What aftermarket seats have you fitted? now with pics

Roderic · Postby **Roderic** » Sat May 20, 2006 2:14 pm

Hey Dave... why dont you have a sit in my Sparco Sprints next time your down at Les's. Yeh they go all the way back and sit a lot lower than the standard seats.
My pair of Red Sparco Sprint's will be up for sale with rails ;)

Regards
Rod

bigdog · Postby **bigdog** » Sun May 21, 2006 11:11 pm

After trial sitting in many after market seats and coming to the conclusion that none would really suit me and the car, I resorted to the path referred to here and on the big forum of removing foam from the existing seat. I carefully removed the metal hog rings from the seat sqab, peeld back the leather and cut away a 2 inch deep section from the top of the cushion, then carefully refitted the cover using cable ties to replace the hog rings. Result - fantastic! no visible difference to the seat but so much more comfortable and supportive it feels like a new seat. Next weekend I'll takle the backrest and do the same. BTW the only seat I found that was comfortable and might have fitted was a Cobra Imola II seat from Revolution Racegear @ $799.

Postby **Okibi** » Mon May 22, 2006 12:11 am

Do you run a racing harness with your stock seat? I found that made a huge difference.

bigdog · Postby **bigdog** » Mon May 22, 2006 10:31 am

No Okibi - mine is a daily driver and I would go crazy with harnesses. I know what you mean though, both my race cars have 6 point harnesses, and there is nothing like a tight harness to make you feel secure and snug. I don't find four pointers that good though - always feel like i'm only partly buckled in, and I'm not sure they are as good as a standard belt in an accident in terms of 'submarining' (sliding out under the harness).

Postby **Okibi** » Mon May 22, 2006 3:44 pm

Ahh this is for street driving.

My harness sits behind the seat until I do any motorsport. I've never used it on the street.

bigdog · Postby **bigdog** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 12:21 am

So, to conclude my quest for better seating for the ergonomically challenged I have bought and successfully fitted a replacement seat that not only fits me and the car but was cheap as well!!

Bear in mind that I am 187cm tall and weigh over 130kg :oops:

and you can understand that this was never going to be easy... but the solution after much research was simple - ebay!! :lol:

I purchased and OBX 'Daytona Wide' seat from OnlinePerformance in Melbourne (looks like a wider version of a Sparco Sprint), delivered to Sydney for the princely sum of $270 brand new!!!! Original runners worked after drilling only two new holes, allowing original seatbelt mount to be retained etc. seat is comfortable and fits me well, giving at least 50mm more clearance to the steering wheel all round. It has a removable bottom cushion with gives me 50mm clearance to the top of the roll bar without a helmet (not as comfortable to sit in, but bearable for a lap dash etc), so would probably work if bolted straight to the floor for CAMS scrutineering, although I don't think it remains street legal if this is done (the seat complies with ADRs, and as it is bolted to original runners should not need engineering approval to be legal I think, but don't quote me on it). I will take some pics tomorrow and pull it out on the weekend and take pics of the bracketry.

It is not a perfect seat (seat cover material is fairly cheap black cloth with vinyl wear patches, and I'm sure the cover will wear on the sides from climbing in and out all the time) but I figure I can go to an upholsterer and improve on the cover and shape (could use a longer base cushion for thigh support) without wrecking my nice original leather seeats, and without breaking the bank. I'm a happy chappy! pics posted soon.

Postby **Okibi** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 12:34 am

bigdog · Postby **bigdog** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 11:06 am

Pics as promised:

[/img]

CT · Postby CT » Wed Jun 07, 2006 12:50 pm

That looks like a very neat and well priced solution bigdog. Top effort!

Bevan · Postby **Bevan** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:08 pm

Looks GREAT Big Doggy Dog!...

bigdog wrote:(the seat complies with ADRs, and as it is bolted to original runners should not need engineering approval to be legal I think, but don't quote me on it).

...but don't they need to recline to be legally in a road car?

bigdog · Postby **bigdog** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:53 pm

Could be right Bevan, but I'm not going to ask!

Have now done some objective measuring with an offsider and I am still above the roll bar, even with the base pad removed - so this won't solve the problem for tall folk with CAMS. Interesting though - I feel much lower than I actually am when viewed from outside the car.... still an improvement on the std ones though.

rodent · Postby **rodent** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:39 pm

Bevan wrote:Looks GREAT Big Doggy Dog!...
bigdog wrote:(the seat complies with ADRs, and as it is bolted to original runners should not need engineering approval to be legal I think, but don't quote me on it).
...but don't they need to recline to be legally in a road car?

Only if you have back seats (and 2 doors).

jonno.

P.S. Looks great! :mrgreen:

colink · Postby **colink** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:43 am

Cobra roadster seven seats

RaYmO · Postby **RaYmO** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 4:52 pm

Hey Bigdog,

Interested in selling the seat cushion?

I got a pair of Sparco Sprints and my missus is too short to drive the 5 safely.

If not then do you know if it is possible to buy the seat cushions on their own?

bigdog · Postby **bigdog** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:09 pm

Simple job for your local upholsterer Raymo. They can cover a suitable piece of foam with matching cloth - add a bit of velcro to hold it in place and you're away. Shouldn't cost much either - its just a small rectangular cushion.