I’d like to start of by giving a big thanks to jbauch357 for posting his install. I could have managed with out it, but it was so much simpler with his very detailed description and great pictures. My post won’t be nearly as detailed. You can find his install in the DIY post:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...1817090&page=3

Background
I purchased my ’03 Z06 about a month ago and from the very beginning I hated the lateral support (and this is suppose to be GM’s “track car”) provided by the stock seats. I’ve complained about the stock seats in several other threads, so I decided to do something about it.
Couple of weeks ago while “doing ramps” (It’s a series of, off-ramps and on-ramps that make up almost a circuit), I realized how bad the stock seats are. While taking a couple of the reducing radius ramps, my back was literally off the seat and I was holding on to the steering wheel. I decided from that point on I need better support.

With the help of this forum and a couple of the members (Last C5) I decided to go with the Corbeau FX1 Pro. I actually wanted to get the Corbeau Forza but LastC5 suggested I get the FX1 Pro for better shoulder support. After deciding to get the FX1, I thought since I’m taller than average (6’1”, 210lbs) I’d get the bigger model, the FX1 instead of the, smaller, FX1 Pro. I also measured my hips (19”) and my shoulders (24”). It seemed I’d fit the FX1 much better. But, after talking with Corbeau and Last C5, they recommended to go with the FX1 Pro. And I’m glad I did the fit is almost perfect!

So, if you have the same dimensions as me, get the FX1 Pro, not the FX1!


The Install

Step1
Removed the Seat and Bracket from the Box (notice the box in the back right corner):


Closer pic of the bracket:


Closer look at the front and rear of the seat:




It looks like a really good quality and solid seat. This is my first aftermarket racing seat. So, I don’t know if the Sparcos or Recaros have a better fit and finish?!

 

Step 2
Install the seat onto the bracket.

I followed what jbauch357 said in his install. Add 1/4” washer to each of the bolts being mounted to the seat.
You’ll notice in the picture below I have the first bolt mounted with the 1/4” washer (indicated by the green arrow). I used loctite, to insure the bolts wouldn’t come loose.


This is another picture of the entire seat now mounted to the bracket: The green arrows indicate the bolts and washers: (you can’t see the other 2 bolts and washers, because they’re hidden by the sliders)


And, one last picture of the seat and bracket assembly sitting upright, ready to be installed in the car:


NOTE: I initially thought the bolts were not included in my shipment. But after looking around, the bolts are actually screwed into the seat when it arrives. So don’t, be stupid like me and go looking for the bolts in the box. Just look at the seat


Step 3:
Now, go to your car and remove the stock seats: It’s pretty simple, use a 15mm socket to remove the 4 nuts which hold the seat onto the bolts mounted to the floor board.
The front bolts are hidden by 2 plastic covers. First, you must remove the retainer pins that hold the covers in place (I used a pair of needle nose pliers). Once the retainer pins are off just slide the covers forward and they pop off.

This pic, shows the covers removed and 15mm nuts removed:


After the 4 nuts are removed, just wiggle the seat a bit to remove the tension.

Step 4
Now this is important, MAKE SURE YOU UNPLUG THE POWER SEAT HARNESS from the wire harness coming from the floor board.

Step 5
Once step 4 is complete, now you can carefully, pull the stock seat from the car.

 

Step 6
Now, that you have the stock seat removed from the car. You have to remove the seatbelt receptacle from the stock seat:


The green circle indicates the 18mm nut that holds the seatbelt receptacle to the stock seat. I noticed, while reading, the DIY it doesn’t mention this wire (indicated by the green arrow) sticking out of the receptacle. I don’t know if this is because I have a Canadian car or not?


Step 7 (maybe just for Canadian cars, I don’t know)
This wire must be unplugged from the seat. Take your time, make sure you don’t snap anything off while doing this. It took me a little while to get this wire unplugged.



This is another picture of the receptacle removed and wire unplugged from the stock seat!
The two green arrows indicate were the wire was plugged into the seat!

 

Step 8 (optional)
Drill a hole in the mounting bracket:


The green arrow/circle show a hole, which I drilled, to allow the retaining pin on the seatbelt receptacle to fit in. The DIY didn’t have this step. I used a (battery powered) drill and a drill bit. Take your time doing this. The Corbeau mounting bracket is pretty thick and you don’t have to drill a hole the entire way through the bracket. Just enough for the retaining pin to fit in.

Here is another picture of the hole (I know not the greatest quality)



Step 9
Mount the seatbelt receptacle to the Corbeau bracket:

You’ll notice the green arrow indicates the hole I drilled for the retaining pin.



Step 10
Now, take the seat and bracket assembly to your car and place it on the 4 bolts. Use the 15mm nuts and tighten them on to the bolts as tight as possible. I used loctite, to insure the seat stays in it’s place and nuts don’t unwind themselves.


Some pics of the seat installed in the car.








That’s it… enjoy and I hope this helps.

 

thanks for the informative post. I've been looking for a set of seats for my z06 for the same reason you described. I can't believe chevy put these un-supportive seats in their flagship vehicle.

I'll keep the Corbeau FX1 Pro in mind.


Any pics of them in the car? also what kind of harnesses did you go with?

 

I've only tried them for about 10 mins on the road. I put it in last night. I'll give more feed back once I have more time in them.

