SHO Leather

[Zap]

I went looking with my girlfriend and her dad for a new car for her (hers was hit and totaled, and what luck that she could get a SHO instead of her boring old car! Basically it was for her dad to take a look at another SHO besides mine, as we were only partially interested due to the options.) Anyhow, the leather in the car was immaculate! It seriously looked like it was brand new. I asked if the seats had been replaced, and suprisingly I was told that they had been reconditioned (at a cost of maybe $100-$200) instead. eek! I could not believe my eyes, and was curious if anyone had more input into reconditioning the leather seats to look that nice by yourself, or what is involved. I wish I had pictures. I saw some type of hand written receipt in the paperwork, so I'm guessing this isn't just a bunch of bs . Hope someone has some advice!

Thanks

<small>[ December 28, 2002, 01:40 AM: Message edited by: Zap ]</small>

 

[rendyx]

Take good care of it, a lot of people probably don't take care of leather and that's why it looks the way it does today. That stuff in that SHO could be a fresh start. Enjoy your find!

 

[94FordMan]

When I bought my SHO last June my front seats were pretty nasty. My dad works at a body shop, and has lots of car connections, and he said he knows someone that will do my seats for $65 a pop! That is something I'll probably be doing this summer. thumbs_u

 

[Dave Ladely]

I used paint remover to remove the paint used by the factory to paint the leather seats. This allows them to breathe. Then I used leather dye to actually dye them like is supposed to be done in the first place with good leather upholstery or any other leather product. Painting leather with vinyl paint seals off the leather, preventing any conditioner from penetrating, causing it to eventually crack. I call painted leather "imitation naugahide", because the leather has been vinyl coated, much to the consternation of car salesmen.
Then I used leather conditioner on them. Every 6 months or so I apply conditioner. Not only will the leather outlast you, it will feel much more like leather and will breathe. Much cooler to sit on in hot weather.

 

[Rio]

Dave... eek! ...u have pics?!

I might be interested in doing this...you used paint remover and the color on the seats just came off?! eek!

pics! pics! thumbs_u

 

[yamahaSHO]

Dave, I would like to see pics as well. Is there anything I should worry about when doing this?? How easy will it be to match my mocha leather??

 

[GreenBird]

http://www.customseatcovers.com/

Not listed, but they have replacement covers. they are really nice, except you will want to re-use the stock plastic connectors.

the absolute best stuff is Leatherique.

 

[shojuan]

Dave Ladely:
I used paint remover to remove the paint used by the factory to paint the leather seats. This allows them to breathe. Then I used leather dye to actually dye them like is supposed to be done in the first place with good leather upholstery or any other leather product. Painting leather with vinyl paint seals off the leather, preventing any conditioner from penetrating, causing it to eventually crack. I call painted leather "imitation naugahide", because the leather has been vinyl coated, much to the consternation of car salesmen.
Then I used leather conditioner on them. Every 6 months or so I apply conditioner. Not only will the leather outlast you, it will feel much more like leather and will breathe. Much cooler to sit on in hot weather.

So are all SHO leather seats painted leather rather than dyed leather?

 

[Dave Ladely]

ALL leather seats are painted with a plastic type paint, either vinyl or polypropylene based, so they can use cheap leather without having to match the leather. Rolls-Royce is the only one I know that doesn't do this; they get their leather from their own ranches that use no barbed wire. Cheap home furniture is also painted, better furniture leather is dyed, check it out.
My seats were black, so it was simple to dye them. They really look and feel great now, and the conditioner actually is absorbed rather than laying on top of the plastic paint. I think it would be difficult to remove the paint and dye such colors as grey, blue, etc.
Brown is much easier. In fact, with brown, you might even be able to improve the color from stock, using light brown dyes. Conditioner will slightly darken the leather, but in doing so will enrich the color, as seen on good saddles, boots, furniture. I would try a test area first.

 

[Dave Ladely]

I dont have a camera, but black is pretty much black.
I also removed all the vinyl covering from the doors and replaced it with real leather. I used nice foam padding underneath, so when I lay my arm across the upper door area, it feels comfortable. I also made some leather pads for the top of the door armrests, using gel for padding, the gell used in computer keyboard rests.
I also covered my console with leather, padding the main part with 1/8" foam used for car landau covers, and replaced the console arm rest with good foam covered with leather. I also covered the forward part of the doors with leather over 1/8" foam, since they are ugly plastic. Now the interior looks much better, and the leather was reasonably priced. Less than 80 bucks for relatively thin good black leather, dyed by the leather company.

 

[shojuan]

Dave, what do you think of the leather restoration kits sold at http://www.leatherique.com/ ?
It seems like a lot of the Connolly leather crowd (Rolls, Jaguar, Ferrari) swears by their stuff but I'm wondering how the crappy Ford leather would take to it? I have the grey leather. Do you think it would look good or bad to strip off the crappy paint and dye my seats their original grey? It really sounds like you've done a nice job with your interior! thumbs_u

 

[DougLee25]

Post some pics please Dave thumbs_u

Doug

 

[DJ SHO]

Yes, Please post some pics of your seats, and doors. I really don't liek my Mocha interior and if this process is that "simple" I'd change it too black or a dark grey.

 

[Dave Ladely]

I dont have a digital camera. But its pretty easy to recover the door panels with leather. Just take them off with the tool designed for that, I got one from Mac Tool. Buy extra "mushroom" caps as some will break. then drill out rivets, take apart the pieces covered with vinyl. I removed the padding too, replaced it with "memory foam", used 3M's "90" spray contact cement and also Barge leather contact cement to glue the leather on. I bolted things back together, being careful not to have bolt head stick out too far. I think I could have also used T nuts. Pretty easy job. Then I covered that plastic area near the dash with leather, looks a lot better. I covered my console with 1/8" "landau" foam then leather. It all looks like a factory job.
As far as colors other than black or brown, I am not sure as I have not tried to dye leather different colors. Black can be dyed, as can brown, but grey, etc? If you are changing from, say grey, to black, then first dye with dark brown, then dye black. Otherwise the black will look "odd".
I would like to see someone do a real natural brown leather interior, like a good saddle leather color. Probably would have to buy the leather, not use factory, to begin with. Its hard to find a nicer looking leather than a well done medium brown or cordovan done with good leather and good dye. Black is much easier, but less distinctive.
Those other colors not natural to leather have to have opaque components to change the color, which are NOT a dye. So, you have to find a leather coloring agent which will won't clog the pores of the leather. Some say they allow the leather to breathe, so I'd try them. First on,say, an area behind the rear seat or under the seat to see how it turns out. I heard Leatherique has very good products. Some company's products are not.