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How to add heated seats.

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Old Mar 3, 2017 | 06:09 PM
  #1  
robguitargod1's Avatar
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Car: '91 LS6/T56/9"
Engine: LS6
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Currie 9"/4.11, detroit truetrac
How to add heated seats.

Here's the kit I purchased:

Amazon Amazon





You'll need a large TORX bit to get the seat back separated from the bottom. The only other tools you'll need are 3/8" hog rings and hog ring pliers:

Amazon Amazon



Amazon Amazon



I started by bringing the seats inside for a few days so the covers would warm up, making them easier to work with. They were dirty:



So I cleaned them up first:

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Now start taking off the plastic backs:

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Underneath the plastics back are hog rings. Cut them off:

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Remove the headrests by removing these clips:
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Now pull the air hoses through the seat bottom and remove the seat back from the bottom (3 bolts)

Now cut all of the hog rings that hold the cover on:

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Last edited by robguitargod1; Mar 3, 2017 at 06:15 PM.
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Old Mar 3, 2017 | 06:11 PM
  #2  
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From: Niles, IL
Car: '91 LS6/T56/9"
Engine: LS6
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Currie 9"/4.11, detroit truetrac
Re: How to add heated seats.

And carefully remove the seat cover

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There are the old hog rings

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Now remove the controls on the seats side (that control the seats position and lumbar support). Be careful not to break the plastic piece that hooks around part of the seats frame. It's hard to see but you have to remove the screws then pull up and back. Force is not necessary.

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Then remove the seats tracks
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Leaving only the seat bottom
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Now detach the plastic hooks that hold the cover to the frame. They can be tricky because the frame has metal barbs that prevent the hooks from pulling away.
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Old Mar 3, 2017 | 06:12 PM
  #3  
robguitargod1's Avatar
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From: Niles, IL
Car: '91 LS6/T56/9"
Engine: LS6
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Currie 9"/4.11, detroit truetrac
Re: How to add heated seats.

The seat bottom uses velcro not hog rings.

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Now cut and position the seat warmers:

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Now reassemble the 2 halves of the seats in the reverse order.

Use the hog rings and pliers to re-attach the seat back's cover to the seat back. this is the hardest part of the process. Just be patient and you'll get it.
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Old vs new hog rings

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Bottom should look something like this before you zip tie everything

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Finished

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Of course you then have to run switched power and the temp switch (hi/low/off) to the center console which I haven't done yet.
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Old Mar 5, 2017 | 11:52 AM
  #4  
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From: Desert
Car: 1991 Z28 Vert
Engine: 383 single plane efi
Transmission: T-56
Axle/Gears: 8.8 with 3.73s
Re: How to add heated seats.

This is great, helpful info Rob. Thanks for making it. I'll be doing my seats too before the end of '17.
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Old Mar 5, 2017 | 01:29 PM
  #5  
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From: ARIZONA
Car: 92 Trans Am Conv
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.08
Re: How to add heated seats.

Very cool. Also helps show people how to recover.
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Old Mar 6, 2017 | 11:25 AM
  #6  
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From: North Eastern Indiana
Car: 89 IROC-Z
Engine: 350
Re: How to add heated seats.

where are you adding the buttons?
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Old Mar 6, 2017 | 12:24 PM
  #7  
robguitargod1's Avatar
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From: Niles, IL
Car: '91 LS6/T56/9"
Engine: LS6
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Currie 9"/4.11, detroit truetrac
Re: How to add heated seats.

Originally Posted by DylanMiner
where are you adding the buttons?
I was going to mount them on the center console, but I think here is better:

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Old Mar 18, 2017 | 08:09 AM
  #8  
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Re: How to add heated seats.

Three questions, I had seats reupholstered with heated seat option added,
I am thinking they may be a heavy draw on my alternator, what is your thoughts? How did you wire them up? Direct to the battery or through
the fusebox, or splice them into maybe the cigarette lighter circuit?
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Old Mar 18, 2017 | 01:23 PM
  #9  
robguitargod1's Avatar
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From: Niles, IL
Car: '91 LS6/T56/9"
Engine: LS6
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Currie 9"/4.11, detroit truetrac
Re: How to add heated seats.

They don't draw much at all, so don't worry about it. Each seat came with a series 10A fuse per seat. Each seat draws less than 4A and that's a MAX possible situation.

I ran a dedicated fuse feed from my fuse panel to power them as well as my power seat motors.

Make sure they're switched power so that you don't drain your battery in-case you leave them on.
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Old Mar 18, 2017 | 06:37 PM
  #10  
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From: N.C.
Car: 86IROC,85Z28,70 Chevelle,92 Mustang
Engine: 305,305,350,5.0
Transmission: 700 R, 350,5-Speed
Re: How to add heated seats.

I put my buttons in the overhead console for front seats. I put the buttons for the rear seats in the ashtray for rear seats. I had a extra set of elements so I stuck them in rear seats.
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Old Mar 18, 2017 | 07:56 PM
  #11  
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Re: How to add heated seats.

Thanks for the information! I was thinking at least a 20 AMP circuit so I can
get past that. The seat pack I got didn't include much information. Going
to hopefully, put them in the kick panels if I can get enough clearance. Will
be working on it tomorrow. I also never heard of "fuse taps" till surfing
today. Okay, so I am not the brightest bulb but I am working at it! Thanks
again for your help!
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Old Mar 23, 2017 | 11:38 PM
  #12  
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From: Hacienda Heights, CA
Car: 90 RS 'Vert, 88 IROC-Z, 88 Firebird
Engine: 305 ci tbi, 305 ci tpi, 350 ci tpi
Transmission: WC-T5, WC-T5, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.45, 3.27, 3.27
Re: How to add heated seats.

Curious if they have a timer in the circuit? Stock heated seats usually do.

Lon
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