Recovering arm rest in '56 4-door sedan

[SD Glenn]

Dick, I have done a few upholstery jobs that came out fairly good.  On tight curves the only thing I found that would work was to take small steps. ie: as small a tuck as you can get as you go around the corner, from looking at under side you might see the tuck a bit, but from the top and side view should be good. Fasten each tuck back with tacks, staples, glue, whatever you have, then continue around. You should be able to shave off the excess after you get finished. Good Luck, hope this works for you. just a thought.
Glenn

[Buddy Romines]

I don't know what your '56 armrests looked like, but I rebuilt mine out of wood and recovered them myself.  I have a number of pictures but I exceded the size limit when I tried to attach them.

Give me your address and I'll email the pictures.

Buddy Romines, 478-953-3077,   

[53belv]

You might try blowing on the vinyl with a hair dryer, as you are pulling it into shape.  The constant heat might help as the vinyl probably cools after taking it from the hot water.

[dickf1976]

I have removed all four arm rests from the doors, and disassembled them, leaving the fabric wrapped around the hard foam rubber core. I purchased vinyl fabric with a light-weight backing, and cut a piece to match the profile of one of the original pieces of fabric (which I removed from one of the cores).

I cannot figure out how to wrap the new vinyl around the core is that there is no puckering when I insert the two pieces into the plastic base. I even tried heating the new vinyl with boiling hot water and then stretching it around the edge of the core. But nothing works; I keep getting puckers.

If any of you have put new vinyl or other material around cores for a '55 or '56 or other model years with a similar arm rest arrangement, please tell me how to do it.

Thanks