Modified Corvette Seats

[Brett Proctor]

This would be so easy to do I don't know it hasn't been done.

I've looked at Corvette seats before but after measuring them and determining that they wouldn't work I dismissed them. Today I ran across just the drivers side and started to look at it in another perspective.

The hinges are riveted to the plastic shell and the recline mechanism is located inside that shell.

So here's my plan.

remove the hinges from the plastic shell and narrow the plastic shell so it fits in the sterling. Once that is done make a mold of it and make a new one piece fiberglass shell. Reinstall the hinges and the recline mechanism then trim the foam so it fits in the new shell and Ta Da you have seats that recline and lean forward that actually fit in the sterling
The lower seat section would be the only part that would have to be narrowed, you could leave the top section alone

Took some pictures with my phone so thats why they're so bad. These are the stock corvette seats

 

[letterman7]

Unless the newer versions (C4 and up) have reclining seats, I don't know that would work. My '82 seats don't recline, and the shells look alot like those. Do you know what year that seat is from, Brett?

 

[islandman]

This would be so easy to do I don't know it hasn't been done.

I did something similar albeit I didn't make a new back I just cut 2 inches out from the centre of both the base and the back of the seat.

Narrowing Seats

 

[Brett Proctor]

Unless the newer versions (C4 and up) have reclining seats, I don't know that would work. My '82 seats don't recline, and the shells look alot like those. Do you know what year that seat is from, Brett?

Rick, sometimes you just piss the hell out of me with your comments and thinking*very frustrated*

Just because your C3 seats don't recline why would you think that other vette seats don't.*hmmm*

I even posted pictures of it. So what if the shells look the same.

Just for your info the C4 was the first model year that the seats reclined

So why wont it work??-confused* You didn't explain how you came up with this comment

Yes I know what year they came out of

With these seats you have these options:

Recline feature

Back tilts forward for easy access to the back

Uses stock OEM upholstery and foam pads(no alterations required)

Seats are available in manual and powered tracks(not sure if the powered feature will fit yet but I'll look into it when I find a unit)

Adjustable lumbar

Seat heaters.

I know that after 40+ years of trying to just find seats that fit and now you have all these options must sound to good to be true. Maybe but if this works you'll have these options with these seats

The mod is not complete yet(no issues so far) but this is how it looks so far. Once its done and I know that there will be no problems with it I'll revisit this post and give more insight into this option.

 

[letterman7]

Sorry to piss in your cornflakes, Brett. I don't know what the later C4 and up Corvettes have - I do know what the C3 and earlier use, that's why I asked. The shells look identical, that's also why I asked. It's quite difficult to see the reclining mechanism on the photos - the bar and spring in the one photo could have been anything.

So.. if you had said something like 'these '84 seats look like they'll work because...' I would not have said anything!

 

[Peter]

Glad to see I'm not the only one to piss on Brett's cornflakes, so to speak, Mind you, I do think Brett seems a bit 'tense' lately *freaking out mad*.

I do not understand this passion for hacking up and narrowing seats when there are perfectly good seats that do fit straight from the box. But, hey, that's just my opinion.

 

[islandman]

I do not understand this passion for hacking up and narrowing seats when there are perfectly good seats that do fit straight from the box. But, hey, that's just my opinion.

Peter, I'm not sure there are perfectly good seats out there that fit in out of the box (certainly not those that recline and have decent side support and can still be purchased easily) which is why its a topic that pops up regularly on all forums related to the Nova.

 

[islandman]

The lower seat section would be the only part that would have to be narrowed, you could leave the top section alone

Brett, I'm not sure how the top section would not need to be narrowed also. If the hinges are attached to the sides of the top and bottom sections, then you narrow the base surely there will now be a gap so the hinges don't meet one or both of the top sides as it narrower after the change?

Or do you modify the hinge with spacers to take up the gap?

