Hi there everyone,

I'm a newbie to the vettes and have just aquired a 78 project car. The guy I bought this from had bought new foam - 4". But the covers he bought look like it's for 2". Looking in Ecklers, this year has 2 different style seats, the pace car or regular. I only have 1 original seat back. How do I tell what I need? It looks like the foam just sits in the seat shell (blue plastic, or fiberglass) there isn't any steel frame. Does anyone have pictures of what these should look like?

Thanks in advanced...

 

Do you know if you have a pace car or not? I beleive the pace cars for 78 had the same seats that became standard in 79 while the non-pace car 78's had slightly different models.

Vette History Excerpt (from http://www.vettefinders.com/79registry/)

"1978 Corvette was the official Indianapolis 500 Pace Car and Corvette also celebrated its 25th Birthday with two special models: Pace Car replica and Silver Anniversary model. 1978 was also the first year with new shaped rear window. 1979 continued with the same theme as 1978 model. New seats introduced in 1978 Pace Car became standard seats in 1979."

For my 79 the only choices I had were whether to buy seats/foam with a 4" or 2" bolster. Both fit the same seat shells. I went with the 2" which I beleive is stock for my car. As far as I know you do need to make sure the foam and the seat covers both have the same bolster - 2" or 4" to fit each other.

As for how they fit into the seat shell, they do appear to just "lay" in the shell, but there should be clips on the inside of the shell that attatch to the coat hanger like framing that's part of the mounted seat cover/foam assembly (my covers were premounted). The mounting may be slightly different from mine depending on your specific model, but perhaps someone with a 78 will chime in with more specifics..

 

My new leather over original foam...78 Silver old style seats..not Pace car....

 

Thanks for the info. I'm not sure if this is a pace car or not. The original VIN is gone and was given a state VIN instead sometime back in 1997. That's as far as I got for history on it so far.

The car does have a spoiler on it. It sounds like I have the same style seats the way you say it just lays in the frame (With hangers). Can you actually just pick up your seat cushions?

Richwood - Are your seats on a metal frame?

 

Ok.Go buy a Chiltons Corvette 1963-1982 Repair Manual....Section 10-37 and 10-38 have detailed illustrations for the 78 seats (SA) AND the 78 Pace car seats....every single part is listed/illustrated....

Yes,my seat frame is metal....we just re-finished mine recently...and fixed some cracks and frame spring sag....cheap...I might add...mostly with a hammer/some welding...
Rich

 

Also, you might be able to check autozone.com. I've been surprised by some of the blow up diagrams they have there. Not the best quality, but I just went and typed in the info for my 79 and was able to see a full diagram of how the seats come apart for 78's and 79's.

After you specify your car type choose
Repair Info -> Vehicle Repair Guides -> Body -> Interior -> Seats

BTW...my seat shells are plastic. I beleive the pace cars had the same. Assuming the rest are like rihwoods, the plastic vs. metal check might tell you what you have for sure if the pic didn't already. Good luck!

 

Hey, thanks guys. I have a chiltons and a haynes and didn't even think to look in there. I didn't mean to waste your time.

 

You are not wasting our time...we are here to share info/learn.....like you...

use this thread later if you have more questions on seats...I can give you some tips on frame repairs.....re spring sag at seat bottom,etc...and why I used original foam...think your seat (rails) frame may be same...not sure though...sounds like Pace Car...Rich

 

Here are my 78 pace car seats. They are 4".





and have plastic shells. Comfortable as hell!