Hand stitched leather interior project

[s2driveruk]

Looks great!

[dabombs4]

[JayCab]

Well your're very practiced the finish is excellent.

Would you consider sewing a replacement peice of leather into my C4's drivers seat upper inside bolster if I was to removed the cover and send it to you along with the required funds to cover the work and return postage? It currently has a 2" round hole in it so it can still be used to make an accurate template.

I know there are places that offer such a service, but it's nice to be able to genuine photo's of the standard of work first.

possibly at some point. Would not be soon and would have to discuss the possible results. I’m not actually working to template, I’m stitching to tension. Do bear in mind, removing an old seat cover is easier said than done. I tore the leather interior in my 1999 Cab off in pieces like it was cardboard… I did initially think on purchase I could recover the interior. I was much mistaken…

[JayCab]

One hand stitched steering wheel. Felt lined for soft touch. Cruiser not racer ?

[JayCab]

The eagle eyed might notice I’ve been working on audio and electrics as well

1. Yes, the seat heat switches are a different shade because they are new (Audi Tradition).
2. Yes, new-old-stock seat heating pads are part of this interior project (Audi Tradition)
3. Yes, you DO see a Final Edition Cab with a single DIN ISO unit with a retrofitted pre-1997 centre console insert. This is to avoid the horrible spaces on either side when folk swap an Audi Delta (wider) for a single DIN. Some bodge spacers in but it always looks poor and non - OE
4. The cruise control IS original, but the stalk is new (Audi Tradition). It works as new
5. Yes, there is a blue LED on the A/C switch. This is because all A/C switches should be blue.
6. Yes, the gear indicator is backlit because I stripped it and soldered LED’s in.

[hashluck]

The eagle eyed might notice I’ve been working on audio and electrics as well

1. Yes, the seat heat switches are a different shade because they are new (Audi Tradition).
2. Yes, new-old-stock seat heating pads are part of this interior project (Audi Tradition)
3. Yes, you DO see a Final Edition Cab with a single DIN ISO unit with a retrofitted pre-1997 centre console insert. This is to avoid the horrible spaces on either side when folk swap an Audi Delta (wider) for a single DIN. Some bodge spacers in but it always looks poor and non - OE
4. The cruise control IS original, but the stalk is new (Audi Tradition). It works as new
5. Yes, there is a blue LED on the A/C switch. This is because all A/C switches should be blue.
6. Yes, the gear indicator is backlit because I stripped it and soldered LED’s in.

Good work!

[K Simmonds]

possibly at some point. Would not be soon and would have to discuss the possible results. I’m not actually working to template, I’m stitching to tension. Do bear in mind, removing an old seat cover is easier said than done. I tore the leather interior in my 1999 Cab off in pieces like it was cardboard… I did initially think on purchase I could recover the interior. I was much mistaken…

That's no problem at all, I'm currently working on my TQS restoration project which is a fairly major undertaking given all the things I have to sort out, new engine, new seat's, a seemly endless amount of cleaning inside and eventually some minor bodywork. I've also finally set myself a rule that I only work on one car at a time, unless waiting for parts or doing something super boring like Hoovering endless dog hair out the carpet which I'm still on after a day and half. So have had to have breaks to prevent good old Henry from catching fire, have been doing thing's like arranging my various tool draws in full OCD mode while he cools down.

Edit... But have literally just found out I should use a hacksaw blade as a comb to lift the hair from the pile, I mentioned it to the guy I work with and he reckons it saves a huge amount of time.

I know exactly what you mean about leather being like cardboard, if it gets a good soaking and isn't dealt with it goes super brittle, that’s why I’ve had to replace the seats in my TQS. The car was parked with the back end down hill and the drain holes under the bonnet blocked up so there was water in stood in the nearside rear foot-well for a long time. The water wicked up through the carpet into the seat base foam and totally destroyed all the leather in bottoms of the back seats, only one side bolster has survived unscathed.

Anyway, I’m pretty competent at rebuild seats and am not at all phased by removing and reinstalling seat covers as long as the leather is still supple enough. Though it is fiddly and very time consuming! I reupholstered my very low mileage Corrado G60's cloth front seats with the leather from set that was still solid but with knackered foams and they came out perfectly and I've lost count of how many passenger seats I've raided for the foams to repair drivers seats.

[JayCab]

Some progress on rear seat:

[JayCab]

Rear seat in car:

I made two versions of the centre “not an armrest” cushion.

One around the existing OE foam that works with the ski hatch, and another one on custom foam with a custom hole for a custom subwoofer installation.

Both of them sit in place on magnetic clasps and swap out easily. No chassis modifications for custom subwoofer install!!!

I might have to post the audio setup in the other section, but this bit is half way each way… ;-)

[JayCab]

Some more of the details:

[ThatGUY]

I would like too see your audio setup when completed!

[JayCab]

[JayCab]

[JayCab]

[JayCab]

This brings the posts nearly up to present…

I am working on the front backrest sections at present. This will slow down a bit because I have to wait for some new higher tension springs to be manufactured (OE is too damn cushy with no lumbar pressure)…

I also need either new “wire mats”, the ability to make new “wire mats”, or the ability to retrofit one of the lumbar support options, if anyone can help here?

I know this seat frame can take either the manual lumbar support that has a rotary handle inside the backrest adjuster wheel, or the electric lumbar support that was unique to final edition cabs, of which this one was not lucky enough to be specified…

Looking for some help here…current plan is to rebuild with manually set static lumbar support to bring back to more supportive than new, which is an OE look.

I’d install either the manually or electrically adjustable lumbar support if anyone could help me with a set of parts?


Madder options include finding 4 way lumbar support from a late 90’s A6 or A8, if the units are modular and go in this seat frame? The frame has plenty of unused holes and mount points. I’m pretty sure several units would fit in that are not in the “correct” EKTA lineup…but I don’t know which or how modular these frames were across models….?

I’m keen not to drift too far from OE though…!