Junkyard Find! These Cheap Seats Are a Great Find for the Abomination Corvette.

The floors in the project Corvette were a rotten mess, so I had to cut them all the way out and fit in new pans. Not easy, because I had never done that before. But it was worth it because these seats I found in a junkyard are a great fit for the tight confines of the Corvette's cabin.
Here's a few links to some of the more helpful tools I used in this project. (Please note that The Horsepower Monster may receive compensation from purchases made through these links. So thanks for your support!)
SEM Panel Bond: bit.ly/3Yumdbk
Dual Cartridge Gun: amzn.to/3RyoUGp
Cleco Fastener Kit: amzn.to/3I0lWal
Seam Sealer: amzn.to/3YoYARe
Weld Through Primer: amzn.to/3XauJuR
Welding Blanket: amzn.to/3DGyxwY

[@l.b.stringfellow2413]

For someone who hasn’t done anything like this my hat is off to you brother!! Love the video. Good luck !

[@corkforbrains]

Partner.. I wish I'd known you needed a Corvette.. I'm in desert country.. To make rust here you need a 55 gallon drum and 5 lbs of salt.. I've got a complete '87 sittin here under a cover that the family of the previous owner placed under a shade tree when the owner passed away. You've got more rust on that car of yours than I've seen my entire time in Nevada.. and I got here in '82.. I'd have been willing to make you a real deal considering what you're up against there. Good luck! Nice work!!

[@turneryates6025]

Nevada FTW

[@franciscojosepellegrino2553]

I'm watching your videos on March '24, I'm a fan of Vettes and Camaros, I'm 77 years old and I live in Brazil it's very expensive here to bring a Vette or Camaro for restoration,especially if you're a retiree. Anyway, your work is very good and I'm loving the videos, I wanted to help you he he he.Congrats on your effort. (I had a '73 Custom Camaro with original 350 with MPFinjection of Corvette '89 and a Fueltech, I restored and assembled the car)

[@davidphillips7412]

Dude, you rock! I have an 81 c3 and your series is like a personal guide to a lot of what I need to do. Luckily my car isn't in as bad of shape but a lot of the same work. THANKS FOR YOUR EFFORTS and I love your style. Best!

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Thanks! And good luck with your build!

[@paulmac9634]

In my experience you should seam seal the underside of the floor pans as well. Great project, looking forward to seeing the progress!!

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

You are right. Plan to get on that later this week. It had been forever since I had gotten a video out and just put that off. Thanks for watching!

[@matthewlydon5772]

​@@TheHorsepowerMonsterI noticed you mentioned something at 21 mins. You said you'll be putting in anti vibration matting and carpet. As a 74 C3 owner, I strongly recommend a layer of thermal insulation - focusing around the transmission. Driving mine, it becomes incredibly hot without it. Alternatively, you could go old school and consider a transmission fluid cooling system. Would handle the con pretty neatly, but I don't know how far you're willing to deviate from original design. Keep in mind though, mines a stock 454 BB so that could be why😂. Great video!

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

@@matthewlydon5772 That's good advice, thanks! And thanks for watching!

[@hailstorm1986]

I like how you took what you learned from working on the passenger side to make it a lot easier to work on the driver side and it definitely shows and both floors look a lot better.

[@jrkrgrsherman]

Blowing on a weld fire while you're welding helmet's down. Been there. 😆💪👍

[@Ash-bx6kq]

Just watched everything from your c3 restoration playlist! I wanna do something similar in a few years when I have the money, and it is great to have a guide to follow! Thanks

[@frfrpr]

I'm trying to compose myself from the laughter. There are other reasons why I watch but originality is one of them.

[@jamestregler1584]

Love the bench racing ; VOMM VOMM 🤣

[@kevinshorter5861]

I love your corvette very beautifully done

[@bobdavis3389]

Nice job on the floor boards and seats .

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Thanks!

[@charlesclemons741]

I thoroughly enjoyed that! Keep it coming!

[@kevinshorter5861]

You do a very great job working on your Corvette too

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Hey thanks! And thanks for watching!

[@funnlivinit]

If you leave an intact airbag I'd recommend twisting the wires together to prevent it from firing. I'd even solder them together so no future tech/owner gets a BIG surprise.

[@tomp538]

Yep! Accurate advice.

