C3 seat frame interchangability?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 43
Likes: 5
From: peoria Illinois
C3 seat frame interchangability?
Hello,
First question on the forum. I have a 72 ragtop and would like to replace/recover my seats as the originals are beginning showing their age. I would like to buy a set of core seats and strip them down to the frames, paint/powdercoat the frames, then go back with new foam and hardware and the replacement covers I have. My car is a Survivor so I would like to keep my originals intact.
What year seat frames & tracks can I use as a donor for my 72? The usual suppliers have the same covers from 70 - 74 so I'm pretty sure those are the same, what else will fit?
Thanks for your responses.
Scott
First question on the forum. I have a 72 ragtop and would like to replace/recover my seats as the originals are beginning showing their age. I would like to buy a set of core seats and strip them down to the frames, paint/powdercoat the frames, then go back with new foam and hardware and the replacement covers I have. My car is a Survivor so I would like to keep my originals intact.
What year seat frames & tracks can I use as a donor for my 72? The usual suppliers have the same covers from 70 - 74 so I'm pretty sure those are the same, what else will fit?
Thanks for your responses.
Scott
Last edited by Rair Lt1; Mar 22, 2010 at 10:34 PM. Reason: spelling
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,628
Likes: 3,099
From: Shamong, NJ
70-78 seats are all basically the same. The seat side hinge chrome is different for 70-74 and 74-78 (they changed part way through 74), the difference is in the hole for the pivot bolt. A different size bolt head with a nylon bushing was used in the later seats. 70-75 backrests have the chrome trim strip at the top. On some cars with shoulder belts, the shoulder belt came through the strip. Even on cars that didn't have shoulder belts, the hole is still in the seat frame and only the guides inside the seat are left out of the seat back. The 76-78 eliminated the trim, but the inside of the frame is the same. The seat tracks are the same for all 68-78 seats.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
70-78 seats are all basically the same. The seat side hinge chrome is different for 70-74 and 74-78 (they changed part way through 74), the difference is in the hole for the pivot bolt. A different size bolt head with a nylon bushing was used in the later seats. 70-75 backrests have the chrome trim strip at the top. On some cars with shoulder belts, the shoulder belt came through the strip. Even on cars that didn't have shoulder belts, the hole is still in the seat frame and only the guides inside the seat are left out of the seat back. The 76-78 eliminated the trim, but the inside of the frame is the same. The seat tracks are the same for all 68-78 seats.
I gathered together all the hardware pieces plus a set of shoulder belts with retractors from a non-supporting vendor. So it was just a matter of exposing the upper seat frames and installing the guide brackets, horizontal moldings, etc. Well NO!! The darn frames did not have the passthrough slots....So they were not 1974 frames. (If these old cars could talk.)
I sourced a pair from a salvage yard in the Southern USA and given everything would be apart, covers/foams from Willcox.
I added the reinforcement plates on the bottom.
Things started with $ but became $$$$$ but I am happy with the outcome.
To this day I don't know what year frames were in the car but I point this out in case it is relevant to Rair.
Last edited by Paul L; Mar 23, 2010 at 07:49 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 845
Likes: 1
From: Columbus Indiana
Wanted to echo paul....my '76 seat back frames had the three holes for the trim, but didn't have the pass through slots at all. I bought a set of just the back frames from a forum member right here in the parts for sale section. Originality isn't an issue with me, so I bought a set of camaro rear seat belts off e-bay and just used them.
John
John
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 43
Likes: 5
From: peoria Illinois
Thanks guys,
I have no pass through slot for the shoulder belt, just the "holeless" trim bar. I only have the lap belts.
So if understand correctly, any seat frames for 1970 to 1978 will work?
I have no pass through slot for the shoulder belt, just the "holeless" trim bar. I only have the lap belts.
So if understand correctly, any seat frames for 1970 to 1978 will work?
