Passenger seat modification ?

[Toasty]

I'm sure someone would have picked up on it already, but did anyone double check VIN 0002 at C5 Fest and see if any change was here for 2011?

[jlopez]

Ok, to raise the passenger seat, this is what I did. I took the seat all the way out. There is one electric connector to undo, this is kind of tricky, but there is a Plastic part that slides towards the door opening to unlock the connector, you slide this back in to re-lock the connector. The seat is held on to the seat rails by six torx bolts and nuts, I took these off, replaced them with six 50mm long bolts (8mm diameter) and reused the original nuts. For spacers I used six 3/8”-16x1-1/8 rod coupling nuts, the 8mm bolt fits right through these perfectly. This raised the entire seat by 11/8 inch. My wife is 5 feet 2 inches tall, she said this makes a big difference, and she is happy now !!!

[LazyYoYo]

Guess I should thank my 5ft 1in wife for not complaining about not being able to see. I personally wouldn't raise the seat due to safety, but to each their own.

[Toasty]

Originally Posted by jlopez

Ok, to raise the passenger seat, this is what I did. I took the seat all the way out. There is one electric connector to undo, this is kind of tricky, but there is a Plastic part that slides towards the door opening to unlock the connector, you slide this back in to re-lock the connector. The seat is held on to the seat rails by six torx bolts and nuts, I took these off, replaced them with six 50mm long bolts (8mm diameter) and reused the original nuts. For spacers I used six 3/8”-16x1-1/8 rod coupling nuts, the 8mm bolt fits right through these perfectly. This raised the entire seat by 11/8 inch. My wife is 5 feet 2 inches tall, she said this makes a big difference, and she is happy now !!!

... that is an awesome idea, thanks for the info and pics.... HOWEVER I am afraid for your wife riding in a seat modified like that. The torsionial forces on those 6 bolts is going to be EXTREME in the case of an accident. I know it would be a bit more work, but you will be safer in the long run if you can get two pieces of solid square stock (aluminum or iron) and drill the holes for the bolts through that (one piece per rail), which will tie the sides together better. Still may not be quite as strong as stock, but moreso than how you have it now. I will look to do something similar, I think, but with a slight taper, raising the front edge of the seat more than the rear, which should help with leg support.

[jlopez]

Originally Posted by Toasty

... that is an awesome idea, thanks for the info and pics.... HOWEVER I am afraid for your wife riding in a seat modified like that. The torsionial forces on those 6 bolts is going to be EXTREME in the case of an accident. I know it would be a bit more work, but you will be safer in the long run if you can get two pieces of solid square stock (aluminum or iron) and drill the holes for the bolts through that (one piece per rail), which will tie the sides together better. Still may not be quite as strong as stock, but moreso than how you have it now. I will look to do something similar, I think, but with a slight taper, raising the front edge of the seat more than the rear, which should help with leg support.

Toasty
This is a very good idea, I think that I will do this and also try to use bigger bolts.
Just a side note, With the seat being higher, the seatbelt is positioned on my wife better, and she looks better positioned for the airbag.

[Toasty]

Originally Posted by jlopez

Toasty
This is a very good idea, I think that I will do this and also try to use bigger bolts.
Just a side note, With the seat being higher, the seatbelt is positioned on my wife better, and she looks better positioned for the airbag.

if you can find/use Grade 8 bolts and nuts that would be best

[TooCool5]

Originally Posted by Toasty

... that is an awesome idea, thanks for the info and pics.... HOWEVER I am afraid for your wife riding in a seat modified like that. The torsionial forces on those 6 bolts is going to be EXTREME in the case of an accident. I know it would be a bit more work, but you will be safer in the long run if you can get two pieces of solid square stock (aluminum or iron) and drill the holes for the bolts through that (one piece per rail), which will tie the sides together better. Still may not be quite as strong as stock, but moreso than how you have it now. I will look to do something similar, I think, but with a slight taper, raising the front edge of the seat more than the rear, which should help with leg support.

I agree, these hex rod coupling nuts are compromising the integrity of the seat. Like being on stilts.

[Wingsfan]

We did a test drive and my wife could hardly see over the dash but we still ordered, she said she could deal with the passenger seat. But when we got the camaro on Friday she said the seat seemed to be higher than the other. I dont know if they changed something with all the complaints or what.

[Toasty]

Originally Posted by Wingsfan

We did a test drive and my wife could hardly see over the dash but we still ordered, she said she could deal with the passenger seat. But when we got the camaro on Friday she said the seat seemed to be higher than the other. I dont know if they changed something with all the complaints or what.

nah, nothing has been changed... that we're aware of.. could just be she was slouching before...

[jlopez]

Originally Posted by Toasty

if you can find/use Grade 8 bolts and nuts that would be best

Passenger seat modification version 2
So I took the advice of Toasty (thank you) and installed 1inch, .090 thick square metal tubing, using grade 8 bolts and nuts. I tried to use size 10mm bolts, but they would not fit in the grove of the seat railings, so I stayed with the 8mm bolts. The only thing is you can’t use one long piece of square tubing because the seat forward and aft adjustment gets in the way, so you have to use two pieces per side. The forward part of the seat rail is held together by 1 bolt and nut, so I decided to drill another hole through the seat frame and using an existing hole that was in the rail. Looks and feels very solid.

[Toasty]

looks better, but i think SOLID stock would be better (not tubing)

[rawj7]

I'm 5'7 and I have road in her a few times and the seat really is way to low, My Wife is 5'1 and she complains also. I really hope they make a fix for this. It WOULD be the first Mod I would do. I just hope it comes soon and with GM's Blessing.

[jlopez]

Originally Posted by Toasty

looks better, but i think SOLID stock would be better (not tubing)

Yea, the guy at Patton's metal supply place where I bought the metal said that using this grade of tubing is the equivalent of using solid aluminum.

[rayhawk]

Originally Posted by Toasty

looks better, but i think SOLID stock would be better (not tubing)

If you designed this car it would weigh 12,000 lbs at that rate!

Sorry, just giving you a hard time.