Understanding Scheel seats for Porsche 914, 914-6, There are a lot of threads, not a lot of answers… Options

[burton73]

the original 114 scheel for the 914 logo button was



i have 2 brand new ones FS, & one oem that the logo is worn off of

I suggest that you print on new material and then wrap and glue back on the button.

I need this for my one seat for my 6 but the layout was different.

UV cure ink would be the shot.

Bob Burton

PM sent on the one button.

Bob B

[horizontally-opposed]

Okay, went and grabbed the seats for a few more pics. I think I will take the one with the most "shop wear" (a few holes) to an upholstery shop to see if they can work a little magic. Will say whatever this naugahyde sorcery on the bolsters is...is wonderful stuff. Soft and feels good to the touch, even after all these years. I wonder if it can be duplicated now? It's a lot nicer than most of the vinyl I've touched, but is definitely not leather.

In any event, tried to show the seat back angles, and documented the underside of these seats, which seems to confirm the seller's view that these were ordered together for a 914 (hence the 914 headrests in vinyl, though not pictured) and either were not used at all, or were not used long before going onto a shelf. Check the serial numbers on the straps, at 6623 & 6624...would be curious if other Scheel seat owners have seen them, or if they fade away in use? Everything about these seats makes them look like a pair from the beginning, too. The condition of everything is uniform and very original.

[horizontally-opposed]

And some detail shots to document the finishes on this pair of seats.

[horizontally-opposed]

These are big pics, but maybe useful to others as reference...

[horizontally-opposed]

Last two...

[horizontally-opposed]

There's no question that 6623, which is currently set up as the driver's side seat, is tighter in the hips. It's okay, but I tend to sit close to the wheel and "splay" my legs a bit, which would make it a bit uncomfortable. I remember this from the Konig or Scheel in one of Zwart's 914-6s. I wear 32x32 Levis, and while I fit in 6623, the more comfortable (perfect?) seat is 6624. I will probably swap the rails, but I think I may bring both to an upholsterer to see what they say about whether the frame can be pulled out a bit on 6623. If so, I may keep it as the driver's seat.

My hunch remains that one of these is a Scheel 100 while the other is a Scheel 114 for the 914—but would love to hear from others on that. I also wonder if I am going to have to follow Larmo's lead on moving to a Perlon back wall. We'll see...

[wes]

On Saturday last week my first good spirited drive to the coast through the mountains and back with my seats installed and I couldn’t be happier. There comfortable wile keeping you in place! Seat height is perfect best seats I’ve ever had in a 914 without a doubt.

[Larmo63]

My seats have serial numbers on them too.

I'm not sure if they are consecutive though....?

[horizontally-opposed]

They mystery with these seats (mostly in that one is more comfortable than the other) continues.

Stopped by Franzini Bros, a well-liked upholstery show around here, to discuss addressing the bolster damage. Looking at pics, one of the brothers noted that one or both may have been opened up due to the hooks in different colors—noting that a lot of shops don't have the right tools and you end up with rusty hooks. Back home and looking at the hooks...the "rusty" ones appear to be copper, while the others are stainless or galvanized. Going to bring both over to get some eyes that "see" things with seats I'm sure I'll miss. Beginning to wonder if these are both 114s, and one was widened. If so, the other is getting widened. On the other hand, the seat back and seat bottom "breaks" in the corduroy are different.

On a separate note, he said Scheels always were a cut below the standard setter of the era (Recaro), and that the problem with the corduroy on Scheels getting loose really starts with the underlayment. Interested to see what he sees and says about this pair of Scheels...as I am with Wes: Period Scheels are VERY comfortable, and I like the big bolsters and quality just fine. Also like that they are period correct.

[horizontally-opposed]

On Saturday last week my first good spirited drive to the coast through the mountains and back with my seats installed and I couldn’t be happier. There comfortable wile keeping you in place! Seat height is perfect best seats I’ve ever had in a 914 without a doubt.

Thank you for posting this pic, Wes. The seats look great in your car—and your driver's seat exactly matches the one I got. Same headrest, and same breaks in the corduroy. My passenger seat is definitely different when it comes to the seat center seams, and width.

[mepstein]

It makes sense that if one was customized, it ended up a little different. Upholstery shops sometimes do what they want to do. Also, I believe that 114's all had fixed headrests so both of your seats could have been modified.

I have a pair waiting for my car to get done. I don't think they is a better look or feel than the 114's in a 914. It''s one of those things that transforms the car.

[rgalla9146]

I suggest that you print on new material and then wrap and glue back on the button.

I need this for my one seat for my 6 but the layout was different.

UV cure ink would be the shot.

