Swapping Seats...Tools? Process?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,949
Likes: 444
From: Puyallup WA
Swapping Seats...Tools? Process?
Ok, first of all, I'm not much of a do-it-yourselfer. So be kind. LOL
I found a local forum member that is selling me the seats I need. (Identical to what I currently have, but hopefully no isses like I have now. My twisting drivers seat falls out of adjustment and the "fix" wont work)
I want to try and put the new seats in myself.
#1-What tools will I need?
#2-Is there any part of the swap that will stump me?
#3-There are plastic covers over the area where you get to the bolts correct? How do those come off.
Now, don't assume there is something I already I know-maybe I do, but chances are that I don't. LOL
Oh, I'll be swapping Standard seats for standard seats. Power drivers side-manual passanger side. I'll have to swap the seat belt "buckle thing/recepticle" from the old seats to the new seats-the seller needed to keep those.
THANKS.
I found a local forum member that is selling me the seats I need. (Identical to what I currently have, but hopefully no isses like I have now. My twisting drivers seat falls out of adjustment and the "fix" wont work)
I want to try and put the new seats in myself.
#1-What tools will I need?
#2-Is there any part of the swap that will stump me?
#3-There are plastic covers over the area where you get to the bolts correct? How do those come off.
Now, don't assume there is something I already I know-maybe I do, but chances are that I don't. LOL
Oh, I'll be swapping Standard seats for standard seats. Power drivers side-manual passanger side. I'll have to swap the seat belt "buckle thing/recepticle" from the old seats to the new seats-the seller needed to keep those.
THANKS.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,107
Likes: 7
From: Sandy Ego Ca.
really easy...
10mm wrench..a screw driver..Phillips
1. remove the two plastic bolt covers at the front of the seats by removing the phillips screws..then just pop the plastic up.
2. Remove the two nuts
3. move the seat forward so you can get to the matching nuts on the rear of the seat..remove the nuts
4. Reach under the seat and unplug the electric connector
5. pull the seat up and out
done
10mm wrench..a screw driver..Phillips
1. remove the two plastic bolt covers at the front of the seats by removing the phillips screws..then just pop the plastic up.
2. Remove the two nuts
3. move the seat forward so you can get to the matching nuts on the rear of the seat..remove the nuts
4. Reach under the seat and unplug the electric connector
5. pull the seat up and out
done
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,949
Likes: 444
From: Puyallup WA
really easy...
10mm wrench..a screw driver..Phillips
1. remove the two plastic bolt covers at the front of the seats by removing the phillips screws..then just pop the plastic up.
2. Remove the two nuts
3. move the seat forward so you can get to the matching nuts on the rear of the seat..remove the nuts
4. Reach under the seat and unplug the electric connector
5. pull the seat up and out
done
10mm wrench..a screw driver..Phillips
1. remove the two plastic bolt covers at the front of the seats by removing the phillips screws..then just pop the plastic up.
2. Remove the two nuts
3. move the seat forward so you can get to the matching nuts on the rear of the seat..remove the nuts
4. Reach under the seat and unplug the electric connector
5. pull the seat up and out
done
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver Washington
If your seats have bolt covers with push pins not phillips screws, pull the center of the push pin out then the outer rim of the push pin out. Also, those covers remove by pulling them straight forward, not up or they will break.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
really easy...
10mm wrench..a screw driver..Phillips
1. remove the two plastic bolt covers at the front of the seats by removing the phillips screws..then just pop the plastic up.
2. Remove the two nuts
3. move the seat forward so you can get to the matching nuts on the rear of the seat..remove the nuts
4. Reach under the seat and unplug the electric connector
5. pull the seat up and out
done
10mm wrench..a screw driver..Phillips
1. remove the two plastic bolt covers at the front of the seats by removing the phillips screws..then just pop the plastic up.
2. Remove the two nuts
3. move the seat forward so you can get to the matching nuts on the rear of the seat..remove the nuts
4. Reach under the seat and unplug the electric connector
5. pull the seat up and out
done
I would use a 15mm deep socket to remove the nuts. I have some pics of the seat being removed posted here. It is for a BK install, but the seat needed to come out.
http://www.ecsracing.com/ecsracing/showthread.php?t=124
BTW - IF you have a coupe or vert take the roof off. It will be a lot easier to remove and install the seats with the roof off.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,806
Likes: 70
From: Rochester MN
I also heard to raise the seats to highest level will give you more access to bolts. I also remember reading to cover the area along the bottom of the door opening with something to prevent the bottom end of the seat frame from scraping up your paint if you dont lift the seat high enough when removing and bump it.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,949
Likes: 444
From: Puyallup WA
I also heard to raise the seats to highest level will give you more access to bolts. I also remember reading to cover the area along the bottom of the door opening with something to prevent the bottom end of the seat frame from scraping up your paint if you dont lift the seat high enough when removing and bump it.
