Quick question about rear seat in 2800

[americium]

I have been pulling out the old seat covers and the blue vinyl under it is near perfect. It was a great surprise. Even the driver seat is great. The carpet is great too. Looks original. The doors also look great, except for the drivers side door pull. It’s broken at the top. Here’s pics.

which brings me to my question. I pulled the rear seat bottom out easy enough but what hold the upper section in? I pulled a bit on it and it seems solid. Are there screws in the trunk? I have all the original elephant skin so can’t see behind unless I remove the center section.

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

There is (or should be) a screw on each side near the bottom of the back cushion that is exposed when you get the bottom cushion out. Then it lifts up and out.

 

[dp]

What Dick said, lower left/right corner phillips head screw, remove those and slide the seat up and off. Do not pull the bottom out too far before you slide it up

 

[HB Chris]

Plus one in the middle

 

[americium]

Great, thanks guys.

Another related question, what is the best preservative to use on these old vinyl seats?

 

[dp]

Plus one in the middle

Thats right! Is it behind the fold down arm rest or below?

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

Plus one in the middle

Mine must have been MIA when I got the car. Thanks, Chris!

 

[HB Chris]

Thats right! Is it behind the fold down arm rest or below?

Just above the tunnel like a 2002. Backrest has screws behind armrest as well.

 

[duct-tape]

for cleaning and restoring the vinyl, get a bristle brush, like a shaving brush or a fat paint brush, 50/50 diluted simple green. swirl/scrub the simple simple green to lift the dirt out. rinse and maybe wash rinse twice.
once it's clean as heck, use mineral oil. the cheapest I've found is at CVS. use something like terry cloth, get it good and wet and massage the oil in, let it soak for a bit (10-30 minutes) and then use a clean towel to wipe off any excess.


ALSO, dont use any silicate based vinyl restorer products. they actually dry out the vinyl and make it crack unless you want to reapply it weekly. Armorall and Son of a Gun are the worst. just use mineral oil.

 

[americium]

I had heard that Armorall type stuff could be doing the opposite of preserving, you confirm it. I definitely don’t want to damage these seats after all the years they have survived. Thanks for the advice, I will be starting the process soon.

 

[americium]

When I pull the seat upper I will post some pictures of the screw locations for posterity.

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

I had heard that Armorall type stuff could be doing the opposite of preserving, you confirm it. I definitely don’t want to damage these seats after all the years they have survived. Thanks for the advice, I will be starting the process soon.

I wouldn't put Armorall on vinyl seats. You'll slide right off of them

 

[americium]

I wouldn't put Armorall on vinyl seats. You'll slide right off of them

Right! I would need shoulder harness belts

 

[americium]

Ok, here are pictures of the 3 screws holding the upper rear seat in place.

this one is a little difficult to see because of the sagging seat cover

here’s the middle

And here is the opposite side

 

[americium]

And here are what the seats look like after cleaning and mineral oiling. Thanks for the advice on that, it worked well.

 

[Baikallackierung]

Pinnacle vinyl and rubber conditioner is awesome. I just clean with Bronner's liquid soap unless soil is heavy and then apply coats of Pinnacle vinyl and rubber conditioner until there are no dry spots anymore. Buff after the vinyl is nourished.

Pinnacle Vinyl & Rubber Protectant

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www.pinnaclewax.com

 

[americium]

Thanks for the info on the Pinnacle protectant. I’ll check it out.

 

[Baikallackierung]

As long as the rubber or vinyl is not completely dry rotted, the product will bring it back. I have used it for years on E30 dashes and the un-cracked dashes are my proof. Initially, the vinyl will soak it up but upon consistent saturation the finish will level out. Buff and the original finish will be restored.

 

[Stevehose]

Do you recommend using their cleaner first to get out previous treatments of other brands (Vinylex)?

As long as the rubber or vinyl is not completely dry rotted, the product will bring it back. I have used it for years on E30 dashes and the un-cracked dashes are my proof. Initially, the vinyl will soak it up but upon consistent saturation the finish will level out. Buff and the original finish will be restored.

 

[HB Chris]

I just noticed your license plate frame, which dealer is on it?