C4 seats in a C3
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 572
Likes: 21
From: Milford, CT
C4 seats in a C3
My C3 seats are shot and not comfortable or supportive at all. I have a chance to get a set of C4 seats that need covering but they are cheap and they look like they have nice support. From the threads I have read online some say they fit if I use my existing C3 tracks, other say they are too wide, too tall and the bolsters on the sides make it almost impossible to shift if the car is a 4 spd.
So... has anybody installed them? Is there a difference in different years of C4 seats? My car is a 77 4spd. I have been looking for Fiero seats with no luck. Corbeau's are out of my price range. C5 and C6 seats are extremely expensive used.
So... has anybody installed them? Is there a difference in different years of C4 seats? My car is a 77 4spd. I have been looking for Fiero seats with no luck. Corbeau's are out of my price range. C5 and C6 seats are extremely expensive used.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
You need to use the C3 tracks. They will sit about 1" higher than the C3 seats.No problem shifting. I had the early C4 seats, but replaced them with 79-82 C3 seats which I like better. The C4 seats are for sale, btw.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I am 6'5" and 225 and I hated the seats in my '87 vette, tried like hell to remove/deflate/padding on those side bolsters, total hip pains from that narrow seat, sold the car as that was the most critical point, followed by many others.....
my '72 here now has the stock vinyl/leather pattern seats, lowered about 2" in rear, about 1/2 inch in front, removed seat belt cover, and used old padding springs in the recover so with top up, I can get in/out with no problems.....
I can drive NOW for ten hours straight, no problems....
except pit stops, of course.....
for me, not the car.......I make a pit stop, the car gets gassed.....
my '72 here now has the stock vinyl/leather pattern seats, lowered about 2" in rear, about 1/2 inch in front, removed seat belt cover, and used old padding springs in the recover so with top up, I can get in/out with no problems.....
I can drive NOW for ten hours straight, no problems....
except pit stops, of course.....
for me, not the car.......I make a pit stop, the car gets gassed.....
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 572
Likes: 21
From: Milford, CT
I am 6'5" and 225 and I hated the seats in my '87 vette, tried like hell to remove/deflate/padding on those side bolsters, total hip pains from that narrow seat, sold the car as that was the most critical point, followed by many others.....
my '72 here now has the stock vinyl/leather pattern seats, lowered about 2" in rear, about 1/2 inch in front, removed seat belt cover, and used old padding springs in the recover so with top up, I can get in/out with no problems.....
I can drive NOW for ten hours straight, no problems....
except pit stops, of course.....
for me, not the car.......I make a pit stop, the car gets gassed.....
my '72 here now has the stock vinyl/leather pattern seats, lowered about 2" in rear, about 1/2 inch in front, removed seat belt cover, and used old padding springs in the recover so with top up, I can get in/out with no problems.....
I can drive NOW for ten hours straight, no problems....
except pit stops, of course.....
for me, not the car.......I make a pit stop, the car gets gassed.....
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I am just about 5'8" and I weight around 185 so fitting in an 86 seat isn't going to be an issue. Seat height shouldn't be an issue either. I will never be driving this car for hours. Its a cruise night around town car. What I am the most concerned about is the width of the C4 seats as compared to the C3 seats. I read posts where people said the C4 seats are wider and they rub against the doors making them hard to close. What interests me most about the 1986 C4 seats I am looking at is they are inexpensive, they are local AND... if I am not mistaken... the back support on them reclines? The stock C3's only slide back and forth.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 71
Likes: 3
From: grandfield ok
I am just about 5'8" and I weight around 185 so fitting in an 86 seat isn't going to be an issue. Seat height shouldn't be an issue either. I will never be driving this car for hours. Its a cruise night around town car. What I am the most concerned about is the width of the C4 seats as compared to the C3 seats. I read posts where people said the C4 seats are wider and they rub against the doors making them hard to close. What interests me most about the 1986 C4 seats I am looking at is they are inexpensive, they are local AND... if I am not mistaken... the back support on them reclines? The stock C3's only slide back and forth.
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 303
Likes: 28
From: los angeles ca
I am very happy with the non power C4 seats in my 69.
Much more comfortable than the stock seats.
