Possible mods for tall drivers in a NA6?

[speed]

Hi all,
I'm 6 foot 3, love MX5's but don't fit as well as I'd like.

My head sits above the headrest and if I rake the seat right back, I need to hunch forward to reach the wheel.

Are there such thing as steering wheel spacers? Ideally I want it spaced back a further 30mm. My fingers are still long enough to reach the wipers etc.
Any seat options that sit lower than the standard NA6 seats?

I've removed the sun visors for some extra visibility and wonder what else I can do?


Thanks,
S

[Bauer]

search "foamectomy" I did that. Removes foam from the seat back and base.

I also shortened the dead pedal and when I fitted a smaller steering wheel, I found legroom.

Im 6'2 and had no issues after I did all that.

[hks_kansei]

As above, you can cut some foam out of the seat base to add to headroom.

As far as steering wheel, for the NA6/8 you can buy either an extended boss, or an extension for the stock one (a spacer that you use with longer bolts)



Here's one of the extenders, just google "steering boss extension" or something along those lines. Try to get a decent one, steering, important etc.

An extended boss looks just like the factory steering boss, only longer. Personally, this would be my preference (one piece, less points to fail in accident)

[speed]

search "foamectomy" I did that. Removes foam from the seat back and base.
I also shortened the dead pedal and when I fitted a smaller steering wheel, I found legroom.
Im 6'2 and had no issues after I did all that.

Stu, how do you find the comfort with less foam?
I want to use the standard wheel size so I can see the dials.

Any room to lower the frame/rails? I guess it all counts ;)

As above, you can cut some foam out of the seat base to add to headroom.
As far as steering wheel, for the NA6/8 you can buy either an extended boss, or an extension for the stock one (a spacer that you use with longer bolts)

Here's one of the extenders, just google "steering boss extension" or something along those lines. Try to get a decent one, steering, important etc.
An extended boss looks just like the factory steering boss, only longer. Personally, this would be my preference (one piece, less points to fail in accident)

Kansei, I agree, steering is important!
Would also prefer the extended boss.


Thank you both for your input - Most appreciated

[Beelzeboss]

Bringing the steering wheel closer gave me the biggest boost in legroom of any mod I've done to my car, but I teamed it with a slightly smaller wheel. I also chopped tonnes of foam from the base of the seat. I'm 6'5" and fit pretty well in my car. I don't notice the seat being any less comfortable than the passenger seat which has all the original foam. In fact, since the modded one is more like a bucket I find it more comfortable.

[speed freak]

Haha join the club. Im tall and I use mine daily. Iv actually been contemplating on selling it because of this reason, because I need to hunch over my neck and back gets sore.

I done the foamectomy which did help but still didnt give me enough headroom to be comfortable in.

I took a NB for a drive today with a Sparco Sprint V bucket seat and its worlds apart from the stock seat. I could for once sit up dead straight in the seat and with the roof up I still had about 1-2 inches of headroom. ATM in my nb8b I cant sit up straight and my head still sits on the roof.

Id try the foamectomy but if that doesnt help enough look at getting a sparco seat, sit much lower in the seat and its great for tall people too more so if you have long legs because, you sit low in the seat your legs go up and over the edge which is good.

[Mr Morlock]

what else can you do- well you could consider changing the car- and the NC is likely to be far more suitable. If you spend much time in the car then a compromised driving position and lack of support is not going to do a tall driver any favours.Mazda engineers on their own admission said the NA was not made for bigger guys and added a "sorry" as well. Suggestion is drive an NC and see the difference. There is a cost difference of course but you get something in return apart from just the comfort, safety and usability aspects.

[Regie]

Bringing the steering wheel closer gave me the biggest boost in legroom of any mod I've done to my car, but I teamed it with a slightly smaller wheel. I also chopped tonnes of foam from the base of the seat. I'm 6'5" and fit pretty well in my car. I don't notice the seat being any less comfortable than the passenger seat which has all the original foam. In fact, since the modded one is more like a bucket I find it more comfortable.

Yes Andrew is living proof anyone can fit in a NA you are one tall bastard

[Snowmotion]

I am 6'3" also and tried the NA and decided the NB was a better fit for me.

I have tried a few things to improve the feel of sitting in the car than sitting on the car.

Foamectomy worked well and improved the driving position.
The Sparco Sprint V seat is a great option and really improves the proportions of legs out to arm reach. I swap the seats in and out depending on what driving I am doing.
I also fitted a shorter foot rest that allows my left leg to sit a little lower. http://shop.jassperformance.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_52&product_id=128

Good luck.

[Okibi]

6'2" here, if you do the foamectomy, some recommend cutting the foam out of the top, DON'T DO THIS, cut the foam out of the bottom, that way the seat still looks like standard when you're not sitting in it but it will sink down further.

This is a pretty cheap fix and easy to do.

You could also look at getting some later NB seats as the NA seats are rubbish for tall people.

If you want to spend a little more a race seat on a good bracket will get you as low as possible but not great for driving really long distances.

[KevGoat]

^ Yup, Dave knows ... I have a pair if SE seats in my NB that I bought from him and the driver's seat that he did the foamectomy on is great ...

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[manga_blue]

Go to somewhere like Revolution Racegear and try sitting in a Sparco Sprint seat. If you do fit into it OK then go home and take out your drivers seat and make up a pad of old towels or something like that about an inch thick. Place that on the floor and sit on it. That's about where you can set up a Sparco with side mounts at the lowest setting.

I've got a Sparco on custom mounts that lowers me almost 3". To me that's the difference between staring at the sun visor and looking straight through the centre of the windscreen.

[Magpie]

Another thought is mounting the Sparco's direct to the floor, you will loose adjustability but will also gain another 1" or so.

I did a 900km drive in a Sparco Sprint and did not suffer any discomfort.

[speed]

Thank you all for your suggestions.
Will start with the steering wheel then Suss out the Sparco's.

Who could complain about an extra 3 inches


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[Zabinskii]

I'm 6'2" and I fit no problem :/ is there something wrong here