C7 seats installed {Tips, Pics}
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 245
Likes: 11
From: Kalamazoo Michigan
Any updates on getting the heated/cooled functions going? I had been looking for a manual transmission C7 with Kalahari interior for awhile and could never find anything good, but a 3LT Z51 with black interior popped up that checked most of the boxes. So I jumped on that and figured I'd convert the interior to Kalahari myself. Found a great set of low mileage seats pretty local, so instead of selling my black ones I'm toying with the idea of swapping them in my C5. I swapped over to factory Dodge Viper seats and added heat to those and drove for a year or so on that, but those seats almost had too much bolstering on the lower part and was uncomfortable in the leg area. So I just recovered the C5 seats years ago in black leather with red stitching and added heat; they look just fine, but after driving both cars one after the other, the C7 seats are sooo much better. A happy medium between the C5 and the Viper seats, I just don't want to lose the heated seat function...and the vented option would be cool too!
I'd have the first C5 corvette with a C6 steering wheel and C7 seats, just to make all the purists mad!
I'll probably start messing with it once it's a bit nicer out, but curious if anyone else has had any breakthroughs getting the seat options to work.
I'd have the first C5 corvette with a C6 steering wheel and C7 seats, just to make all the purists mad!
I'll probably start messing with it once it's a bit nicer out, but curious if anyone else has had any breakthroughs getting the seat options to work.
Last edited by matthewlfd; Apr 4, 2026 at 02:35 PM.
Running Guns & Moonshine
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 12,762
Likes: 7,350
From: CT
Yes they work. I tested mine over the winter in the basement with a 12v source and some wires jumped into the seat plug. I forget which ports are which, but the info IS available on one of the several posts on here about the seat conversion.
I can't say I tested the heat as I did not have the amps I believe that would need, but the cooling fans popped on as soon as power was applied.
I can't say I tested the heat as I did not have the amps I believe that would need, but the cooling fans popped on as soon as power was applied.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 1,219
Pair of red C7 seats in Dallas, not cheap, but not the most expensive for a nice pair of seats.
I have no first hand knowledge on them, just a listing on facebook, don't even know if they are still available, but the listing is still up.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...58522214860080
I have no first hand knowledge on them, just a listing on facebook, don't even know if they are still available, but the listing is still up.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...58522214860080
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,175
Likes: 125
From: Dunstable MA
St. Jude Donor '05
Matthewlfd,
You want heat?
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...m_content=post
See my post #44 for diagrams
You want heat?
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...m_content=post
See my post #44 for diagrams
Last edited by Rich Silvestris; Apr 4, 2026 at 09:22 PM.
Running Guns & Moonshine
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 12,762
Likes: 7,350
From: CT
I finally had a schmart idea which panned out. I've looked now and gain for the Kalahari skins in all leather for my seats and it has been a bear to get the right part number. I just went to Autotrader and searched C7s with tan interiors and clear pictures until I found one with the right seats and ran the VIN. Now I know the right part numbers.
So here is a cheap swamp yankee question. If the covers only differ by having the seatbelt guide cutout.... and the passenger seat is just 175 vs the driver at 280... why not just get two passenger seat covers and add an extra $5.71 belt guide attachment to the inside shoulder on the driver seat?
The seat base skin part numbers have always been known and are not as cheap. I note this because I've seen some seatback covers in the 460 range. In fact, for this same driver seat cover allegedly.
So here is a cheap swamp yankee question. If the covers only differ by having the seatbelt guide cutout.... and the passenger seat is just 175 vs the driver at 280... why not just get two passenger seat covers and add an extra $5.71 belt guide attachment to the inside shoulder on the driver seat?
The seat base skin part numbers have always been known and are not as cheap. I note this because I've seen some seatback covers in the 460 range. In fact, for this same driver seat cover allegedly.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 1,219
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