I mounted them solid to the floor as low as possible in the back and slightly raised in the front.
Mounted to the C3 tracks was to tall for me.
Much more comfortable than the stock seats.
I mounted them solid to the floor as low as possible in the back and slightly raised in the front.
Mounted to the C3 tracks was to tall for me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 273
From: Dunedin NZ.
C4 power seats into C3
Hi Zwede, I have a pair of early C4 seats to fit in my C3, the driver seat is a power one. My question is can I fit the C3 tracks to this seat or do I need a complete manual seat or manual C4 seat tracks to fit to the C4 seat? rails. I'm trying to get all of the parts needed before I start this project and for compliance reasons using the C3 tracks will mean I don't have to get a compliance certificate that can cost $700. I'm 5'7" so a little extra seat height hopefully wont be an issue.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
You need to use the C3 tracks. On the manual C4 seats I got I just drilled holes in the bottom of the seat "bucket" so I could bolt them to the C3 tracks. Very easy.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 303
Likes: 28
From: los angeles ca
If I remember correctly the power front and back adjustment is only attached to the tracks.
If you use the C3 tracks the power adjustment is gone.
The set I used had power for and aft driver seat tracks that I didn't use.
The seats you want are the base model not the sport seats with inflatable bladders and other features.
The problem with using tracks is you sit higher and lose head room.
Without tracks the seat can go further down and back for more head and leg room.
The C4 seat shell fits very well loose on the floor and can be shimmed and adjusted to fit your preference.
If you use the C3 tracks the power adjustment is gone.
The set I used had power for and aft driver seat tracks that I didn't use.
The seats you want are the base model not the sport seats with inflatable bladders and other features.
The problem with using tracks is you sit higher and lose head room.
Without tracks the seat can go further down and back for more head and leg room.
The C4 seat shell fits very well loose on the floor and can be shimmed and adjusted to fit your preference.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 518
Likes: 12
From: Panhandle
If you are still open....consider the C5 seats. I did my install and was not that difficult. Took out the drivers power seat parts, no room for them. Used C3 seat rails. Works for 5' 10" 250 lbs.
Do a search on this forum....more threads!
Do a search on this forum....more threads!
Last edited by TeaEye; Dec 26, 2017 at 04:50 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 273
From: Dunedin NZ.
C5 seats would be nice, but I have yet to see a C5 come up for parting out here so that would mean importing the seats and this would be very expensive.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 572
Likes: 21
From: Milford, CT
I have also been looking for Fiero seats. That's another impossible task.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
I always loved the late clam shell c3 seats and I have had a c4 and have a fiero, and had my butt in many other seats,
I got lucky someone put 80 style seats in my 69 I was thrilled....
I got lucky someone put 80 style seats in my 69 I was thrilled....
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 572
Likes: 21
From: Milford, CT
I am still searching. I do know one thing for sure... the stock C3 seats are not going to work out for me. There is literally no support. I want a seat that I sit INTO and not on top of like the stock 77 C3 seats. The later C3 seats would be great. The C5 seats would be great too. Fiero seats would be great. No luck in finding them local for almost a year now. Also.. I will need to recover them in dark brown although if I could find a nice set of seats in black I could definitely live with it.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
May wanna go look at some used C4s in your area try craigslist.
The std seats are more comfy I think than the sports
The later model C4 seats are good if youre wider less bolstering
The non sport 89 seats I had were the most comfortable and supportive ever! No comparison to the C3 seats. Youll just have to get out there and try some to see which you like. Try out an 80s and mid 90s era
The std seats are more comfy I think than the sports
The later model C4 seats are good if youre wider less bolstering
The non sport 89 seats I had were the most comfortable and supportive ever! No comparison to the C3 seats. Youll just have to get out there and try some to see which you like. Try out an 80s and mid 90s era
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,738
Likes: 644
From: Lincoln, CA
If you get the Fiero seats just plan on recovering them. With the extra padding and glueing on wash rags for my lower back they are very comfortable even on long rides.
Mr Mike was great to work with and the installation was simple. I also went with a cloth center so i wouldn't get so hot.
Mr Mike was great to work with and the installation was simple. I also went with a cloth center so i wouldn't get so hot.