Yah it was too dark last night, after the install, to get really clear pictures. I'll take some pics tomorrow and post them.

I got the seat and bracket from the following company:
seat:
http://racing-seats-usa.com/29501.html

bracket:
http://racing-seats-usa.com/racing-s...-brackets.html
just choose from the drop-down list box. Chevy 97-04 bracket.

 

Whew, am I glad that seat fit right! Nice write up on the install.

 

are you using the stock seat belts with this new racing seat?

 

Very interested to see your results

 

Last C5 do you notice when taking hard turns, that the seat creaks? I've got the bolts 4 bolts tightened as hard as possible. It seems to be coming from the seat back.


Updated pics of the seat installed in the car.

As the pic shows, yes I'm only using the stock seat belt. Next year I hope to get a KB bar and 5 point belts.

 

Mine doesn't creak, but I've got an IO Port seat back brace running from my Hardbar to the seat. That's what that bolt in the back of the seat is for. When you install your KB bar and belts, that would be a good time to get the brace too.

 

Yah that's what I figured. Where do you get the brace?
What kind of hardbar do you have?

 

I bought the brace directly from I/O Port www.IOPortRacing.com

They also carry camera mounts, belt hardware, and a 17" panoramic mirror that clamps to the stocker.

 

This is a question to anybody that has a 5 or 6 point harness. How / where does the sub-belt hook to?

Last C5 I assume the 2 lap belts hook to the side bolts on the Corbeau FX1 pro, correct?

 

So is the seat not strong enough to be mounted in there by itself without the support of the "hardbar" and brace? Not sure what hardbar means, I'm assuming some sort of roll cage.

How much did the seat change your seating height and position fore/aft? I'm 6'3" and my head basically touches the ceiling with the stock seat all the way down. I also weigh 225 lb. so I probably wouldn't be able to get my *** in this seat anyway!

Also, do you think the wider version will fit in the C5?

 

First, I use a hardbar made by the company Hardbar. There are several companies that make hard bars.

The tunnel side belt hooks to the side bolt on the Corbeau seat track (Just like the stock belt on the stock seat) and the door side belts hook to the factory bolt on the door sill area (again just like the factory belt). However, this only works if you're using Crow Industries belts which are made to replace the C5 stock belts.

Both the sub belts and the lap belts if you don't use Crow belts hook to a seat belt bar that's bolted across the two rear seat track mount bolts. Hardbar and several other companies make these seat belt bars. I made my own without much difficulty.

 

A hardbar is usually a round bar that mounts to and between the two factory seat belt bolts on the B pillar. Not many aftermarket race seats are going to survive the G forces of track use without a brace and still be light enough to be of benefit. Corbeau, Sparco, Kirkey, and Momo all have brace mounting positions built into them.

The Corbeau seat and slider mount allow more fore and aft than the stock seat and height is about the same or slightly lower than the stock seat in the full down position.

I know the wider version will fit the C5 because I originally had two FX1s in my car before I changed the drivers seat out to an FX1 Pro. You do have to install a 1/4" spacer (washer) under each of two outboard seat mounts between the seat and the slider mount to keep the shoulder wings of the seat from just touching the upper part of the door. It will fit without the washers but having the edge of the seat touching the door was going to wear something out I figured. The feel and look of the mount with the washers is exactly the same as without them.

Fit. My track partner, an HPDE driving instructor, who also drives a C5Z is about 6' 3" and has his car set up with a 17" Kirkey and an I/O brace. However, when he occasionally rides with me (when he's bored and needs a good laugh) the passenger side FX1 fits him well. The FX1 Pro does not fit him.

 

Do you run a 6 point harness?....So you run your sub belts through the hole in the bottom of your FX1 Pro and back to the eyelets of your lap/sub-belt bar?

I like the idea about the washers on the outboard seat mounts to bring in the wings so they don't touch. I was going to purchase this set-up but the sales/tech at Corbeau said the seats would touch and they recomended against it...much better info here than from the manufacturer. Seems that many manufacturers do not have much real world suggestions or experience with Corevettes.

Do you have any pictures of your setup?

 

The hardbar is used to install the 2 shoulder belts in a 5 point harness system.

As I mentioned in my original post i'm 6'1" between 210 and 215lbs. The FX1Pro is a bit tight on my hips. So, I don't think it'll fit you.

Corbeau told me the same thing, the FX1 wings would touch the window when I close the door. But LastC5 has this and they're fine.

Check out this thread, LastC5 has a picture of his belts.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=2074827

LastC5, does that mean if you use the Crow seatbelts (like on your car), you'll lose the ability to have/use the stock seatbelt?!

Are there belts out there that use the bolts on the FX1Pro?!

 

Yes, a six point system with the sub belts run through the front center hole and back to the belt bar. Here is the FX1 on the passenger's side You could run the stock belts too, but it starts getting pretty crowded in there with two sets of belts running around.



And here are both seats



"Are there belts out there that use the bolts on the FX1Pro?! "

If you are talking about the bolts on the side of the seat itself, those are for side mounting the seat and they are NOT suitable for mounting a seat belt. You could mount the sub belts to the bottom of the slider seat mount I suppose, but you want the lap belts bolted to something considerably stronger. I'm not really sure what you are asking so if this doesn't make sense you know why.