March 2007

Tips for Restoring 1970-1978 Corvette Seats
by John Gunnell

The seats used on 1970-1978 Corvettes are prone to a variety of soft-trim problems, including: color fading, hardening and cracking of the factory-installed vinyl, tears long the backrest bolsters, tears along seams on both the seat cushion and backrest and tears along the ribs or tufts molded into the vinyl. It is common for the foam rubber used to pad the seats to lose its original shape and to become discolored and torn. Moisture getting into the foam through cracks in the vinyl covering can cause odors and other undesirable conditions. The seat frames themselves are prone to rusting and, in severe situations, the springs can also develop rust. In addition to dropping rust particles all over the interior, rust can make seat adjusting mechanisms function poorly or stop working all together. When 1970-’78 Corvette seats begin to show signs of wear, they’ll start sinking. This indicates that the rear section of the seat frame is collapsing. This can be easily repaired by installing a replacement lower seat-frame repair plate. This heavy-gauge steel plate can be bolted or MIG-welded into place. It will make the broken-down seat bottom new again. The repair plate is pre-cut to the shape of the rear of the seat frame and includes threaded holes for seat cushion bolts. The real key to a great-looking Corvette seat that provides ultimate comfort is the condition of the seat foam under the seat cover. No seat restoration job is complete without revitalizing this “foundation” of the seat to make seat cover installation easier and give new covers that “like-new” look and fit. After you have replaced the lower seat frame, you’ll probably want to replace the foam. Be sure to use high-quality foam with the correct density. This will ensure that the finished seats provide proper comfort and durability. You do not want to do all the work of disassembling a worn-out seat and then fix it using cheap foam that will soon need replacement again. The foam must provide proper support to give your new seat covers the correct appearance and feel. If you’re using new seat foam on a Corvette, you must select seat covers with a four-inch bolster. If you’re re-using your original seat foam, you determine whether the new seat covers should have 2-1/2- or 4-inch bolsters. Locate the end of the horizontal pleats on your seatback’s insert area. Then, find the middle of the double stitching seam. Measure the difference between the two. It will be either 2-1/2 inches or four inches. Order the appropriate seat cover in the color and material you want. Some Corvette seat covers come in leather as well as vinyl. Corvette seatback frames are not as prone to breaking as the seat cushion frames are. In most cases, the old seatback frame will be reused. However, if you encounter parts that are bent or broken, all 1970-1978 seat hardware is readily available from Corvette parts suppliers. This includes screws, bezels, trim pieces, retainers, side rails, bumpers, bolts, washers, bezels, lock straps and hinges. If the original seatback frame has developed surface rust, it’s a good practice to scrape off loose rust with a wire brush (or equally effective tool) and spray-paint the entire frame with a rust encapsulator spray (like Eastwood’s, for example) or brush paint it with POR-15. Both of these products can prevent future rusting. As with the restoration of seat cushions, the use of new, high-quality foam is highly recommended for a seatback restoration. Install the seatback foam over the frame and fasten it, then slide the new seat covers in place. Finally, attach all the hardware, replacing any parts that are worn or deteriorated. The photos accompanying this story show a professional-level Corvette seat install done by the Performance Choice Team at Mid America Motorworks in Effingham, Ill. If you have a customer with a Corvette that’s ready for new seats and your shop is just too full to take on another job, you could job out the work to the Performance Choice team instead of turning the work away. In this case, you would remove the seats and send them to Mid America Motorworks. The Performance Choice Team can do the installation for you. The team can restore all 1970-1978 Corvette seats, except 1978 Pace Car seats, on this basis. The restored seats will be returned to you in approximately two to three weeks. Your customer can pick from a wide variety of leather or vinyl covers (factory, original style or custom) and the repairs will include correct replacement seat foam, as well as all necessary hardware. The restored seats will carry a one-year warranty. The installation cost is $199.99 per pair. The hardware, foam and covers are purchased separately. Article Courtesy: Auto Trim & Restyling News: www.atrn.com  

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