[jfrolang]

Some of you have known that I've been working on a seating project, but most of you didn't. Haha secrets own you. j/k It took almost 3 months to come together, but it's finally completed and I can show off the juicy pictures.

This pair of custom Si seats was done in white leather and blue alcantara. The armrest was redone in the same white leather. The steering wheel is an off-the-shelf MOMO part that almost perfectly matches; it has the blue alcantara, but the leather is light gray. The e-brake handle, boot, and shift boot are also blue alcantara, but I've had those for a while. In the next couple of pics you also get to see the polished metal EDM window crank handles.

The very best part about this cosmetic surgery is under the skin. The seats are heated, and just in time for another winter. I can't show you the heating elements because they're inside the seats, but here's where I mounted the switches:

You also get a close-up of the billet cig lighter in the above pic. I don't use it, I'm just a sucker for bling.

Another thing I've done since the last time I posted pics is a pair of slim visors. I love them because they don't stick out at all, unlike typical side window visors.

The cost for all of this was, well, probably too much to do it over again.

 

[stick]

Hey, that's sweet! I'd be afraid to put white leather in my car though. How do you keep that stuff clean? I'm curious about the seat heaters. Who makes those? I don't wanna freeze my butt off again this winter.

 

[jfrolang]

Here's the link to the heated seats kit that I bought. I just noticed that the price for two went down 20 bucks too, when I got 'em it was 2 for $170.

For the leather I'm using Meguiar's leather wipes.

 

[Wasuri]

Pretty cool you got it finished man. Now what about whats in that engine bay! I remember us talking about that. Lets get some work on that!

 

[Krix]

very nice. you have to come to N12 so i can see them in person now :wink:

 

[savestheday21]

:shock: Those seats are NICE. how did you do them?

 

[jfrolang]

I wasn't actually the one that did them, I just bought the fabrics and dropped the seats off with an upholstery shop to be recovered.

I'll be at N12 if I'm not in Iraq at the time.

Patience, young Wasuri... patience... There will be a 5-speed engine swap in the coming months. This issue was pressed to the front because my stock seats were falling apart.

 

[joshman]

The cost for all of this was, well, probably too much to do it over again.

I know what you mean. I am wanting to get the top part of my door panels covered in black alcantara to match the Civic Si seats yet to go in my car. That stuff costs more than leather...then you have to pay labor.

Did you buy the material local or did you buy it online?

 

[jfrolang]

I bought it online @ gulffabrics.com

$100/yard

 

[Devin]

Why is it so expensive? Pros and cons of it?

 

[jfrolang]

I'll let the marketing department tell you about it:

What gives Alcantara its elegant edge? Technology. This scientifically advanced, non-woven fabric is composed of fibers so incredibly fine, a single pound would stretch clear around the globe! Because of that exquisite fineness, Alcantara microfibers produce a soft, sumptuous nap you can "write on" with a fingertip--just like genuine suede. Paradoxically, those same delicate fibers give Alcantara its remarkable strength and stain resistance. Densely bundled and intertwined, the microfibers create a tough, virtually indestructible fabric that is so incredibly beautiful.

Thanks to a network of microscopic pores, Alcantara "breathes" beautifully. Air and moisture escape easily, so the fabric stays soft and comfortable to the skin. There's no chilly dampness in cold weather, no itchy-sticky-sweaty discomfort in warm climates--even when your guests are wearing shorts or swimwear.

Kids, Spills, Stains, Wear and Tear--not exactly the ideal environment for suede. That is, unless your choice is Alcantara.

Designed to pamper you with the look and feel of high-grade natural suede, animal-friendly Alcantara goes a step beyond to deliver durability and "livability" you never dreamed possible in a luxury material.

Beauty that defies stains. Everyday stains from red wine to black coffee lift easily with mild detergent and water. Even lipstick and ball-point pen are no special problem since they wipe off with isopropyl alcohol or mild cleaning fluid. The result: you avoid environmentally toxic special treatments---and save a bundle on cleaning too.

Carefree machine washability. "Ringless" spot cleaning. Supple strength that conforms to sensuous shapes. You can't get that from imitators--or even from genuine suede. Other upholstery fabrics fade, shrink, stretch or wrinkle, but Alcantara keeps its smooth beauty. It resists sagging, stiffening, spotting and mildewing--the hassles of humid climates and "get wet" places. And with Alcantara, pills and frays aren't the concern they are with woven fabrics. The elegance of suede. The endurance of steel. Not even nature comes this close to perfect.

The only negative I can think of is the price. Otherwise it's flawless.

 

[Devin]

Niiiiiice. Thats pretty cool