Power seat question

I just bought a 95 TransAm. Pretty much the only gripe I have is the lack of power driver's seat.

If I have understood it correctly, if you had leather seats in LT1's, it was not possible to get the electric adjustments, just the bolster/lumbar adjustments? At least I don't think I have seen them...

Is it possible to add power adjustment for such a seat? Sure, many things are possible if you have enough money/time/skills etc., but could that be achieved with reasonable amount of the aforementioned things?

Better yet, has anybody done this? Any experiences?

TS

I guess nobody has done this, eh...? :confused:

I guess you could get the power base off another seat and attach it to the bottom of yours. That would take care of the seat.

As far as power to the seats, I'm not sure if there is already a harness under your seat for it. see if you can take the seat out (4 easy bolts) and check for the slit in the carpet. If there is a wiring harness under there somewhere it would be pretty easy.

If there isn't, then you'd have to talk to someone else about where to wire it to. All you probably need is a good source and a good connection, I'm sure someone who is more knowledgeable in the area can help you out here.

The power seat tracks will bolt in without any problems. The electrical connector should be under the carpet ready to go.

The power seat tracks will bolt in without any problems. The electrical connector should be under the carpet ready to go.

Hmmm... I just wonder if it would really be that easy...? :think:

Bolting on the tracks is definetely the least worrysome issue here, hooking up the elctrical stuff is... :( Unless there really is a harness already down there.

I guess I'll have to do some digging under the seat this weekend to see what I can find.

In the meanwhile, though, keep any and all suggestions/experiences regarding this issue coming. :)

The best plan for you would be to sell your seats on eBay or whatever, and buy a set of Trans Am seats with the AQ9 option, from a '98-'02 car.

I bought a set of '95 Trans Am seats (leather, power lumbar, manual adjustments) from a wrecker, and installed them in my old '87 IROC. Great seats.

Compared to the seats in my present car (1999 TA Firehawk), I prefer the 1995 versions of the same seats. Here's why:

-the 1995 seats allow you to adjust the bolster under your legs. On the 1999 seats, this panel is fixed in place, and does not move at all.

-the 1999 drivers seat (this is the only one fully powered, remember) is taller than the 1995 version, as it has to make room for the mechanism underneath it. As a result, you will have less headroom. A small consequence for many, perhaps, but I noticed it, being 6' 2".

My 2 cents: you dont need all the power adjustability on the drivers seat. Its more weight, cuts down on headroom, and in the end, IMO, the 1999 seat is less comfortable than the 1995 version, for that reason.

you dont need all the power adjustability on the drivers seat.

True, I really don't need them, but my wife does. The rear of the seat is way too low for her to see properly over the dash. :( Or at least the way she wants... :rolleyes:

These cars weren't designed for short people, I hate to say it. My ex was 5'3, even with the power seat all the way up and as high as it goes she could still barely see over the dash. I had to drive everywhere... Depending on how short she is, power seats might not even help.

She's been okay with the power controls on my previous Z28's, so I'd think TA power controls would be enough, too.

Just need to figure a way to do it... :blah:

Good point guys, I've never considered what it would be like to drive our cars if you were short! I've always wanted more headroom, and more legroom too! For your wife's sake, then, I would swap out the manual seats for the fully powered '99-/02 model of the AQ9 seat. Your best bet is to sell your seats, and pick up a set of the ones you want from an auto wrecker (like I did, got the pair for $500) or off eBay. Good luck.

i have a complete drivers side power assembly for sale if you want it.

I'm pretty sure you will have to go with the LS1 style seats if you want power seat tracks and the air pump setup. If you try to add the power seat tracks off an early Camaro you would gain the power seat tracks but you'd lose your air pump/bolster setup.

I'm pretty sure you will have to go with the LS1 style seats if you want power seat tracks and the air pump setup. If you try to add the power seat tracks off an early Camaro you would gain the power seat tracks but you'd lose your air pump/bolster setup.

He does not need to replace the entire seat. Just the track will bolt in.

OneSlowZ28's offer is perfect. Jump on it.

OneSlowZ28: PM sent.

I really don't care about the bolster and lumbar adjustments, so if I have to lose them, it doesn't matter much.

