights

For what it is worth there seems to be a wide disparity in costs for upholstery from one area to another. When I did my seat two years ago, I went to every place that does upholstery here in Western Colorado. I was quoted anywhere from $400 to $700 just to install the cover. I had to purchase the Spanish Grain Vinyl on top of the cost to install. I purchased the cover from Jim Carters along with the padding kit. That came to right at $400. After stripping off the old layers of covers I got down to the original seat cover. The JC covers matched the original almost exactly. After cleaning, tightening, and painting the springs I installed the new covers my self. The cleanup and repair took one weekend, and the installation of the new cover most of another, but it looks really really good. The installation can be a bit fussy, but if you take your time you will be pleased. The one thing I would do different is buy a couple of upholstery pliers. I think it would make the job go easier. Maybe $1000 for tuck and roll is a fair price, but I think unless you are rodding your truck it would look out of place. I don't recall the name of the vendor, but there is a place that sells tuck and roll covers in lots of colors. Try the links page or Google it. Best of luck however you go with this.

Thank you for your insight....I have tried the links page and asked for samples from a company. They will not talk price until they send the samples...so we will wait for the pony express to deliver...
Thanks again

I paid about $ 1900. labour & material , for the full interior in vinyl ( Seat, headliner, door panels, rear window surround,kick panels, A pillar wraps, and new carpet. Upholsterer built up seat and seat back for a little more comfort. I had prices all over the map - check around.

46trucker,
Man, $1000 sounds high to me. Maybe for the labor of tuck & roll, but here is SoCal therea re lots of tiny shops that would probably do it for much less. I have a little shop in a truly tough part of town that will do a simple plain redo for probably a couple hundred. I haven't taken my truck there yet, but when I do I will post Before, After and Costs.

46trucker,

If you are doing the stock seat, a local shop wanted $400 to install a Jim Carter's Kit. they would have fixed the springs and installed it nicely.

Money was an issue so I could not spend it. I bought the kit and did it myself. I learned I am NOT an upholstery guy. Biggest problem I had was the a couple of the old springs were in poor condition and the seat rode so poorly, that I put in on the shelf to be done properly at a future date. I am currently running a third row out of a dorF Winstar. The "modern" seat does not work the best, but my back does not get sore when driving. There may be better options for a modern seat out there, but I needed something right away.

I hate to say it, but if they are doing the covers, rebuilding the frame etc, $1000 is probably close for MN.

I'd shop around for a shade tree type upholstery guy, most towns have one. Id walk into every upholstery place around and look in the local paper classifieds. In the upholstery world your truck seat is about the easiest job they do.

And that 46 seat is a killer, shaped all wrong for any humans back side, needs to be reshaped or thrown away. I opted for a pair of used but nice and comfy buckets, now I can also access that small bit of extra space behind the seat.

Thanks for the insights...I may have to look around for a more comfortable seat set up. Sounds like the money to recover would be better spent on a more up to date seat. I am trying to keep the interior as honest as I can but at the same time comfortable to sit in on long rides.
I will be looking around to talk to other upholstery shops plus keeping a look out for a more modern seat...
Thanks to everyone for their insights

I paid $250 for the material and the labor for my local guy to redo my seat. A couple of minor spring tweaks were necessary but other than that, it was a decent seat to start with. I've had a fwe things done by this guy and it is always top shelf work, and on time. I wouldn't dream of paying anywhere near a grand for that work. If you are getting a headliner and door panels and sound deadening, well now that's more like it. But a recover-even tuck and roll- $1000 is too much for seat work.

I paid about $165.00 for the cover and installation kit from JC. Another $10 for additional padding. I cleaned up the old springs and switched a couple of week ones from under my A__ to the center area. Installing the cover was a little tricky, but not too bad as I did it with no help

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