NB 01-04 'Surfboard' seats into NA to provide head protection from roll cage

[twr7cx]

There's a billion discussions all over the internet confirming that NB seats bolt straight into an NA - so that's not my question here.

I've just installed a Hard Dog M2 Sport roll bar < http://www.bethania-garage.com/m2_sport.htm > into my NA and being reasonably tall (by MX-5 standards) now find my head is far too close to the hard metal of it for comfort! I'm wondering if anyone is able to confirm if the taller 2001-2004 NB 'Surfboard' seats would provide more padding/seat back to keep my head away from being able to contact the roll bar?

Picture attached of the roll bar in for reference. -you can see the top of the NA seat stops well short of the roll bar height.

[hks_kansei]

I no longer have any NB8B seats to check, but from my memory of back when I did, the backrest is certainly taller, however I also recall the base being (or at least feeling) thicker, so you end up sitting higher up than an NA/NB8A seat anyway.

The headrest height wasnt massively different either from memory, maybe an inch or so?




Back when I had a rollbar in my car I just made sure to use some rollbar padding for protection (and also, back then that made the bar road legal)

When I bought my padding back then there were 2 kinds.
The FIA approved one, which was a very dense rubber/foam stuff, and another non-FIA one that was slightly softer (looked like those pool noodles, but was more firm)

I went for the non-FIA one, since the FIA gear is approved for racecars and is assuming that it's a helmeted head hitting it, a bare head would likely be almost as bad as just hitting the uncovered bar.
The other padding was supposedly better for road use, having more give to protect an un-helmeted head.

[twr7cx]

Thanks. I've got the Hard Dog cover and padding to suit < http://www.bethania-garage.com/covers.htm#Buy > on it's way to me. With the seat a notch forward and more upright I don't think it's likely I would contact it but figure if changing the seat ensured that then even better!

Anyone perhaps have a picture of an NA seat installed on one side an NB on the other to see the height difference?

[twr7cx]

Just found this thread 'f20c engine conversion' < https://www.miataturbo.net/build-thread ... 10/page20/ > which has pictures comparing NA seats to 2004 NB seats showing the height difference of the headrest:

[twr7cx]

Just found what I wanted in this thread, 'NB seats - 00 vs 01 ?' < https://forum.miata.net/vb/showpost.php ... stcount=13 > - while it's not NA vs 01-04 NB seats, the pre-01 NB to 01-04 NB comparison pictures shows the height of the 01-04 NB seats, particularly in relation to a roll bar (not sure what roll bar it is but it's likely of similar height [19" from parcel shelf] to mine):

[hks_kansei]

That will be a pretty fair comparison to your NA seats.

The NB8A and NA seats are extremely close in dimensions.


Also, it looks like the NB8B backrest is taller than I remember?
But maybe that was the more padded/taller bum section that gave me that illusion when sitting in them?

[twr7cx]

But maybe that was the more padded/taller bum section that gave me that illusion when sitting in them?

Hopefully a foamectomy < https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=505490 > on the base sorts that out...

[greenMachine]

No, I am pretty sure the NB8B seats 'sit' higher.

Seats are not the answer. Rollbar padding is.

You may have a rego issue with that bar. Depending on whether you have annual checks (or you get a roadside check ), there are I understand issues arising from a bar that intrudes into the passenger space. That might be arguable either way for the HD, but for your peace of mind you might check that out, and if it looks like the authorities might say it does, what you 'need' to do to run it. The popular locally made bars are held not to intrude I understand.

[twr7cx]

Seats are not the answer. Rollbar padding is.

As mentioned above I have ordered the proper roll bar padding and cover for it. But the extra width and back height of the NB2 seats definitely look like they would significantly help too!

The popular locally made bars are held not to intrude I understand.

Perhaps I should have researched more before purchase and installation. This one popped up used at the right price and I assumed being such a popular model in the US (recommended by Flyin' Miata and other big names) and being a street orientated option it would be fine.

[Dehamsta]

The NB8B seats are definitely taller than the NA seats. I have them in my NA with an AGI roll bar. The taller NB8B seats provides much better separation between the bar and your head. This is one of the main reasons I use them even though I prefer the lower NA seats.

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