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Topic: Seat rebuild 72' / Seatbelts

in Forum: C3 Interior


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Seat rebuild 72' / Seatbelts (1/3)
 1/31/23 12:53pm
blu72
Standard Member
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Pasadena, MD - USA

Vette(s):
72 Coupe L48 4 sp Air Tilt Leather


Joined: 6/16/2004
Posts: 287

OK so now thinking about refurbishing the seats. Looking pretty sad these original ones. 

Appears to have many ways to go fixin' up the black leather Deluxe interior. 

As I've said before - just getting back into this so lots of questions coming.

No problem taking them out and working on them but maybe better results just biting the bullet and letting someone do the whole deal. Plenty expensive I'm sure but it will be worth it. Frames -cushions - springs etc probably shot to hell

While I'm in there fix the seatbelts too. Not a single retractor of the 4 work so not using them. 

I took the Grandson for a ride awhile back and he said Mom won't let him without the seatbelt on...... (don't say anything Haha)

Suggestions?



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Bruce
72 Coupe L48 4sp
Custom Blue/Silver/Pearl

(Click for a larger pic)

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Re: Seat rebuild 72' / Seatbelts (2/3)
 1/31/23 10:14pm
sdinino
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Rock Hill, SC - USA

Vette(s):
1977 White/Red


Joined: 8/2/2017
Posts: 59

What's your budget? I think that will determine what way you go.

I did a trade-in of my original 77 seats for a pair of refurbished 77 seats. In hindsight, I wish I had spent the money on later model seats (like the clamshell seats in the 81's for example). I've also read about guys installing C4 and C5 seats with good results. I think the later model you go, the better support you get. The early to mid 70s seats are pretty sad in that regard when compared to modern seats. But - replacing the whole seat can get pricey, not to mention needing to fabricate mounts for them.

If you're looking for originality, I've seen most of the big vendors have replacement foam and covers. Get a set of hog ring pliers and go for it. Replacing the foam and covers isn't that hard, just tedious. I used to have to do warranty upholstery replacement when I worked at a car dealer as a kid back in the 80s. If they let me do it as a 20 year old, you know it wasn't brain surgery lol.

As far as the seat belts go, I also had 0 functioning seat belts. I ditched the 4 retractor setup and replaced mine with retractors from a mid 90s Camaro/Firebird rear seat. Turns out those retractors sit on the rear wheel hump, just like our Corvettes. Geometry works fine, and the plastic covers fit too. Anchor the other end, and you have a decent functioning seat belt.



|UPDATED|1/31/2023 7:14:57 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: Seat rebuild 72' / Seatbelts (3/3)
 2/1/23 12:26am
73shark
Limited Member
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

I agree with sdinino. I've done a '66 and my own '73 seats. I'd rate the difficulty as a medium DIY. All you need is the aforementioned hog ring pliers and of course some hog rings to do the job.



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1973 L-82 4 spd

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