Tried looking under the seat yesterday,but couldn't find any extra connectors anywhere, so hooking the controls up might be a hassle... :( :blah:

My wife's 95 Z28 has a power seat for the driver and she has never complained to me about any problems. She is 4' 11".
She does have an asernal of shoes though, perhaps there is some purpose to her army of shoes.

He does not need to replace the entire seat. Just the track will bolt in.

OneSlowZ28's offer is perfect. Jump on it.

Well you at least need controls and wiring off a newer one that would allow you to have the air bag setup and the power seat controls. If not you'll probably have to butcher some wiring.

Well you at least need controls and wiring off a newer one that would allow you to have the air bag setup and the power seat controls. If not you'll probably have to butcher some wiring.

The power tracks should include the wiring and controls along with the plastic trim piece that houses the controls. I've had my power drivers seat track out and that was all I saw that was different from the non-power passenger seat. Make sure the guy selling you the track includes all necessary parts for a complete installation.

When you looked under your seat for the wires did you look under that slit in the carpet? They should be under there, and you might have to remove the door sill plate to lift up the carpet and get a good look.

The power tracks should include the wiring and controls along with the plastic trim piece that houses the controls. I've had my power drivers seat track out and that was all I saw that was different from the non-power passenger seat. Make sure the guy selling you the track includes all necessary parts for a complete installation.

I know but if he gets a set of tracks, wiring, and trim out of a Camaro or something its not gonna have the places to control the air bags as well.

I know but if he gets a set of tracks, wiring, and trim out of a Camaro or something its not gonna have the places to control the air bags as well.

AAHH! Good point, I see what you are saying now. Did GM ever sell his seats with the power lumbar stuff and a power track? If they did, he could possibly find a power track with controls and trim from a similar wreck that would perfectly incorporate into his current setup? Maybe he could get just the trim piece from a dealer and make all the switches/controls fit properly?

Any f-body power seat track will bolt up, we are now just looking at the way it will need to be trimmed to look finished and contain all the electronic controls properly. You dont want it to look hacked on. You need the proper trim items.

AAHH! Good point, I see what you are saying now. Did GM ever sell his seats with the power lumbar stuff and a power track? If they did, he could possibly find a power track with controls and trim from a similar wreck that would perfectly incorporate into his current setup? Maybe he could get just the trim piece from a dealer and make all the switches/controls fit properly?

Any f-body power seat track will bolt up, we are now just looking at the way it will need to be trimmed to look finished and contain all the electronic controls properly. You dont want it to look hacked on. You need the proper trim items.

Also its been a long time since i've had my TA seats out but i'd assume there isn't a place to mount the TA Air pump set up on the Camaro tracks either, i'm sure a mount could be made it just maybe more trouble than its worth. I'm a big big fan of having my stuff look and work factory, except for the drive train. ;) So i believe it you get the LS1 TA tracks and setup you will have what you need because i believe they were like 10 way power seats and i think thats because they had power tracks and the air bag setup, but i could be wrong.

Like I mentioned earlier, having the air pump stuff is not a high priority for me, but if there is a way for me to keep them, I'm all for it.

I guess I should be on the lookout for power seat tracks/panel/switches from an LS1, then? :think:

I'm just jumping in at the end here....but in my '95 Z the driver seat has a total of one 2-wire plug to operate the power driver seat. This plug has +12v, and ground. There is no provision to tie into the air bag or computer. I have an entire seat available (the seat back was broken in the accident) and I am sure we could get this to work for you. Let me know if I can help!
-Michael

I'm just jumping in at the end here....but in my '95 Z the driver seat has a total of one 2-wire plug to operate the power driver seat. This plug has +12v, and ground. There is no provision to tie into the air bag or computer. I have an entire seat available (the seat back was broken in the accident) and I am sure we could get this to work for you. Let me know if I can help!
-Michael

We know it is a 2 pin connector, the airbag we are talking about is the one in the seat for lumbar support, not the SIR system.

When you looked under your seat for the wires did you look under that slit in the carpet? They should be under there, and you might have to remove the door sill plate to lift up the carpet and get a good look.


Yup. I tried feeling through the carpet first and then poked my finger through the slit, but it is such a small slit, that you can't really get too far. At least so far I did not find any extra connectors.

