Remove seats from clam shell
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 138
Likes: 9
From: Shawnee KS
Remove seats from clam shell
Have a 82 I am getting new seat covers with new foam..I know these snap in and out and have seen the diagram from Willcox...Is there a trick or anything that helps get these off and on...just curious on anybody that has removed and installed new covers on there’s...thanks for any advice....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 198
From: Meriden CT
You need a good bit of force. On the backs pull down on the top of the cushions hard, it will come out of the hooks. The same for the seats. You're trying to fold the cushion in half part way.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...backs-how.html. http://www.corvetteamerica.com/video/79_82scInstall/
Last edited by derekderek; Jun 18, 2019 at 07:13 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 332
From: Woodinville WA
Getting the cushions out is definitely the easy part.
Just squeeze pretty hard from the side and then pull up after getting past the "hook" documented in the first link the Derek has above. -Then the other side comes out easily.
Definitely look at the Wilcox diagram.
Reinstalling them essentially "blind" to what's happening with the hook is a little bit harder, but still not awful.
Adam
Just squeeze pretty hard from the side and then pull up after getting past the "hook" documented in the first link the Derek has above. -Then the other side comes out easily.
Definitely look at the Wilcox diagram.
Reinstalling them essentially "blind" to what's happening with the hook is a little bit harder, but still not awful.
Adam
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,232
Likes: 1,232
From: PHX AZ
Seats out
Repeat after me...GRUNT!.....grumble, grumble.....OOOF!
They go, but not easy....you're tired when you're done!
I found it easier with the seats out of the car.....oh! my achin' back!
unkahal
They go, but not easy....you're tired when you're done!
I found it easier with the seats out of the car.....oh! my achin' back!
unkahal
Last edited by L-46man; Jun 18, 2019 at 03:54 PM.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 529
Likes: 113
From: Texas
I took a large screw driver and cut a notch in the blade. I rounded off the edges of the tip so as not to cut the seat. I use the tool to grab the wire and push it out of the clamps. When installing I tie some 6" loops of string around the wire and tape them to the side of the cushion. I then place the cushion in the shell and use the tool to position the wire past the clips, then taking the string at the same time to pull the wire into the clips. On the seat it just snaps right in and on the seat back I do one from each side, then finish the other two clips. Then cut the string loop and pull the string out.
Last edited by Gunfighter13; Jun 19, 2019 at 10:47 PM.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 138
Likes: 9
From: Shawnee KS
I took a large screw driver and cut a notch in the blade. I rounded off the edges of the tip so as not to cut the seat. I use the tool to grab the wire and push it out of the clamps. When installing I tie some 6" loops of string around the wire and tape them to the side of the cushion. I then place the cushion in the shell and use the tool to position the wire past the clips, then taking the string at the same time to pull the wire into the clips. On the seat it just snaps right in and on the seat back I do one from each side, then finish the other two clips. Then cut the string loop and pull the string out.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 872
Likes: 114
From: Round Hill Virginia
I rebuilt the seats on my 81 (now sold) and also on my 69... both are a PIA, but satisfying when it's done! I would not have been able to do it without watching the Corvette America videos. Extremely helpful... I just checked the video section and the 79-82 video seems to be missing? You might reach out to CA...they might be able to email it to you? CA Seat Videos Hope this helps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,444
Likes: 970
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
I got mine from Willcox as well a couple of years ago..bought 80 clamshell seats to replace the 78 seats for $200 used complete, locally, deal of a lifetime on these seats!. New Cushions and what a difference..:I really did not have to much trouble installing them, just a little elbow grease, pulling and tugging, no special tools, and they went into the shells with moderate effort....
Last edited by jb78L-82; Jun 29, 2019 at 07:23 PM.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 319
Likes: 125
From: Midwest
That's was the ticket for me. I bought mounted seat covers from Willcox about five years ago and installed them myself into the clamshell buckets. Removing the old seat covers wasn't too much trouble, just a little wrestling with them. However, I simply could not install the new seat covers into the clamshells until I cut a notch into the middle of a flathead screwdriver, like that described above by Gunfighter13.
I used a Dremel to cut the notch out, which easily cuts into the solid steel of a screwdriver tip. Once I had that special tool fashioned, installing the first mounted seat cover became remarkably easy and straightforward. I then moved to the other one and, again, virtually no trouble at all. Just some pulling and tugging, as mentioned above.
That is exactly what mine look like now.--------------------------
1979 L82 M21 FE7
Classic White / Doeskin
Racer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 319
Likes: 125
From: Midwest
That's the ticket! Thank you, gjohnson.
That looks very similar to the tool I fashioned -- and put in a safe place in case I ever need it again.
---------------------------
1979 L82 M21 FE7
Classic White / Doeskin
That looks very similar to the tool I fashioned -- and put in a safe place in case I ever need it again.
---------------------------
1979 L82 M21 FE7
Classic White / Doeskin