Bob Burton

I've been away for a couple weeks.
Bob do you know a source for the proper paint/dye ?.....in small quantity ?
I tried spray paint and a squeege to very bad effect.
For the button I can think of a couple ways to go.
The originals had a twist wire attachment. There is access behind the upper
cushion to attach.
Most likely I'd fab a sandwich of aluminum or fiberglass with the wire in
between then wrap it with the silk screened material.
TIA
Rory

[rgalla9146]

They mystery with these seats (mostly in that one is more comfortable than the other) continues.

Stopped by Franzini Bros, a well-liked upholstery show around here, to discuss addressing the bolster damage. Looking at pics, one of the brothers noted that one or both may have been opened up due to the hooks in different colors—noting that a lot of shops don't have the right tools and you end up with rusty hooks. Back home and looking at the hooks...the "rusty" ones appear to be copper, while the others are stainless or galvanized. Going to bring both over to get some eyes that "see" things with seats I'm sure I'll miss. Beginning to wonder if these are both 114s, and one was widened. If so, the other is getting widened. On the other hand, the seat back and seat bottom "breaks" in the corduroy are different.

On a separate note, he said Scheels always were a cut below the standard setter of the era (Recaro), and that the problem with the corduroy on Scheels getting loose really starts with the underlayment. Interested to see what he sees and says about this pair of Scheels...as I am with Wes: Period Scheels are VERY comfortable, and I like the big bolsters and quality just fine. Also like that they are period correct.

I agree with your upholstery guy......the person who rejuvenated my seats added
a thin layer of foam or foam backed material to my cushions to renew
proper shape.

[eric9144]

I have the last iteration of these when they became Konig, I'd had a set of the corduroy seats in a GT clone I'd sold and bought this set right before they all disappeared. There are 'slight' differences but very similar to the Scheels... The fit into the back pad and the ability to use the factory seat sliders was the big sell. The later ones had adjustable head rests, but are notorious for getting stuck all the way down (like mine are now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) ) These are the all vinyl version, without sub belt holes. The stitching pattern on the Konig's seemed a bit different, they broke up the thigh area with an additional seam. To me, adding a great pair of seats is as big a change as adding a sway bar to a non-swaybar'd car. Note how well the passenger seat fits into the back pad (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

[horizontally-opposed]

Visited the upholstery shop yesterday, and the expert's take was that one of these seats—6623—was probably redone at some point.

His further take was that the reason 6623 is tighter—despite some of its measurements in the following pictures being wider than the same measurements on 6624—is that someone may have changed and/or lowered its seat cushion. However: it's 6624's seat bottom that looks very different in terms of pleating when compared to Scheel seats posted by others...in that it really doesn't have pleats and has multiple seams that don't seem to do much. We'll know more when they go back in for 6624 to be redone, but any input is welcome!

I will probably end up having 6624 redone to deal with the damage to one of its bolsters, but I am going to swap the rails and try it on the driver's side first.

In any event, I took some pics to document these seats in the event it might help someone else. If anyone can provide thoughts on whether these are both 114s or not, I'd be thankful for that input. But I think the real upshot is...any Scheel is an old seat now, and it stands to reason that, whatever they are, they might not have started out that way. Put another way...is an old redo the "new original"? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[horizontally-opposed]

And the seat delivered set up as a passenger seat...

[horizontally-opposed]

Finally, some photos attempting to compare back of seats for angle.

They look similar or identical to me—but the way these seats sit so differently tells me one old Scheel is not the same from another old Scheel. Suspect 6624 would be a "Goldilocks" seat for a lot of people out there, where 6623 would be (way) too tight for many more.

[mepstein]

Can any of the seat gurus confirm if 114's all had fixed headrests? If that is the case, then both have been redone.

[horizontally-opposed]

Other question I face, and would love input on from others with Scheels, is whether to stick with the correct Scheel vinyl (both the vinyl and corduroy appear to be available on http://scheel-mann.com/seats/upholstery) or upgrade to leather if I am going to spend $$ on the labor anyway. But then…it's two seats instead of one.

Has anyone upgraded old Scheels to leather bolsters only? Was it worthwhile, if the seat centers are cloth? (I am thinking about comfort in summer heat, but not sure bolsters matter as much as seatback.)

Also been thinking about the "modern corduroy" Porsche developed for the 991.2 GT3 Touring, which is sure to be much better when it comes to wear/color/safety/etc due to today's requirements. If it can be sourced, that is.

[Larmo63]

My Scheels are done with the "grainy" early 914 style vinyl bolsters.

I don't think I would do leather, but to each his own.

I was thinking of doing an extra "bump" on the seat frames to make these look more like the authentic GT seats. Maybe not worth the trouble.

Also, I've always wanted to remove my headrests but to no avail. They are in there quite firmly and will finally be extricated when the seats are stripped for re-upholstery.