DIY - Caravaggio Race Seat Install
 

This is a fairly easy, though time-consuming do-it-yourself project... it'll take ~4 hours working slowly. This procedure is for the driver’s seat only. I also installed a Vetteworks-Hardbar lap belt bar and a Six-point harness, those steps are included below.

*** Standard disclaimers apply. I assume no responsibility for any damage. Please be careful - the consequences of a mistake or improper install could be disastrous ***

Pics below are from a 2007 Z06 and a 2007 Service Manual was used.


Tools
* 13mm and 15mm sockets
* Blunt tool ~1/8" in diameter - I used the back of a drill bit
* Tin Snips
* Wire strippers/cutters
* Tools to join wires: solder gun / butt connectors / heat shrink tubing / electrical tape / etc.
* Blue Loctite (#242)
* Suitable wrenches and screwdrivers


Step 1) Unbolt stock seat
Remove pushpins from plastic covers on front bolts; slide cover forward to remove.
http://i42.tinypic.com/vii71j.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/34ngxop.jpg

Use 15mm socket and remove front bolts.
http://i39.tinypic.com/2ewlllh.jpg

Slide seat forward and remove rear bolts
http://i44.tinypic.com/1y1ego.jpg


Step 2) Unbolt seatbelt anchor bolt
Tilt seat forward, lift rear of seat and support it. Use 15mm socket and remove bolt.
http://i42.tinypic.com/fkrx3c.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/10xssx0.jpg


Step 3) Disconnect battery
Slide seat to middle of track. Disconnect Battery.
http://i42.tinypic.com/20j5wn7.jpg


Step 4) Disconnect seat wiring connectors
My car has 3 connectors: 2 are accessed from the front of the seat; one from the rear.
http://i44.tinypic.com/73jcbo.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/2luqmps.jpg

All 3 connectors disconnected
http://i41.tinypic.com/2eq88ya.jpg


Step 5) Remove seat
http://i40.tinypic.com/1zvotx.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/2eg5izk.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/24nfyma.jpg


Step 6) Remove recline handle
Lay seat right side down. Push blunt tool into recline handle to snap "U" clip off stud. And remove recline handle
http://i41.tinypic.com/33xezhy.jpg

Position of clip
http://i39.tinypic.com/2eupfdd.jpg

Recline handle removed with clip reattached to show orientation
http://i42.tinypic.com/33z2r7o.jpg


Step 7) Remove seat control cover
Remove screw next to recline handle
http://i39.tinypic.com/2qsbbyo.jpg

Insert small screwdriver and snap off seat adjuster knob. I used a paper towel to prevent scratching the knob. (The tip of the screwdriver in obscured by the paper towel... it is under the knob.)
http://i42.tinypic.com/344w487.jpg

Pull up here to snap cover off

http://i39.tinypic.com/30a6q29.jpg


Step 8) Remove seat control
Remove 3 screws and pull off silver plate
http://i42.tinypic.com/whxhd1.jpg

Pull control out and unclip connector
http://i41.tinypic.com/r8z3m1.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/2h4zwac.jpg

Step 9) Remove leather covering around base of seat.
Twist or Cut 3 metal clips from rear, bottom of seat (I was not able to twist these, I cut them)
http://i41.tinypic.com/f5g6f.jpg

Untie black string
http://i43.tinypic.com/11metfr.jpg

Twist or Cut 2 more metal clips from right and left sides of the 'back' of the seat (I was able to twist these off).
Left side clip:
http://i41.tinypic.com/2hnw9x3.jpg

Right side clip:
http://i43.tinypic.com/29zu0w6.jpg

Unplug this connector:
http://i41.tinypic.com/6rt2s6.jpg


Step 10) Remove seat bottom cushion
Loosen leather around seat base
http://i41.tinypic.com/2mrxft1.jpg

Lift off seat bottom cushion
http://i42.tinypic.com/2mnn3x5.jpg


Step 11) Locate and cut the 2 side-airbag wires
The 2 airbag wires are in the rear yellow connector
http://i44.tinypic.com/2a4wpb6.jpg

Unzip the left rear of seat back
http://i39.tinypic.com/6pnt3c.jpg

Note color of wires running into side airbag
http://i43.tinypic.com/2eqdtol.jpg

Cut wires a few inches above connector on seat. NOTE: the Caravaggio instructions say to cut the harness coming out of the seat floor. I think it would be easier to fix a mistake on the "seat-side" harness vs. the "car-side" harness.
http://i42.tinypic.com/6hp090.jpg


Step 12) Remove everything connected to the seat rail
Disconnect this green connector
http://i42.tinypic.com/29lky2e.jpg