[@2rueblue]

I've watched this full series and I like your format there has to be commentary in the shows and some spend too long talking and not enough of the nuts and bolts stuff so I love the way you place the dialogue over the actual work you are doing. Lol sorry, but I am here to watch your work and see if I could glean some tips or learn from your mistakes so I'm also impressed with your honesty when things don't quite go the way you would have wanted. I am referring to the chassis repair. Anyway, I'm now going to go through the rest of your playlists and see some engine work. I'm not working on anything at the moment but a fool passes up a bit of free education, so I will no doubt be leaving a little thank you in the comments on your older shows. All the best from Scotland and am looking forward to seeing this build progress.

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Thanks a lot! And thanks for watching!

[@jamesmiles1456]

I'll like how you were blowing with your welding helmet still on. LOL!

[@manymany4879]

keep up good work!!!

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Hey thanks! And thanks for watching!

[@Kevin_747]

Nice work. 32 minute for hours and hours of work. Get that two post lift, it will change your life. It did mine.

[@bcbloc02]

Looks great to me! Especially for a first timer.

[@kiesha104]

Underwear drawer ..bwahaha Brought my 77 down to small town SC from NY that my uncle gave me after I came back from Iraq. Shockingly, the floors are solid.. Mines become a shelf for other projects.... SOME DAY... some day...

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Definitely understand how that can happen. Good luck!

[@johnsmith-qz4bv]

nice work looking good

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Thanks! And thanks for watching!

[@exploranator]

LOL the unintend pun, buut, this was such a riveting experience I just watched it right through, as interesting little things just kept coming up. Also LOL at "Hazard Fraught."

[@GeekGinger]

I don't think there will be much of an outcry from Corvette purists about building up and customizing a roached out later C3, but it's still a good name.

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Glad somebody like it. Thanks!

[@kiiiisu]

great vid!

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Thanks for watching!

[@mikepierce4739]

I'm in the beginning stages of my 1994 c4. I use 2×10 boards screwed together to lift my car high enough to work on the bottom side of the car. Low tech and low budget. And highly effective.

[@johnw3996]

KEEP GOING , I LOVE IT ,😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Much thanks!

[@rickybobbyinc293]

The money it takes to bring that back plus the original price of the car. I’d have to work for 200 years to make that.

[@jeffallen3382]

A squirt bottle with water works wonders when welding and cutting.

[@Marc_Wolfe]

Imagine finally getting a 70s Corvette, then finding out, not only is it not all fiberglass, but it's also rusted out.

[@robertbass974]

On my 74 convertable(no steel floors) I managed to get C6 grand sport seats to fit my 6' 2" frame bit I had to modify the rails and get rid of the motors. Quite a job but it works great. Love your vids!

[@reubenmosman9466]

And the seats have the Rotary engine design in them . . . so that's pretty cool.

[@Ecosse57]

man that's a huge improvement! i'd spray some rust converter in every place you can. eastwood has some good stuff.

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Good idea. My plan right now is to POR-15 everything, but I may look into that too.

[@girthquake1413]

I've heard RX8 seats are some of the best buckets one could use.

[@ericdanielson1138]

You did a great job (except the fire) for a first timer.

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Thanks! And really, the only injury was my wife's old towels, so I call that a win! Thanks for watching

[@maya00795]

Love this project 🤘🤘🤠🤠🇺🇸🇺🇸 greetings from India 🙏🙏🤠

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Thanks for watching!

[@maya00795]

@@TheHorsepowerMonster I'm excited to see what's in the next video 🤘

[@StreetersGarage]

Great video on the floorboard replacement. This is giving me the confidence to replace in my 76 at some point. Mine aren’t that bad. Went through a similar seat process, replacing with a set from a Feiro and new leather covers. Great channel. I’m learning a lot. Keep up the great work.

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Thanks! And thanks for watching!

[@ppernett1]

I still think you should do a low deck 598, instead of that fancy small block. It should fit where a 454 would go as the external dimensions aren’t that much more, and well it’s a big block! But it’s your car. I just think it needs a big block.

[@sootmann]

You should always *pre-treat* your old towels with Cheerwine to prevent fires. Though I guess the fiberglass blanket will also work. I love the tip of drawing around a socket to get a good radius. I'll definitely try to remember that one. 29:58 This is a great series. I just discovered it. Any progress? Looks like this is the last video in the series (aside from the "C3 history" video.)

