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LAYIN’ LEATHER

BOB RYDER . May 23, 2022 . All Feature Vehicles
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TMI Seat Upgrades for a 1967 Chevelle

TMI Products is a family-owned company founded by the four Tuccinardi brothers in 1982. They started out making Volkswagen door panels in their family garage in Torrance, California, and from there the brothers moved to a retail store and manufacturing facility in Hawthorne, California. The business grew, and in 1992 they agreed that it was time to move to a new 49,000-square foot manufacturing facility in Corona, California. Expanding their classic interior line and pursuing the OEM market, TMI moved into their present facility, a massive 139,000-square foot location. Today, TMI manufactures high-quality interior automotive seating, interior consoles, floor coverings, door panels, convertible top assemblies, headliners sun visors and integrated electronic systems.

Last year, Andy Radi of Radi’s Custom Upholstery approached TMI about getting involved with the Labor Day Cruise giveaway vehicle, a ’67 Chevelle. The last segment when building a custom vehicle is always the interior, so Andy located the front bench seat and the back seat from a donor Chevelle. They were stripped down, and the frames were sent out to Olympic Powder Coating in Santa Ana, California, where they receive a glossy black powder coat. Then the coated frames were delivered to TMI where they received the company’s signature foam and leather upholstery. We followed along as TMI installer Emmanuel Gamino showed us how it’s done.

01. Radi’s Custom Upholstery rescued a front bench seat and rear seat frames from a donor ’67 Chevelle.
02. After the crew at Olympic Powder Coating media blasted the seat frames, they were then powder-coated gloss black.
03. TMI Products allowed us to see first-hand how the Chevelle seats would be covered.
04. After the Chevelle seats covers were precisely cut on one of TMI’s state-of-the-art automated cutting machines, the pieces were stitched and ready for covering. Material backing was cut to fit the bottom front seat frame, and Emmanuel Gamino set it in place with spray adhesive.
05. TMI designs and molds its own seat foam in-house. The front bench seat foam features a contoured bolster style.
06. Wire ties were cut and bent into a “U” shape, and then pierced though the foam. The tie ends were pulled through the seat frame springs and twisted using flat-nose pliers.
07. Wire ties were cut and bent into a “U” shape, and then pierced though the foam. The tie ends were pulled through the seat frame springs and twisted using flat-nose pliers.
08. Osborne bent hog ring pliers were used to crimp the steel hog rings used to secure the upholstery to the seat foam and frame.
09. Osborne bent hog ring pliers were used to crimp the steel hog rings used to secure the upholstery to the seat foam and frame.
10. The leather seat cover was stretched and pulled over the foam.
11. Emmanuel inserted hog rings through the upholstery piping to secure the cover to the seat frame.
12. After the seat-mounting frame rails were bolted to the frame, Emmanuel installed the bench seat adjustment lever on the driver’s side of the seat. Notice the wire that connects to the passenger side frame rail to allow both sides of the seat to move back and forth on the mounting frame rails simultaneously.
13. The bench seat latches were bolted to the frame.
14. The front bench seat bottom was complete and featured lateral bolsters.
15. After the bench seat folding back was sprayed with adhesive, the bolster-shaped foam was positioned.
16. A steel rod was inserted into the leather seat cover backing sleeve to allow the hog rings to be secured.
17. A steel rod was inserted into the leather seat cover backing sleeve to allow the hog rings to be secured.
18. The leather was stretched over the foam, and then the seat back leather cover was slipped on.
19. The leather was stretched over the foam, and then the seat back leather cover was slipped on.
20. An Allen screw was used to secure the seat back release lever.
21. A breaker bar was used to persuade the folding seat back hinge onto the pivot pin.
22. The TMI-covered front bench seat with folding seat backs was completed.
23. The back seat frame was measured, and then the seat backing material was cut to size and applied.
24. The back seat frame was measured, and then the seat backing material was cut to size and applied.
25. Once adhesive spray was applied to secure the foam to the seat backing material, it was fit to the seat frame.
26. After the TMI leather was stretched over the foam, it was secured to the frame with hog rings.
27. The rear seat back was completed.
28. The rear seat bottom frame was measured and seat-backing material was cut.
29. The seat-backing material was coated with adhesive spray and then stretched over the seat back frame. The foam and leather seat cover were stretched over the bottom frame and secured with hog rings.
30. The seat-backing material was coated with adhesive spray and then stretched over the seat back frame. The foam and leather seat cover were stretched over the bottom frame and secured with hog rings.
31. The rear seat bottom frame was inspected.
32. The rear seat back and bottom were mocked-up to provide an idea of the finished look.
33. The completed TMI front folding bench seat.
34. The completed TMI rear seat.

SOURCES

TMI Products
1493 Bentley Dr.
Corona, CA 92879
951.272.1996
888.460.0640

Radi’s Custom Upholstery
10652 Stanford Ave.
Garden Grove, CA 92840
714.534.2915

Olympic Powder Coating
2737 S. Garnsey St.
Santa Ana, CA 92707
714.979.2233

 

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