13 Easy Winter Projects - Pontiac Tech

Brighter Blinking
When was the last time you observed your Pontiac's lamp intensity at night? Probably never, right? Well, take a look at how bright or dim the taillights, brake lights, marker lights, and blinkers are-chances are they could be brighter. Chrome Galvanize paint can be used to restore the reflective surfaces inside the housings, resulting in brighter lights like the marker/blinker shown.

Proper Tools To Get Covered
Reproduction seat covers are available for many Pontiacs from various restoration sources such as Legendary Auto Interiors (www.legendaryautointeriors.com). Removing the old cover and installing the new isn't a difficult job as long as you have patience and the right tools. Eastwood sells a Pro Upholstery Kit that includes stretching pliers to stretch the seat cover over the pads, straight hog-ring pliers, bent hog-ring pliers, and two packs of 100 hog rings to make the project easier.

Keep the new seat cover in a warm place prior to installing it so it will be more pliable and stretchable. Unbolt the seatback from the bottom, remove the hard shell from the seatback, the headrest (if so equipped), any trim pieces, and the tracks from the seat bottom. Cut off the old hog rings, peel the old covers off by pulling them back, turning them inside out as they come off. Check to make sure the foam under the old covers is still useable, and replace it if necessary; then transfer the hog-ring hold-down rods from the old covers to the new ones.

Install the new seat covers by setting the rod in the cover into the groove in the foam and hog ring to the rod in the foam, using the pliers; then stretch the cover over the foam, lining up the seams with edges of the foam and hog-ring the other sides. Try to minimize the wrinkles. Minor ones can be smoothed with a blow dryer or steamer, but if you have a lot, cut off the hog rings, adjust the cover, and repeat the process.

*50-cent discount per can when purchasing three or more