How.. seats ... 1981 Corvette
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Columbus MS
How.. seats ... 1981 Corvette
Okay here is my dumb question for the day. I'm new to Corvettes and my eyes are not as good as they use to be so have a laugh with my question. Anyway here goes...
How do you get the seats to fold down in the 81 Corvettes?
I haven't found the button yet?
How do you get the seats to fold down in the 81 Corvettes?
I haven't found the button yet?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Either of my 81's nor the 80-82 style seats in my 69 have seat back release buttons....
They just move forward....could yours be stuck or fixed in place?
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Northeast Missouri
Same thing happened on my '78. Just lifted straight up on the seatback and that seemed to fix the problem. No button needed ...
Regards,
John
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Columbus MS
Problem Solved
I fixed it. It turns out the metal hinges that rests on the lower part when the seat lets back was getting into a bind with the top part that rests on it and it was locking. I took a screw driver and stuck it in the lower part and pried out on it a little and it freed it up on both sides.
It seems like on both seats it was binding on the sides nearest the console. I freed both up a little and they both are working fine.
I appreciate the help. I normally don't like getting physical with my car unless absolutely necessary. I wasn't sure if there was a button I was missing or was something out of line. Turns out it just needs an little good old fashioned "adjusting".
Thanks everyone for your input.
It seems like on both seats it was binding on the sides nearest the console. I freed both up a little and they both are working fine.
I appreciate the help. I normally don't like getting physical with my car unless absolutely necessary. I wasn't sure if there was a button I was missing or was something out of line. Turns out it just needs an little good old fashioned "adjusting".
Thanks everyone for your input.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,118
Likes: 283
From: Salt Lake City Utah
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,682
Likes: 3,135
From: Shamong, NJ
I fixed it. It turns out the metal hinges that rests on the lower part when the seat lets back was getting into a bind with the top part that rests on it and it was locking. I took a screw driver and stuck it in the lower part and pried out on it a little and it freed it up on both sides
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,992
Likes: 56
From: Antioch IL
The passenger side seat back on my 81 has been sticking periodically, for at least the last 25 years. When it does, I've always fixed it the same way, slide a long thin screw driver down into the hinge. The seats have an inertia hinge that is supposed to keep the seat back from flopping forward when stopping. Sometimes they become stuck and need a little help to become unstuck.
i have done the same to my passenger seat since i got the car.
Abby Normal
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,452
Likes: 92
From: Press "2" for English
yep, they should just fold down. your centrifugal weights are screwed up. there is a metal weight incased in plastic that supposed to lock the seats in the upright position under sudden deceleration or impact. as the plastic gets old, it separates and starts to jam in the joint. best thing to do is just disassemble the seats and remove the weights.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: Okawville IL
St. Jude Donor '14
when i first got my 80 the drivers side would not fold forward, passenger side worked fine, then one day without me doing anything to drivers seat it started working fine and has not given my any problems again. I love when the car fixes it self.
Mike.
Mike.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 482
Likes: 0
From: Near Round Top (pop. 90) Texas
