Replace 1998 C5 seats with 2011 Grand Sport C6 Seats.
07-18-2018, 01:13 PM
#1
Cruising
Thread Starter
Member Since: Jul 2018
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Replace 1998 C5 seats with 2011 Grand Sport C6 Seats.
My seats in my Vet are done and my buddy has a set of 2011 Grand Sport C6 seats for me. Has anyone made this kind of conversion and could give me some advice?
07-18-2018, 01:59 PM
#2
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Oct 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Posts: 40,084
Received 8,926 Likes
on
5,332 Posts
Somebody did what you are trying to do about 12 years ago but I doubt search will show anything useful. The Grand Sport seats will have different wiring than the C5 seats. Some of that is for the SRS which includes side air bags and a pretensioner for the lap belt. If you use the C5 seat tracks (they should mount to the floor studs since I know for sure a C5 manual seat track can be installed in a C6).
I also know the C6 Driver's side seat has a much thicker harness going to it than my C5Z had. It became a problem when I was installing my race seats. My C5Z had power seat tracks and that was it so that may have been the reason for the thinner harness as my C6Z had the SRS stuff, seat, mirror and telescopic wheel memory and seat heaters. A C5 sport seat may have required a thicker harness and larger connector like the C6 seat had.
If you use the C5 seat tracks one problem is how the seats mount to the seat track. I don't know for sure if GM changed the method between the two models.
If you have the memory option in your car you will need to use your C5 memory module as I am not sure the C6 module is compatible.
Unknown issues would be Sport Seat Functions like lumbar support and side bolster support and seat heater implementation if you wanted to use seat heaters.
The first thing to do is pull out the passenger seat in your car and see how it mounts to the track and whether the C6 seat can mount the same way. If not then you will have to use the C6 seat track.
If things get too complicated you can always rebuild your C5 seats with new skins, foam and the aftermarket kit that provides extra support under the foam so it doesn't slowly depress into the seat frame. The kit works on the C6 seats as well. From a lateral support standpoint there is little difference between the C5 and C6 seats they both suck. Rebuilding the seats isn't a big job it just requires strong hands. I used very small wire ties to fasten things together Vs the stock hog rings which are sort of archaic.
Bill
I also know the C6 Driver's side seat has a much thicker harness going to it than my C5Z had. It became a problem when I was installing my race seats. My C5Z had power seat tracks and that was it so that may have been the reason for the thinner harness as my C6Z had the SRS stuff, seat, mirror and telescopic wheel memory and seat heaters. A C5 sport seat may have required a thicker harness and larger connector like the C6 seat had.
If you use the C5 seat tracks one problem is how the seats mount to the seat track. I don't know for sure if GM changed the method between the two models.
If you have the memory option in your car you will need to use your C5 memory module as I am not sure the C6 module is compatible.
Unknown issues would be Sport Seat Functions like lumbar support and side bolster support and seat heater implementation if you wanted to use seat heaters.
The first thing to do is pull out the passenger seat in your car and see how it mounts to the track and whether the C6 seat can mount the same way. If not then you will have to use the C6 seat track.
If things get too complicated you can always rebuild your C5 seats with new skins, foam and the aftermarket kit that provides extra support under the foam so it doesn't slowly depress into the seat frame. The kit works on the C6 seats as well. From a lateral support standpoint there is little difference between the C5 and C6 seats they both suck. Rebuilding the seats isn't a big job it just requires strong hands. I used very small wire ties to fasten things together Vs the stock hog rings which are sort of archaic.
Bill
