Best Mounting arrangement for Sparco Sprint V

The American · Postby **The American** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 8:51 pm

I've got a Sparco Sprint V that I want to mount in an NB Mx5. I don't want to remove the two steel sections under the carpet that the factory rails bolt to - this needs to be reversible. I do want to sit as low as possible (I'm 6'5").

I've had a Sprint V before that was bolted to a set of factory rails, which is potentially option 1. This allows forward/aft movement but no incline adjustment. From memory, the Sparco fitted in this way is very upright.

Automotive plus sell brackets that attach to the factory rails and pick up the side mount points on a Sparco. This might allow for some incline adjustment?

OMGPham sells Garage Star rails that replace the factory rails, and appear to have lots of side mount position options and some forward/aft adjustment. These are not cheap.

Are there any other options or recommendations or experiences with successful mounting of Sprint V seats people can share?

Snowmotion · Postby **Snowmotion** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 10:16 pm

This is a link to a GB someone set up a while back and these mounts seemed to be pretty low.

http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=54298

The write up on mounting
http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/85-junior-sponsors/54021-pro-car-innovations-na-nb-race-spec-seat-mounts.html

kazama · Postby **kazama** » Thu Nov 06, 2014 8:20 am

I had my imola pro mounted to the fixed PCI mount (lowest one) and it still wasn't that low lol. I wonder if anyone has cut the floor open and mounted it through the botton

plohl · Postby **plohl** » Thu Nov 06, 2014 9:02 am

I had a PCI mount. No adjustment, plus it was only 1mm lower then the sparco on rails.
I think the best arrangement is either on the stock rails, or make a steel frame to bolt it to the floor/seat supports.

The AutomotivePlus adapters make it an easy task to fit.

Snowmotion · Postby **Snowmotion** » Thu Nov 06, 2014 9:17 am

You could also add some spacers between the seat and the rail to create some incline.
I tried that but did not like it at all.

Smokinscotty · Postby **Smokinscotty** » Thu Nov 06, 2014 2:23 pm

Im using a PCI(thanks kazama!) mount now but contemplating mounting directly to the floor.

PCI was better than sitting on the stock rails by 10mm or so. Was enough to get my legs off the steering wheel at least. Can go 1 more mounting hole lower at the rear but will have to remove the eyebolts(for clip in harness) from the std seatbelt holes as the seat fouls on the eye's.

I have managed to get more comfortable than the rails with this mount, but will still be looking at going lower to try and get enough room to run a helmet and a hardtop... Might be a little too ambitious but its worth a shot.

Brewster · Postby **Brewster** » Fri Nov 07, 2014 9:01 pm

I'm 6'4 and had a similar issue. Ended up making two steel rails that bolt to the floor with the seat bolted to those. No adjustment sucks but it's really comfortable for me! A bit of messing around to get it right but I haven't touched it in a year or two now.

The American · Postby **The American** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 12:19 am

I fitted an Automotive+ tallboy in my car today, and courtesy of another forum member, a Garage Star seat rail. With everything in its lowest position, and attached to a Sparco Sprint, I'm well short of 50mm clearance to the top of my helmet (measured from a line between roll bar and top of windscreen).

The search for low continues!

Thanks to all for the contributions to date.

StuwieP · Postby **StuwieP** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 12:18 pm

kazama, I'll let you know :twisted:

I'm unimpressed with how my sparco rev sits (side mount only) as I've done it so over christmas, once I've earned some $$ I'm going to get a fab shop to put the seat on the floor.

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 3:19 pm

I made these up years ago from 40 x 3mm flat iron and I've been using them ever since.

I'm 5'10" with a long back. These mounts mean that the rear corner of the Sparco nestles just 4 or 5 mm off the floor in that little dip just in front of the rear bolt holes. Helmet clearance for me is almost 100mm. With an OEM seat I have 20mm clearance and I'm looking through the top 1/4 of the windscreen while with these I look straight through the centre of the screen. Some shorter drivers have been unable to see over the bonnet properly.

The mounts are tougher than Mazda's originals but they are very fixed. You can only have a co-driver the same size as you. Without being able to slide it back then it's a bit of a PITA to get in and out with the roof up.

greenMachine · Postby **greenMachine** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 7:10 pm

Snowmotion wrote:You could also add some spacers between the seat and the rail to create some incline.
I tried that but did not like it at all.

I have done that (about 10mm at the front), and I like it. It will move your head back, and a bit lower, but perhaps not lower it enough.

Instead of seat rails, is a removable steering wheel an option?

:mrgreen:

Brewster · Postby **Brewster** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 7:38 pm

Is anyone still interested in a group buy on the PCI mounts?

Cheers

The American · Postby **The American** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 7:46 pm

Does anyone have some more experiences with PCI mounts they can share? Extra points for photos and/or measurements of mount height potential with a Sparco Sprint V!