Yet another GMC build

[OKGMC4]

Noticed the front pads were thin. Instead of simply buying new pads like a sane person I ordered a set of spindle adapters to convert my c4 brakes to c5 / c6 front brakes. The rotors are bigger and thicker, better ventilated, and the calipers are larger as well with a pad that has more surface area. I was super stoked to be getting better brakes til I realized these are about the same size as the stock discs on my 08 Ram. Still, should help drag it down from ludicrous speed. You know... before I go plaid!

[solidaxel]

Do your wheels fit over the calipers?

[OKGMC4]

With room to spare. I was 99 percent sure they would clear because I reasoned my C5 wheels should easily fit C5 brakes.

[OKGMC4]

One of my next magical tricks involves a pair of Recaro buckets originally out of an old BMW. Here’s a hint...

[OKGMC4]

Making progress

[joedoh]

beautiful! I love the orange houndstooth

what bmw did those seats come out of? I am a bmw guy and I am racking my brain for the model.

[OKGMC4]

Saw a set in an E30. The seat brackets that were on these also look like E30 brackets but I guess they could be aftermarket additions. These have been recovered once and they originally had headrests. ( holes in the foam). Look like Recaro LS or LX seats. The ugliest version I have seen looks like these...

[joedoh]

thats what is throwing me, all the bmw recaros even from the 80s all had the separate front bolster under your thight. maybe e21? that would be a ~1977, a 320is came with recaros. rare seats.

[OKGMC4]

Originally Posted by joedoh

thats what is throwing me, all the bmw recaros even from the 80s all had the separate front bolster under your thight. maybe e21? that would be a ~1977, a 320is came with recaros. rare seats.

Maybe these were aftermarket Recaros. I pulled them out of a Triumph Spitfire. They were mounted to the floorboard with cabinet brackets and are too wide for that car, you had to slam the doors to latch them. I found the Recaro decals underneath, saw that they were stamped " made in Germany", knew that the slider bracket looked like ones I had seen before in a 325, and after an internet search found a car that had similar seats. Their relative age puts them in the right time slot for an older 325 as well. After all the reworking these have undergone they'll really just be custom.

[joedoh]

technically all recaros were aftermarket haha.

e30s did not get recaros, bmw made their own seats called "sport seats" that were copies of recaros design, and a lot of guys mistakenly call them recaros. if yours are marked recaro they definitely didnt come out of an e30 unless they came from an evo M3 (about 500 made). you would know if you had the imposter sports, they weigh a gazillion pounds and adjust 6 ways of sunday. I had an 88 535is with power sport seats, last forever! the last bmw that got optional real recaros was the 77-82 320is, e21.

the cars that got factory installs of recaros in the 80s were specials, like porsche and some hot rod golf/jetta. isuzu made an i-mark that had factory installed recaros.

maybe your bolsters got shaved down in an attempt to fit the spitfire. whatever they came from they will look amazing in the new hide, and you will be really comfortable. recaro made great seats.

[OKGMC4]

One bottom done.

[BIGglaSS]

Looking good! I think upholstery is the next hobby I want to learn.

[OKGMC4]

Originally Posted by BIGglaSS

Looking good! I think upholstery is the next hobby I want to learn.

Thanks! These seats are my second attempt and it seems they might turn out better than my bench seat did. I read books and used the internet but the biggest hurdle is the sewing machine. I couldn't sew through 3 or 4 layers of leather at a time if I didn't have access to my in-laws Consew industrial machine. When I did my sunvisors years ago this thing didn't even struggle as it punched through 4 layers of leather, two layers of foam, and 2 layers of chipboard.

[joedoh]

I have an old industrial type machine my sister gave me, I always threaten to try my own seat covers, but chicken out. and I hear leather is 10x harder than vinyl because leather doesnt stretch and "forgive" slight mis-measurements.

you are doing amazing work!

[BIGglaSS]

My mother is an avid sewer and taught me when I was a youngster. Over the years I have made motorcycle seat covers and re-done arm rests in cars. But never auto seat covers. She doesn't have a machine that will do leather now. Keep posting updates! I like the houndstooth!

[OKGMC4]

One center section finished

[OKGMC4]

One seat done. Now I need to repeat, and work on seat brackets.

[Black_Sheep]

Looks really cool, I like where you are going with this...

[joedoh]

that seat came out amazing

[oldman3]

Nice work...Jim

[OKGMC4]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Nice work...Jim

Wish my work looked as good as yours. I remember where your truck top is covered in your thread. That is some fantastic trim work!

The hardest part on these seats has been where the four leather pieces come together in the top corners. It's a lot to sew through and I was unsure how to keep it from bunching and still have the four make a nice intersection. Plus, I had to go super slow on the contrast stitch while making the 90 degree turn. First one was close, second corner was better. I think it comes down to practice. Still beats paying a shop $1000 or more.

[oldman3]

Thank you for the compliments. Practice always makes you better, and you did a great job for the first time. Better than my first, keep up the great work...Jim

[OKGMC4]

This weekend I swapped the master cylinder lines and installed the correct reservoir for disc brakes. It stops exactly the same but I now have the satisfaction of knowing it’s set up right.

[OKGMC4]

Got the seats mounted. Really like them. Need a console now. Also started preparing for the engine swap.

[G&R's57GMC]

Truck is looking great , the seats outstanding and the master cylinder reservoir and lines are now correct. Great job !