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Hey! Just dropping in from the C1-C2 forum. My 1964 convertible has 1980 seats installed. I like them as I have more headroom and headrests, but are there any C3 seats that are more comfortable or more ergonomic that would bolt in?
I'm in the middle of my Fiero seat mod. I owned a Fiero and those seats are very comfortable. They are not bolt in though but pretty easy. Just need to make adapter brackets and use the original seat tracks. There are a bunch of threads on it.
There are lots of seat swap threads here, Fiero seats and Miata seats are common other swaps. There's a guy who makes custom Fiero seat covers that look excellent. That's the route I will be taking
My 69 has 80 seats i love them and for my back and butt do not see fiero seats being "better" different not better,
If i went to the trouble and expense of a seat change it would likely be some older import seat, the late model seats in old classics has a look akin to me of a turd in a punch bowl
I have 147,000 miles of Fiero seat time and I can tell you in my experience they are superior to any C3 Vette seat, even the clam shell seats. My opinion of course.
Now we are swinging our um seat time, i have well over 100k in clam shells and at least 100k in fieros,
Edit:
Before i start a big feeding frenzy of people who love their fiero seats, i want to clarify i dont have anything against them, they were nice when they came out, not as epic to me as they are to some.
i believe their popularity in c3s is fueled like contagion, a why people stick lime in their corona type thing, helped greatly since they have an aftermarket re cover options for "Corvette".
But from the 80s up there are a lot of great seats as good or better than the fiero ( or clam shells ) seat, especially from imports,
Before i swapped seats i wouldnt go by what anyone else likes i would plant my butt in the seat and see what i liked best.
Last edited by The13Bats; Sep 26, 2018 at 06:42 AM.
[QUOTE=The13Bats;1598052277]Now we are swinging our um seat time, i have well over 100k in clam shells and at least 100k in fieros,
Edit:
Before i start a big feeding frenzy of people who love their fiero seats, i want to clarify i dont have anything against them, they were nice when they came out, not as epic to me as they are to some.
i believe their popularity in c3s is fueled like contagion, a why people stick lime in their corona type thing, helped greatly since they have an aftermarket re cover options for "Corvette".
I like your "lime in their corona type thing" It's time to have a beer (no lime).
The C3 clamshells are tough to beat for an actual period-approprate Corvette seat. Perhaps freshen up your set with new leather and a custom 64 Vette logo? The 79 logos in my Vette seats sets them apart a bit, especially in my 79.
Another member went with RX8 seats, which look great:
I didn’t realize when I posted this that I have C3 clam shell seats. I’m going to investigate the springs and cushion. They were reportedly rebuilt 10k miles ago and the leather still looks great. The seat base is not as supportive as I thought it should be. What I don’t want to give up is the extra headroom I have in my 1964 convertible. I love that aspect as at 6’4”, I have plenty of room. They also look great and appropriate in my Corvette (no turd in the punch bowl here!). I’ve also ordered three point seat belts for extra safety.
A lot easier said than done. Its not like all seat options are just waiting for you in some lot for you to sit in them for 15 minutes
All seat options in the world, no, that wouldnt be practical but its not that hard to test a few and its better imho than taking some ones elses butts and backs opinion on it
Originally Posted by Factoid
I didn’t realize when I posted this that I have C3 clam shell seats. I’m going to investigate the springs and cushion. They were reportedly rebuilt 10k miles ago and the leather still looks great. The seat base is not as supportive as I thought it should be. What I don’t want to give up is the extra headroom I have in my 1964 convertible. I love that aspect as at 6’4”, I have plenty of room. They also look great and appropriate in my Corvette (no turd in the punch bowl here!). I’ve also ordered three point seat belts for extra safety.
Thanks all for your input, very helpful!
I loved how i sat in my 66 convertible boy do i wish i still had that car,
Mine was modded, when i got it it had sat in a warehouse about 20 years, the seats who knows out of what were like eazy boy home recliners,
They sat weird and tall, im 6,2,
The first seats i stuck in there were some import seat, they were okay but a buddy was hacking an 81 into a racer only and i grabbed the clamshells, they looked good, sat good, as you know i love em,
I was thrilled with the irony my 69 had them recoved in a velour,
While a few decades have passed since clamshells came out and i have no doubts some import likely has a seat that would fit feel and look good, not worth my effort to mess with it,
Fiero seats are popular because they're an easy swap, drill/tap a few holes for the adaptor brackets and that's it. C3 seats sit low, really low, so its difficult to find seats that don't put your head against the roof. Fiero seats are tick higher but not too high. Any seats that originally had power motors under them will sit higher.
Thanks all! I did sit on several other later Corvette (C4 and C5) and some non-Corvette seats. I actually think the seats I have may be the best solution for me. They look good, they sit low and give me plenty of headroom, and they are reasonably comfortable. I originally was looking for firmer, but I now realize that you sit IN these seats, not ON them and they are actually quite comfortable and supportive. I am going to install three point belts for a bit more safety and restraint. Here are my current leather covered, interior matching seats.
I just bought a new complete carpet set and new seats from Wilcox for 945.00 roughly. I highly recommend paying the two hundred extra to have them mount the seat covers on foam for you. That means you just have to snap them into the shells and then your good to go. I can stress enough to pay that extra 200 haha. Unless you have an upholstery hookup then you will gate yourself.
If you want Corvette seat, clam shells are the only way to go. In my '75:
Do you sit higher in the C5 seats or the aftermarket seat? My factory’72’s look good but I wanted something with more bolstering.
The later C3’s are what I’m considering. I do have a set that need new covers. My wife has a ‘99frc and I really do like the seats too in that car, but I don’t know how they fill fit in the C3.
Also with the C5 seats installed how difficult is it to access the rear compartment and to pop out the rear window?
Do you sit higher in the C5 seats or the aftermarket seat? My factory’72’s look good but I wanted something with more bolstering.
The later C3’s are what I’m considering. I do have a set that need new covers. My wife has a ‘99frc and I really do like the seats too in that car, but I don’t know how they fill fit in the C3.
Also with the C5 seats installed how difficult is it to access the rear compartment and to pop out the rear window?
No experience with C5 or aftermarket seats. The late C3 seats are much better than the older ones. Plus, there are designed for the car and fold down very easily for access to the back.
I have to add another thumbs up for the Clamshells...for tall guys they're the best.
I am looking for Clamshells for the 69....whose seats while in original new condition are the 'slidiest'!
I remember back in the day in '78 how the car mags bagged on the clamshells as being flimsy and 'being made by rubbermaid'...well time TOLD and they are terrific.
You can add more lumbar if you like as well.
Best C3 Seats?
i have well over 100k in clam shells and at least 100k in fieros,