Good tip-I had planned on putting towels there-at the bottom of the door.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,383
Likes: 6
From: hagerstown md
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
If you plan to put seat covers(like coverkings) on anytime soon, now is the time to do it. It makes it SOOOO much easier when they are out of the car. Yo can really get a good stretch on the cover then.
While I love my C5 sport seats, putting the Coverking covers on them made a world if difference. They hug you better, don't get hot or cold as easily, and have a little more padding. Way comfy for a cruise. Where the hell is spring?!
While I love my C5 sport seats, putting the Coverking covers on them made a world if difference. They hug you better, don't get hot or cold as easily, and have a little more padding. Way comfy for a cruise. Where the hell is spring?!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,050
Likes: 7
From: Canadian Rockies
Vette Essentials has a very good writeup on the removal as well :
http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...r_removal.html
http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...r_removal.html
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,949
Likes: 444
From: Puyallup WA
Vette Essentials has a very good writeup on the removal as well :
http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...r_removal.html
http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...r_removal.html
My brother said he'll load that on his I-POD Touch, and let me take it in the garage if I need it, not that I will, but who knows. LOL
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,949
Likes: 444
From: Puyallup WA
I'm meeting the forum member Sunday Morning at 9:00, then I'll bring the seats home and attempt the swap. It doesn't sound too difficult, so we'll see what happens.
Thanks for all the tips.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,949
Likes: 444
From: Puyallup WA
Ok, I don't have the other seats yet, but I took my passanger seat out after washing my Vette this evening. That was pretty easy to take it out.
I do have one question though: The person I'm buying the seats from said that he had to re-use his seatbelt recepticle, so I'll have to re-use mine. He said that it is just one screw.
After I took the passanger side seat out, I tried to get that off, but it didn't seem to want to move. I tried to loosen it with a socket and wrench, but couldn't get any leverage.
Is it removed from the outside (side of the seat)? Or am I missing something?
THANKS GUYS
I do have one question though: The person I'm buying the seats from said that he had to re-use his seatbelt recepticle, so I'll have to re-use mine. He said that it is just one screw.
After I took the passanger side seat out, I tried to get that off, but it didn't seem to want to move. I tried to loosen it with a socket and wrench, but couldn't get any leverage.
Is it removed from the outside (side of the seat)? Or am I missing something?
THANKS GUYS
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,949
Likes: 444
From: Puyallup WA
I would use a 15mm deep socket to remove the nuts. I have some pics of the seat being removed posted here. It is for a BK install, but the seat needed to come out.
http://www.ecsracing.com/ecsracing/showthread.php?t=124
BTW - IF you have a coupe or vert take the roof off. It will be a lot easier to remove and install the seats with the roof off.
http://www.ecsracing.com/ecsracing/showthread.php?t=124
BTW - IF you have a coupe or vert take the roof off. It will be a lot easier to remove and install the seats with the roof off.
Ok, I don't have the other seats yet, but I took my passanger seat out after washing my Vette this evening. That was pretty easy to take it out.
I do have one question though: The person I'm buying the seats from said that he had to re-use his seatbelt recepticle, so I'll have to re-use mine. He said that it is just one screw.
After I took the passanger side seat out, I tried to get that off, but it didn't seem to want to move. I tried to loosen it with a socket and wrench, but couldn't get any leverage.
Is it removed from the outside (side of the seat)? Or am I missing something?
THANKS GUYS
I do have one question though: The person I'm buying the seats from said that he had to re-use his seatbelt recepticle, so I'll have to re-use mine. He said that it is just one screw.
After I took the passanger side seat out, I tried to get that off, but it didn't seem to want to move. I tried to loosen it with a socket and wrench, but couldn't get any leverage.
Is it removed from the outside (side of the seat)? Or am I missing something?
THANKS GUYS
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,064
Likes: 1,272
From: Central Ma
Good advice above.
The seats are so easy to remove, that after I did it once, I thought that maybe in the future I might do it again to give the interior that perfect cleaning. I haven't gone that far though.
The seats are so easy to remove, that after I did it once, I thought that maybe in the future I might do it again to give the interior that perfect cleaning. I haven't gone that far though.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,949
Likes: 444
From: Puyallup WA