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Question about seat base

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Old Feb 23, 2011 | 07:03 PM
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Hey everyone

I just bought mounted seat covers from Corvette Central. I didn't really take time yet to properly install them in my 1985 Corvette. However, I did quickly put the bottom seat cushion on top of my seat base just to see what it'd look like. It turns out it doesn't seem to fit exactly properly with the seat base. Then again I didn't spend too much time on it either.

My question: I looked at the seat base frame and noticed what looks like a big spring mounted along the side, which also has a cable with the switch mounted to the side of the base. I'm thinking this spring might be in the way with my foam installation. Not 100% sure yet as I didn't look at it too closely yet. Anybody else experience this?

Can someone tell me what spring is for? and, just out of curiousity, what is the switch/lever for? I know the switch at the top of the seat back is obviously to move the seatback forward, but I have no clue what the side one (one of the bottom base) is for.

By the way, even though my car is an '85, the seats that I'm replacing were actually from an 89-92 but I understand the base should still fit the 84-88 cushions.


Thanks!

Joey

Last edited by dead_elvis_187; Feb 23, 2011 at 07:32 PM.
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Old Feb 24, 2011 | 12:57 PM
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I'm not sure the base is exactly the same as the earlier C4's, but the cushions should still fit, I mean its only foam and some leather.

First of all, the lever on the side of the base is to recline the seat back. Sport seats use a recline motor, but standard seats use a mechanical method. The spring you mentioned is most likely part of the recline mechanism, altho I'm not 100% sure because I'm not sure what you're looking at.

Keep in mind that when you actually replace the cushions, the bottom cushion may take some work to get the front clip to catch. I have trouble with mine still. With the foam being new it will sit up higher in the base, but I don't the spring you mentioned is in the way. You might want to drop the new cushion in the base, get to the correct position and then sit on it to kind of squash it in.

The back cushions have some inner clips that hold them in so when you replace those it won't be as straight forward as the bottom ones. You can search the forum posts for instructions on how to remove those.

Good luck and enjoy. Post some before and after pictures if you can.
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Old Feb 24, 2011 | 03:05 PM
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If you're talking about the spring on the bottom right side then yes, that is part of the spring forward / recline action.
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Old Feb 26, 2011 | 08:57 PM
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Thanks guys
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