 

[Brett Proctor]

Had the granddaughter yesterday so what I wanted to get done didn't, but it gave me time to do some thinking.
I think kicking myself off of the site before Rick has to do it would be in the best interest to everyone.

With that said I'll leave with this

Sorry to piss in your cornflakes, Brett.

I had to look that up to see what the heck it meant*laugh* Never heard that before

Unless the newer versions (C4 and up) have reclining seats, I don't know that would work. My '82 seats don't recline, and the shells look alot like those.

Not knowing any of the specifics and your saying it wont work. I took this as a negative attitude right from the start. Sorry if I took it wrong

It's quite difficult to see the reclining mechanism on the photos - the bar and spring in the one photo could have been anything.

I took three clear pictures of it. If you didn't know what your looking at just ask. I didn't go into details at that point because it was still in the early stages but I thought I'd post what I had anyways. My bad

Glad to see I'm not the only one to piss on Brett's cornflakes, so to speak, Mind you, I do think Brett seems a bit 'tense' lately *freaking out mad*.

I do not understand this passion for hacking up and narrowing seats when there are perfectly good seats that do fit straight from the box. But, hey, that's just my opinion.

I'm not hacking up the seats(this might be why I'm so tense)I'm going to make a new base that will fit the sterling and the rest of the OEM seats will bolt to that unaltered.


Now back to my thinking on these seats
Since I've been on this site I've been amazed that after 40 some years people still haven't come up with solid solutions to the issues that embrace this car.
One of them is the seats that fit issue.
There is not one seat that I've found(in the USA)that would not bolt directly into the car. So I made it my mission to find one or make one.
My first thought was to build a frame and offer that and the owner would do the foam and upholstery work.
Reply to that was it would cost to much to have that done.

So I had to find a cheaper solution. Along comes the corvette seats
The only thing stopping these seats from going in is the base so by replacing the base section and keeping the rest of the seat intact makes this a very good solution I think. All of the stock unaltered parts of the seat are bolted back together onto the new base.
I did a search on ebay and you can pick up C4 (1984-1996) seats for $100 or less. From my research the C4 had 3 generation of seats
1984-88
1989-93
1994-96

The early84-88 seats seem to have an issue with the recline mechanism mounting. One part of it is mounted to the seat base and all that I've found have cracked the seat base. Chevy changed the mounting to a better system from 89 and up and those would be the years to look for.

Difference on the seats


Hinge system unbolts from the seat shells
Difference between the early and later hinges


Recline installed
You can see the difference in the mounting of the two




Picture of the seat shells

Brett, I'm not sure how the top section would not need to be narrowed also. If the hinges are attached to the sides of the top and bottom sections, then you narrow the base surely there will now be a gap so the hinges don't meet one or both of the top sides as it narrower after the change?

Or do you modify the hinge with spacers to take up the gap?

David your ok in my book
Someone thats asking intelligent questions
The seat base was narrowed 3/8"(9,5mm)on each side and the outside edge was put at a taper to follow the lines of the pan.
I'm going to narrow the hinge by 3/4" (19mm) so it will fit in the base and add spacers to the back section to make up the difference. From my measurements it should still be still far enough out that it wont get into ones back


The whole idea was to offer a painless affordable option to seats that really do fit with no adjustments needed from the owner.

Well I'm all typed out
Thanks for the ride guys its been fun.
If anyone needs something you can always email me

Sorry Rick for all the stress I caused. Now your less one. You'll sleep better*laugh*

 

[letterman7]

Ya know.. you gotta do what you feel you have to do, Brett. Sorry if I came off as firing from the hip straight away.. I didn't think my posts through. That's my fault, and I own that. The stress isn't from the forum (though there are the Romper Room times that irritate) but for solely external sources, so my logic circuits aren't fully functioning this year. I would hate to see you go for the other folks that are following your build.

That said, I don't sugar coat much - my wife says I have no tact. I won't apologize for who I am, and I wouldn't expect the same from you. Items stated on a forum tend to take a life and meaning of their own since there is little to no interpretation of how they are said.