Disconnect this black connector
http://i44.tinypic.com/27x2iw1.jpg

Unhook this black box
http://i44.tinypic.com/2eb4ndx.jpg

Unclip this brown box
http://i42.tinypic.com/5kq1z4.jpg


Step 13) Remove Seat from rail
Use 13mm socket and remove 4 bolts
http://i42.tinypic.com/10wmfte.jpg

Remove seat
http://i39.tinypic.com/6z57hx.jpg

Admire your seat rail
http://i40.tinypic.com/r0v19f.jpg


Step 14) Install Caravaggio 'airbag light' wiring harness
Strip and connect wires (doesn't matter which Caravaggio harness wire connects to which seat wire). I used butt connectors; soldering would be better.
http://i41.tinypic.com/rwsxec.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/1j3xon.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/28wncwp.jpg


Step 15) Adjust seat rail wiring and place rail in car
As the Caravaggio seat has less space under it than to the stock seat, I moved this connector out of the way (from on top of the metal bar to the bottom) to make more room for the black box.
http://i40.tinypic.com/11v66ao.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/2ufd8c2.jpg

Step 16) Attach seat rail in car
Place rail in car, reconnect wirings, reconnect battery and check clearances. You can place the seat on the rail without tightening any bolts and check fitment. This is where everything ended up for me. I tried to tie wrap the black and brown boxes to the track, but they got in the way of the seat. So I left them loose, and the seat holds them in place. Position Lap Belt bar in place per its instructions.
http://i44.tinypic.com/i6muxz.jpg

Use 15mm socket attach seat belt anchor, torque to 31 lb-ft.
http://i41.tinypic.com/hwer8i.jpg

Use 15mm socket and tighten 4 seat bolts, torque to 37 lb-ft.
http://i40.tinypic.com/15cdd1k.jpg

Attach sub-belts
http://i44.tinypic.com/29uf76.jpg


Step 17) Attach seat control
Attached seat control. Peel off sticky-tape paper, press fit control to panel, and snap on control knob.
http://i42.tinypic.com/2qi0kyg.jpg


Step 18) Attach seat to rails
Use 13mm socket and loctite. Tighten until firm.
http://i40.tinypic.com/jj084j.jpg


Step 19) Admire your new seat!
http://i44.tinypic.com/n2kcb4.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/1zdyr7c.jpg

:cheers:

Finally, adjust your harness for a nice, tight fit... :D
http://i41.tinypic.com/2ijnlvo.jpg

Harness? Wher . . . . oh, there it is. :eek:

Nice writeup. Installed his seats several times myself, your writeup is perfect.

This is the best write-up I've ever seen.

Great Job!
 

Does the carravaggio seat comes with the model to test fit the harness?:rofl:

Looks great & thanks for posting:thumbs:

VERY nice writeup. :thumbs: :thumbs:

Z//

great writeup dreamin, any more pics of model with the car :D

Next step, remove the seat and cut a slot across the lowest part of the bucket where the bar crosses between the two seat rails, this'll get you about another 3/4" of head room.

And if you want to get even lower you can remove about half the thickness of seat cushion.

Another nice feature is to build in a bit of lumbar support, do this by rolling up real tight some bubble wrap and sticking it in the back cushion at an appropriate level.

Cheers, Paul.

:iagree: and pic:thumbs:

What seat?!!! :)

:smiliedrool::smiliedrool::smiliedrool:

OK I'll cave in....maybe the redistribution of wealth is a good thing, especially those of us on the receiving end:eek:

Hey Dreamin', I had to do a double take (actually about a 20X take) looking at that test fit picture. That really is your car, your seatbelts, your seat; etc. There has to be a story behind that--so bust out (so to speak).

Great write up, by the way, but it kind of got overshadowed by, um, a couple of other things.

Ok where did you get those seats from? Because I would like 2 to go please

uh, will you write somthing else up, don't really care what
just use that last part again

does this new seat give more headroom?

I attached the seat to the rails outside of the car (actually, on my dining room table). The advantage was that I was able to place and remount all of the electronic boxes (using cable ties) to the underside of the carriage so they don't flop around on the floor. Also, I kept thinking what a bitch of a job it would be to remount the stock seat cushions to the carriage if I were ever crazy enough to want to do that . . . :thumbs:

I don't even own a C6 but I have caravaggios, so I figured, let me see how different the C6 is from the C5.. Im just happy curiosity got the best of me and I clicked on this thread...:rofl::rofl:

thank you.. :cheers:

eastern european?

:iagree: makes me want one too :lol:

I'm holding out hope that Dreamin is going to tell us it's his wife. I need a new hero and someone to vote for in the next presidential election.