It seems that'94-'04 Mustangs are stuck in that gray era between new and classic. They're a great Mustang value for those looking for affordable sporty transportation because they're cheap to get into and great fun to drive. TMI Products recognizes this affordable sportiness, enabling you to refinish an aging Mustang interior for not much money.
We're freshening up a '96 Mustang GT convertible with new TMI leather upholstery that will add richness to a 16-year-old interior that is weathered from the strong Florida sun. It is time to discard the worn-out black leather and groove into fresh and exciting two-tone gray/black leather from TMI Products. What makes TMI Products leading edge these days is imagination with upholstery kits that enable you to personalize your SN-95 Mustang ride just about any way you desire. You get a choice when you sit down and chat with a TMI representative because what you see in the TMI website isn't all there is. You might want black around the perimeter and your Mustang's exterior color in the middle--a nice two-tone combo making your SN-95 different from the rest. Visit TMI's website for more detail.
Prices for off-the-shelf kits are around $400, not including foam. Foam kits are around $175.
We're freshening up a '96 Mustang GT convertible with new TMI leather upholstery that will add richness to a 16-year-old interior that is weathered from the strong Florida sun.
Prices for off-the-shelf kits are around $400, not including foam. Foam kits are around $175.
1 Seat disassembly includes...
1 Seat disassembly includes removing electrical switches for seat adjustment and lumbar support.
2 Seatback supports/releases...
2 Seatback supports/releases are hidden under covers removed with a #2 Phillips screwdriver. A 13mm socket gets the release mechanism.
3 The old seat upholstery...
3 The old seat upholstery can be removed with a razor blade because you're going to replace the leather and seat foam. Be very careful not to cut wiring or lumbar support bladders.
4 Headrest removal can be...
4 Headrest removal can be tricky. It is released from the inside once the upholstery is stripped away.
5 The seatback upholstery...
5 The seatback upholstery is stripped away as well, again taking extra care to watch for the lumbar bladder.
6 TMI Products' new foam...
6 TMI Products' new foam for SN-95 seats offers firmness unmatched since these guys were new. The foam is carefully trimmed to make way for switches and the like. Trim in baby steps. You can always trim more as needed.
7 Newer Mustang seats have...
7 Newer Mustang seats have less listing wire than older Mustangs, not to mention hog rings. Listing wires are larger and fewer, with upholstery secured with nylon retainers or Velcro.
8 As with the classics, begin...
8 As with the classics, begin upholstery installation from the inside out. Start securing with hog rings at the center and work your way to the perimeter, pulling the leather tight as you go.
9 Listing wire, seen here...
9 Listing wire, seen here being installed in the seat bottom upholstery, is what ties upholstery to the seat bottom via hog rings, which are available at any upholstery supply shop or home improvement store.
10 The seat bottom upholstery...
10 The seat bottom upholstery is secured to the new TMI foam and seat frame.
11 No more hog rings for...
11 No more hog rings for the perimeter. These nylon upholstery attachment anchors simply hook right over the frame and you're finished.
12 There will be times when...
12 There will be times when the nylon anchors and stiff leather will give you a hard time. This is when you’ll need heat so you can "spank" the material so it will hug the foam. Heat also gets rid of wrinkles.
13 Hardware attachment points...
13 Hardware attachment points are carefully punctured for access.
14 Next, the seat electrical...
14 Next, the seat electrical components are reinstalled into the seat bottoms.
15 The seatbacks are prepped...
15 The seatbacks are prepped with new TMI foam. Because it's stiff, it isn't always cooperative. Get help from silicone spray and a thin plastic grocery bag, which makes the going easier.
16 As with the seat bottoms,...
16 As with the seat bottoms, install the listing wire. There are two sizes. Smaller wire runs the width of the seat. Larger wires (actually more like a rod) run the length.
17 To get the upholstery...
17 To get the upholstery to slip-slide tight around the foam, you've got to spank it and apply heat, which makes it more pliable.
18 The air line for the lumber...
18 The air line for the lumber support, which connects the lumbar bladder to the air pump, connects here.
19 Recovering the headrest...
19 Recovering the headrest is easy by removing the screws, cutting the old upholstery away, and wrapping the existing foam with new material provided in the TMI kit.
20 What makes the rear seat...
20 What makes the rear seat different is the use of tie-down string instead of hog rings. String is fed through the seat with listing wire or a knitting needle and tied to the seat frame.
21 Like the front seats,...
21 Like the front seats, the rear seat upholstery is heated and spanked to work stubborn leather into place. The perimeter is hog ringed.
22 Heat, silicone spray,...
22 Heat, silicone spray, and even a thin plastic bag between the material and foam make the job easier when you're working with new material. The plastic bag acts as a bearing surface between leather and foam. Heat allows the leather to expand and become more pliable. It also softens the foam temporarily.
23 Prior to installing the...
23 Prior to installing the reupholstered seats, Joe Galloway's '98 Mustang interior was further enhanced with new carpet from Latemodel Restoration Supply.
24 TMI's Dean Satterfield...
24 TMI's Dean Satterfield calls it the Joe Galloway Special Edition Interior Package: custom TMI leather seat upholstery, new carpet, and door panels from MPS Auto Salvage with the top halves recovered in vinyl by TMI.