1978 c3 seats
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
1978 c3 seats
I have 1978 C3 corvette with horrible seats. The skins are fine and it moves forward and backward, but the support part of seat is messed up. Those little ***** to adjust it work like crud. I saw an 1979 and 1981 C3 with different seats. No **** adjusters that I saw. Had better lower back support seemed too. I would like to get rid of these seats and put something better in. Or should I have them repaired? One site suggested Fiero seats modified a bit and with Corvette skins. But I wonder-Can u put 1981 C3 seats in a 1978 C3? Would it be better? Thank you 
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 712
Likes: 4
From: caraquet N.B Canada
C3 from 1968 to 1982 have the same bolt patern for the seats. The only thing that change it's if they are power seats. Those seats required the floor pan to be lower, other than that every seats from a C3 will fit. I do have fiero seat in my '78 and it's a huge upgrade compare to the factory seats. Even better than the '79-'82 style.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
79-82 seats will fit your 78. Use your 78 seat tracks on the 79-82 shells. The exception is the 81-82 power driver's seat. It will not fit the 78-80 cars.
FWIW: sounds like you could clean up your existing seat tracks and be fine.
FWIW: sounds like you could clean up your existing seat tracks and be fine.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,062
Likes: 103
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
keep in mind that the 78 pace car (uses the 79 and later seat style) until the power seat addition in 81 or 82 (not sure which) do NOT have a a seat back rake adjustment. they tend to lean pretty far backward and either need a bit of time to adjust to (they are pretty uncomfortable in that position to me) or they need to be "adjusted" in a creative manner. in my case, i used a 5/16" bolt through the seat hinge to stop the seatback from going all the way back. you can also accomplish the same thing (to some extent) by shimming the rear seat mounting area to tilt the entire seat forward. if you do decide to go with those seats, i would suggest you try to find someone who has a 79-81 (or a 78 pace car) and will let you sit in it for a ride and see if it is what you can live with. when i rebuilt the seats in my 78 pace car, it took a bit of time to get used to where the seat back hit me in the center of my back. with new foam, there is a bulge in the middle (from top to bottom) of the seatback.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
C3 from 1968 to 1982 have the same bolt patern for the seats. The only thing that change it's if they are power seats. Those seats required the floor pan to be lower, other than that every seats from a C3 will fit. I do have fiero seat in my '78 and it's a huge upgrade compare to the factory seats. Even better than the '79-'82 style.
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Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 297
Likes: 3
From: Indianapolis
If you use the Corvette tracks on the Fiero seats, you lose about 2". The Corvette has a thinner seat bottom with taller tracks, while the Fiero has a thicker seat bottom with shorter tracks (both in height and length).
I have Fiero seats in my '80. I used the Corvette tracks on the passenger side for my 5'2" wife, but kept the Fiero tracks for the driver's side (I'm 6').
I have Fiero seats in my '80. I used the Corvette tracks on the passenger side for my 5'2" wife, but kept the Fiero tracks for the driver's side (I'm 6').
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
I was thinking the other day i would have a heck of a time driving a standard car, there is just not enough room, 6' 245Lbs, and i aint fat lol
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 712
Likes: 4
From: caraquet N.B Canada
If you use the Corvette tracks on the Fiero seats, you lose about 2". The Corvette has a thinner seat bottom with taller tracks, while the Fiero has a thicker seat bottom with shorter tracks (both in height and length).
I have Fiero seats in my '80. I used the Corvette tracks on the passenger side for my 5'2" wife, but kept the Fiero tracks for the driver's side (I'm 6').
I have Fiero seats in my '80. I used the Corvette tracks on the passenger side for my 5'2" wife, but kept the Fiero tracks for the driver's side (I'm 6').
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
So, with the Fiero seats and Fiero seat tracks do you lose any height? I love the look of my 79 seats but that high bolster on the sides makes it difficult to get in and out of the seat and If I'm not careful getting in I get the bolster right in the middle of my left butt cheek and it really hurts. I can't afford to lose any height though, because even at 5' 11" my head hits the t-roof over speed bumps.