You're welcome back anytime you wish, of course. If not..

 

[Peter]

BRETT, don't bloody dare bugger off! Who the hell is going to be my nemesis then, bouncing off of each other has produced some great ideas on both sides.

Apart from language differences and historical background resulting in different methods of obtaining similar results, we do actually end up along the same lines, eg handbrake, rear end console. I for one (of many) would miss your work and certainly the concluding part of the work you have already done, it has and will continue to be an inspiration.

So if you would stop throwing the toys out of the pram I would be very grateful, you grumpy ol' beggar.*na-na-na*

ps, these drop in, similar to mine 21" at widest point but 17" across base, so snug but not impossible.
Pair Red Black Full Reclinable Sport Racing Seats w Slider | eBay

 

[CyCo]

Brett, don't go!! You're full of ideas and advice. Over 20 years on the internet and various forums has taught me one thing, that people have different views and opinions, and that sometimes the very medium of the internet can make things...cloudy. As an example, sarcasm in general doesn't work unless you use some form of emoticon. Otherwise, it can be taken the wrong way, which leads to some heated discussions.

One thing that I think more people (and I'm talking about everyone on the planet here) need to do is to don't post (or email) angry. Just like you shouldn't drive angry. Many times I've gone to post a heated reply on a forum, or an email, and I'll type it up, then 'step away'. Might read a totally different forum, watch YouTube, whatever. Come back and read it and think, "what an idiot, can't sent/post that", and I'll either edit it, rewrite it, or simply don't post it at all.

And despite what our various workplaces say (you have to be perfect), no one is perfect. We all have faults. These faults are part of what makes us individuals.

 

[delbertinie]

Brett, I know I'm late to this little party, but I want to say I understand where you are coming from.
I got a bur in my saddle over some issues too. Quite frankly I have done a lot to my car that I am keeping to myself. I'm happy with my modifications don't really care if everybody else likes them .............. it's my vision my car.
I lurked about for more than a year before giving it another chance. I'm not mad just a little bit guarded about what I share.

This is the only community I have to gain knowledge from and help with my car.

Just like my family I may not like always like the way my family responds but they are my family.

Its easy to wear your feelings on your sleeve when your sharing something your passionate about. I would say we are all passionate about our cars, and really we care what are our peers think about our opinions.
To me its a kick to the nuts when it happens.


I know I have learned a lot from you as well.
I respect your opinion would hate to see you leave

 

[RangerBEH]

Brett I always look forward to seeing what you'll come up with next. You've given me a few great ideas and your sterling is going to be awesome when you finanly get around to finishing it.

*whaah*Hope you stay!

 

[letterman7]

Ya know.. if people have issues with opinions and attitudes on the site, I need to know about it so that whatever is happening, either perceived or not, can be addressed. Anyone can PM me about their feelings or whatever needs to be discussed - it will always be confidential between us. There may nothing I can do about the situation, or maybe there is, especially if it concerns me . So... instead of stewing about a situation, please bring it to light so that it can be discussed and worked out. Everyone's input is appreciated, even if not agreed to. This community is far too small and getting smaller every day not to share ideas with everyone involved in these cars!

 

[delbertinie]

Ya know.. if people have issues with opinions and attitudes on the site, I need to know about it so that whatever is happening, either perceived or not, can be addressed. Anyone can PM me about their feelings or whatever needs to be discussed - it will always be confidential between us. There may nothing I can do about the situation, or maybe there is, especially if it concerns me . So... instead of stewing about a situation, please bring it to light so that it can be discussed and worked out. Everyone's input is appreciated, even if not agreed to. This community is far too small and getting smaller every day not to share ideas with everyone involved in these cars!

yep I have talked to you privately a couple of times,

we are a family we need each other.....enough of the warm fuzzies lets get back to the cars*thumbs up*