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Does anyone know if on 69 Corvettes the seat backs only came with lower seat rubber bumpers or rubber bumpers were used on both lower and upper seats? Mine only has the rubber bumper on the lower seat and has a metal screw/bolt on the upper one, or is the upper one missing the rubber bumper. Thanks
Corvette central is selling the seat back upper bumpers in rubber or plastic, were the originals made in rubber for the upper seat or plastic, they don't mention it.
When I first got my November built Vette I was trying to sort out the seat bumper issue. I found the upper right bumper to be the screw in type as used on 1970 models. I learned on this forum that the later built vettes were being built with 1970 seat backs! I ordered a 1970 screw in bumper for my 69. The vendor made me swear I was aware that I was ordering a 1970 part for the 69. That bumper was missing on the passenger side and could not figure out what was wrong until I took the driver side apart.
When I first got my November built Vette I was trying to sort out the seat bumper issue. I found the upper right bumper to be the screw in type as used on 1970 models. I learned on this forum that the later built vettes were being built with 1970 seat backs! I ordered a 1970 screw in bumper for my 69. The vendor made me swear I was aware that I was ordering a 1970 part for the 69. That bumper was missing on the passenger side and could not figure out what was wrong until I took the driver side apart.
Does that answer your question?
VS
Where did you get this info? The 1970 model year introduced the “high-back” seats (no separate headrest). I have a late December 1969 production car and it does NOT have the 70 style seats. That said, you could be simply be dealing with bubba installing whatever he could get his hands on.
Where did you get this info? The 1970 model year introduced the “high-back” seats (no separate headrest). I have a late December 1969 production car and it does NOT have the 70 style seats. That said, you could be simply be dealing with bubba installing whatever he could get his hands on.
Just a side comment for those not versed in '69s: December '69 should have been 4 months into the 1970 model year but due to a strike the '69 was carried an extra 5 months beyond the standard model year. If 1970 model year parts were going to be used on a '69, they'd be found on December-built cars.
When I was working on my interior of my '69 I looked at the available hardware from the vendors and saw that what my car originally had not what they showed for a 69. I have had my car since 1974 and knew what I has was the original pieces.
It appears that they changed the seat hardware sometime during the 69 run. My car was built in late June of 69 and the picture shows what it came with from the factory.
Thanks guys. I was confused by this. I do know the seats were reupholstered in 1978. The seats have the original metal date stamp tags on them. I reupholstered in 2017 and discovered the upper back had the screw in type bumper used on 1970 cars located on the right upper seat back. It has the usual 69 head restraints.
The passenger seat was missing the bumper so I ordered the same bumper present on the drivers side, I believe from Zip.
I was searching the forum for an answer back then and one of our members had stated this as the explanation.
When I was working on my interior of my '69 I looked at the available hardware from the vendors and saw that what my car originally had not what they showed for a 69. I have had my car since 1974 and knew what I has was the original pieces.
It appears that they changed the seat hardware sometime during the 69 run. My car was built in late June of 69 and the picture shows what it came with from the factory.
Thanks Robert!
That explains it perfectly. That is exactly what my hardware looks like. My car is a mid November, 1969 build. I bet the upholsterer lost that upper bumper and just put it together without it. The car had 10,000 miles on it from 1978 to 2017 which is the year I bought from the 2nd owner. Doubt it had much passenger use!
Just a side comment for those not versed in '69s: December '69 should have been 4 months into the 1970 model year but due to a strike the '69 was carried an extra 5 months beyond the standard model year. If 1970 model year parts were going to be used on a '69, they'd be found on December-built cars.
No doubt that some parts planned for the 1970 model year got into the later production 69s but items related to appearance did not, including seats.
I am in the midst of redoing my seats myself in my late Oct 69 L46. Discovered that the seat bumpers which I strongly believe are original were the same configuration as those used for 1970 models...ie do not look like the photo above. one on the upper seat is metal only with no rubber.
This is what's on my January 69. Bottom is an oval rubber bumper with a threaded fastener. Top is a sheet metal screw into another rubber bumper. There is no adjustability and it looks like the upper fastener hole is correct for sheet metal, it's not threaded that I can tell. I was hoping it looked like the posted pictures, but it doesn't, so no adjustability.
This is what's on my January 69. Bottom is an oval rubber bumper with a threaded fastener. Top is a sheet metal screw into another rubber bumper. There is no adjustability and it looks like the upper fastener hole is correct for sheet metal, it's not threaded that I can tell. I was hoping it looked like the posted pictures, but it doesn't, so no adjustability.
I could do that I suppose, but I would rather drill and tap into the upper to retrofit the newer style. That's a chore I'll save until I, hopefully never, have to take both seats out.
If originality is not absolutely critical then go to your nearest Lowes and get some Baby Buggy Bumpers in the hardware dept. If not there look at look at McMaster Carr and see what they have. They frequently have a big variety of bumpers.
People here commenting on your production date and the correct parts. My 1968 C3 was built in early October (1967) and it was BUILT WITH parts designated for 1967 C2 Big Blocks. Several components carried over until the stock of that part was used up. My C3 started life as a BB and had several 1967 BB parts in the engine compartment and many on the cooling system. The shop who installed my engine back into the car are "restoration experts" and they were surprised that they found the 1967 parts on an early 1968. I would have never known had they not pointed it out to me.
Not being a NCRS type I am not worried about facing a detailed inspection. I bought the Corvette to drive not to show off, as long as everything works and the car is safe I will continue to drive them around.
Back seat bumpers