I'm just jumping in at the end here....but in my '95 Z the driver seat has a total of one 2-wire plug to operate the power driver seat. This plug has +12v, and ground. There is no provision to tie into the air bag or computer. I have an entire seat available (the seat back was broken in the accident) and I am sure we could get this to work for you. Let me know if I can help!
-Michael

Thanks for the offer, but based on the info in this thread, I think I'm trying to find the power tracks from a 98+ car since they have the lumbar/bolster adjustments already.

If I can't find any, then I'll have to consider the other options since the lumbar/bolster adjustments are not too important to me.

Kinda bringing this back from the dead, but any luck with this? I just purchased some T/A seats off ebay, but have yet to see them in person and am unsure of what year they came off of. Im pretty sure they are from an LT1 and are leather, so going by the info in this thread, that means that they dont have power seat controls. My seats in my Camaro now are power, and I enjoy having the ability to raise them up slightly. Not a huge deal, but i like the front a lil higher than the rear. Anyways, any new info on this?

Kinda bringing this back from the dead, but any luck with this? I just purchased some T/A seats off ebay, but have yet to see them in person and am unsure of what year they came off of. Im pretty sure they are from an LT1 and are leather, so going by the info in this thread, that means that they dont have power seat controls. My seats in my Camaro now are power, and I enjoy having the ability to raise them up slightly. Not a huge deal, but i like the front a lil higher than the rear. Anyways, any new info on this?

The manual seats will raise up in the front if you want them to. Are they the big headrest or the little head rest design?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=8042460877&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT

Thats the passenger seat, drivers is the same.

I think thats the little head rest design, I guess I can just wait till I actually get the seats and see whats going on...:shrug:

Those are what i refer to as the little headrest design, but i believe those are from an LT1 car. Because the early LT1 TA cars had the optional leg support and those seats have them. I've never seen a later model 4th gen with those. My TA seats are out of a 93 and they are big headrest so who knows what the deal is.:confused:

Hmmm...so youre saying that LT1 seats typically have the large headrest while LS1 seats typically would have the small headrest? Oh well, few more days till i get to sort all this out in person.

There are a couple of important differences between the LT1-era TA seats, and the LS1-era TA seats. (these are the AQ9 seats)

LT1 seats

-power lumbar only
-manual adjust for front/back, under thigh bolster, rake
-no up/down adustablity
-sit lower in the car, as there is no bulky motor underneath
-large headrest, that often will not stay in place, due to broken part inside
-available in beige or medium grey (graphite) leather, or cloth

LS1 seats

-power lumbar
-power adjust for front/back, up/down, rake
-no under thigh adjustability (panel is fixed in place, does not move)
-sit higher in the car, due to motor underneath
-small headrest, moves up and down only, not forward and backward
-available in beige, taupe, medium grey (graphite) or dark grey (ebony) or cloth

Ive had both seats, and actually prefer the LT1 era seats for the following reasons:

-under thigh bolster is moveable
-seats sit lower in the car, giving you more headroom
-large headrests (if they aren't broken) move forward and back, plus up/down

-----------------------------
1999 TA Firehawk #C08, M6 blk coupe
All GM options, all SLP options, lots of aftermarket stuff
Newest addition: fresh paint, new decals

There are a couple of important differences between the LT1-era TA seats, and the LS1-era TA seats. (these are the AQ9 seats)

LT1 seats

-power lumbar only
-manual adjust for front/back, under thigh bolster, rake
-no up/down adustablity
-sit lower in the car, as there is no bulky motor underneath
-large headrest, that often will not stay in place, due to broken part inside
-available in beige or medium grey (graphite) leather, or cloth

LS1 seats

-power lumbar
-power adjust for front/back, up/down, rake
-no under thigh adjustability (panel is fixed in place, does not move)
-sit higher in the car, due to motor underneath
-small headrest, moves up and down only, not forward and backward
-available in beige, taupe, medium grey (graphite) or dark grey (ebony) or cloth

Ive had both seats, and actually prefer the LT1 era seats for the following reasons:

-under thigh bolster is moveable
-seats sit lower in the car, giving you more headroom
-large headrests (if they aren't broken) move forward and back, plus up/down

-----------------------------
1999 TA Firehawk #C08, M6 blk coupe
All GM options, all SLP options, lots of aftermarket stuff
Newest addition: fresh paint, new decals

Man i wish i knew what it took to fix the head rests. My big headrests have always been floppy.