Sales@VetteEssentials.com
248-852-9030 (Office)
248-396-4173 (Cell)
1810 Star Batt Dr
Rochester Hills, MI 48309
www.vetteessentials.com


We are pleased to provide for you our installation instructions for Vette Essentials' custom leather armrests. We also invite you to review the many other products offered by Vette Essentials, including other custom leather products, as shown on our website: www.vetteessentials.com. Enjoy!


Disclaimers, etc.


  1. The following are one set of steps that you may use to install the Vette Essentials' custom armrests on a C5 Corvette. Alternatives may exist.
  2. Use these instructions at your own risk and be careful not to damage your new or existing parts.
  3. Neither Vette Essentials nor anyone affiliated with it or the formation of these instructions takes any responsibility for the results or effects achieved by following these instructions.
  4. Your custom armrests use an adhesive to bond to the door panel. For this bond to occur properly, your C5 must be in at least a 70 degere Farenheit environment. Also, the adhesive takes 72 hours at 70 degrees or greater to cure and achieve its ultimate bonding strength, so the heat cannot be effectively supplied on a temporary basis using a hair dryer or the like (also, do not attempt to use a heat gun in your interior).

Printing these instructions


You might find it might helpful to print these instructions so that you can take them out to work on your 'Vette. For most folks, these instructions should print out in a readable form simply by choosing "File" and then "Print" on your web browser. Alternatively, you may save some office supplies and some stress if you print these directions in landscape orientation. For those not familiar with that, at the top of your browser choose "File", then choose "Print." A window opens up with print options, and one option should say "Properties." Choose that "Properties" option, and there now will be several tabs to choose from -- select the one that says "Paper." This will bring up several options about the paper, one of which that is "Orientation." Click on "landscape," click "okay" once which will take you back to the print window, and then hit "okay" again. This should start the printing process.

Viewing larger pictures


If you want to see any of the pictures below in enlarged form, then just single click on the picture. When you're finished looking at an enlarged picture, hit the "Back" button on your browser.

Let's get started

Here's our tools, from left to right:
  1. tape measure (or ruler)
  2. denatured alcohol
  3. cleaning cloth or towel
Step 1: The basic stock formed armrest in the door panel (also shown is a Vette Essentials' custom door pull). Say goodbye to the stock armrest surface, as soon it will be much nicer looking!
Step 2: Using the denatured alchohol and cleaning cloth, thoroughly wipe down the upper surface of the door panel armrest.
Step 3a: The new custom Vette Essentials' armrest has an adhesive strip on its underside and that is what will adhere it to the stock armrest surface. To practice before actually adhering the new piece in place, we recommend that you locate the custom armrest so that the door pull is approximately centered between the front edge of the custom armrest and the rear edge of the switch panel. To demonstrate this, the photo shows that there is approximately 3/4 to one inch betwen the front edge of the door pull and the rear edge of the switch panel. Thus, before removing the adhesive on the backside of the new custom armrest, position the custom armrest on the upper surface of the stock door armrest and locate the custom armrest so that its front edge is about 3/4 to one inch back from the rear of the door pull. Stand back and look to see that there is the roughly the same amount of space beyond both the front and rear edges of the door pull so that the pull is centered as stated above. You also may look at the photo in Step 5, which demonstrates the final location and how the door pull is centered.
Step 3b: Lift the armrest back off the planned position from step 3a and, on the underside of the custom armrest, remove the backing on the adhesive strip. Now put the custom armrest back in the practiced position of step 3a and apply pressure along the top surface for approximately one minute.
Step 4: Repeat the preceding steps for the other door. See preceding photos to duplicate the previous steps.
Step 5: Stop and admire your work. Next, ask yourself what else you need from Vette Essentials to further enhance your Vette!!

That's all folks. Peace.


Copyright 2004 Vette Essentials, LLC
Reproduction permitted for purposes of installing Vette Essentials' products

web page design by -- S. Levine