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Thanks! I've been distracted but back on the Corvette the last week. Hopefully soon!

[@redhathacker]

Cheerwine?!?!

[@mrm4155]

this build is coming along great. Whens the next video update coming out?

[@kz6fittycent]

Cheerwine is awesome!🤣

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Spoken like a true Southerner

[@Mattvardaman]

Just wet the towel next time, lol. The welding blanket will work too though.

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Ha! That little bit of common sense logic would have been very helpful at the time! Thanks for watching

[@fryreartechnology7611]

26:28 using CAD and CAM for making them seat plates is awesome. Cardboard Aided Design and Cardboard Aided Machining😂 fun to see RX-8 parts on a vet. You going to do a 13b swap in to a C6 like old Rob Dahm? 1000hp 13b?😅

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

That would be fun!

[@xozindustries7451]

I’m sure those seats are a lot lighter than the corvette seats too

[@brucemartin8519]

I would have used a rust converter before the weld through primer.

[@kiesha104]

I went with the C6 seats for the 77. Bought some aftermarket low sliders. Bolted them up slapped em in. I'm 6'. I hope you tried the seats with the T-tops on...Not only was height a issue so was my legs clearing the steering wheel... looks like hard mounting is in my future...

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Good point. I did try it with the T-top roof on, but not with a steering wheel. You probably noticed my dash is ripped all the way out right now. Thanks for watching!

[@AnnatarTheMaia]

The mazda RX-8 is an automotive icon; you should have taken the entire car with you and rebuilt her Wankel engine.

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

You mean one of those black magic engines that somehow manages to operate with no pistons? That's voodoo or something!

[@AnnatarTheMaia]

@Jack Russelle Lewis I know that! They can be rebuilt by specialists to be more reliable nowadays, you know.

[@AnnatarTheMaia]

@@TheHorsepowerMonster yessiree Bob! That very one! They even have videos by Wankel specialists for that on some invention called "KZbin".

[@CrankAddict]

Its too bad you couldn't find any clamshell seats for your Vette. I've always liked those seats. Good lumbar support, too. And you can get replacement leather covers all day long, or customize them. I've seen some cool designs on these seats.

[@SuperDave21]

I'm really enjoying your channel.... can't wait to see you finish that Camaro with the built Dart SHP small block 427......Wow! What happened to it by the way? Thanks for the awesome footage!

[@thatguy83ful]

Looked like the top of an old air filter. Some one placed over that hole..

[@nonsequitur807]

A spray bottle filled with water works well wo the mess

[@flinch622]

Even with new metal, those seat belt anchors seem sketchy - I'd be looking for a beefier alternative.

[@rickybobbyinc293]

The ONLY problem I have with those Mazda seats going in a Corvette…. The stupid taco they put as a hole in the head area of the seat! This is an American V8 car. Not some rotory taco 1,000,000 rpm, only last 6 months engine rice burner.

[@rickybobbyinc293]

I must say though, for the money, can’t beat this it! Junkyards are my fav places

[@reubenmosman9466]

Sorry the Rotary compressor or what ever it's called, I'm not sure.

[@bobdavis3389]

How did you keep the body from flexing ? I don't see any cross bracing , but maybe it doesn't flex .

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

There is a little flex. The doors still open and close, but not as easily as they did when the body was still bolted to the frame. I thought about trying to do some cross bracing, but everything is fiberglass and I couldn't find good bolting points. Obviously, I cannot weld bars in. There are two long metal pieces that run the length of the cabin that function as "sort of" frame rails. I think they are there so that the body can be lifted and set on the frame from the factory plus limit flex. I'm depending on those to keep it straight. Thanks for watching!

[@timewarpvideo6244]

pretty funny

[@vonmarko1363]

Man, that’s one crusty Vette. What condition is the birdcage in?

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

It seems OK. Hopefully, I'm right!

[@dadfood3504]

That rust looks pretty awful!

[@cerqua718]

You need welding gloves

[@mikew6135]

Too new of a Corvette to invest all that time. Junk it and get a better donor

[@madrabbit9007]

Oh no! Like 666!

[@silvernblackattach]

Did you stop working on this project?

[@TheHorsepowerMonster]

Nope. Just got delayed. Slamming on it the last few weeks and hope to have a fresh video up next week. Fingers crossed! And thanks for watching.