Racing seat suggestions?

[soareyes]

Here is a photo of my modified (butchered?) Ultrashield Spec Miata seat next to an unmodified seat. I didn't need the thigh supports because the drive shaft tunnel and cockpit side gave me that already. I also ended up cutting off the torso wing on my left side as the cockpit side again gave me that support. My wife modified the seat cover for me so it looks tidy. I tilted the seat slight back when I installed it in the car which lowered my head in the cockpit slightly (I also lowered the floor about 2 inches).

 

 

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1270502195_DSCN1827.jpg

 

 

 

[weconway]

Is there a taper to the Spec Miata seat? Kirkeys are always 1.5" wider at the front than the listed width. There aren't any local shops here that stock them.

 

I want to use a 16" seat for the driver and a 15" seat for the passenger.

[soareyes]

Yes, they do widen slightly towards the front similar to the Kirkey seats. The side panels also slightly flair out towards the top/front of the seat, which rubbed the side of the cockpit till I bent them straight (before cutting them off entirely, as you can see in my previous picture).

 

 

 

 

 

[Kitcat]

Stan:

 

Do you use a tonneau cover with the Kirkeys? If so, did you modify it to accommodate the seat backs?

 

I almost never use the top between May-October & just throw the tonneau on when parked to keep out rain, bird poop, etc. But the headrests on the stock Caterham seats are removable so they don't interfere with the tonneau.

 

I guess I could cut holes in the tonneau for the fixed Kirkey seatbacks/headrests and fashion an insert to accommodate them.

 

Mike

[soareyes]

Stan:

Do you use a tonneau cover with the Kirkeys? If so, did you modify it to accommodate the seat backs?

Mike

 

 

My tonneau splits up the middle so I use the passenger half nearly all the time, even driving. I still have the stock Birkin seat on the passenger side, and the headrest comes off. I can still use the driver side when parked as it buttons down all the way around except where the driver's seat pokes through at the back. Someday I'll take it to a shop and have them modify it so I can get complete sealing, but it is good enough for now (not much rain in the desert here, mostly blowing dust!).

 

 

[RDROCKT]

I am fairly certain that the narrower wings would relieve the seat-elbow interference problem and am going to modify mine as follows. For anyone out there with the early seats, the support person said it was OK to cut the wings down to 3" and that they sold the aluminum edging for $2 per foot, and that the edging when welded in place is moderately structural. For those interested, the seat alloy is 5052 which is pretty stiff and not disturbed by welding; the edging is 6061 T6, but can be welded in place without loosing too much strength. /quote]

 

John,

I totally know what you mean when you say the Ultrashield seat interferes with your elbow. I have modified my seats to cut down the wings. When I did it, I carefully cut the tack welds holding the aluminum edging and gently bent it out of the way while I attacked the wings with a Sawzall. (Hint: use a pattern to assure they all come out the same). Once the reduction was complete, the edging easily bent back into place, a couple of strategic new tack welds and Ouila! I have saved $2 a foot! (call me cheap!)

HTH

[JohnK]

I am fairly certain that the narrower wings would relieve the seat-elbow interference problem and am going to modify mine as follows. For anyone out there with the early seats, the support person said it was OK to cut the wings down to 3" and that they sold the aluminum edging for $2 per foot, and that the edging when welded in place is moderately structural. For those interested, the seat alloy is 5052 which is pretty stiff and not disturbed by welding; the edging is 6061 T6, but can be welded in place without loosing too much strength. /quote]

 

John,

I totally know what you mean when you say the Ultrashield seat interferes with your elbow. I have modified my seats to cut down the wings. When I did it, I carefully cut the tack welds holding the aluminum edging and gently bent it out of the way while I attacked the wings with a Sawzall. (Hint: use a pattern to assure they all come out the same). Once the reduction was complete, the edging easily bent back into place, a couple of strategic new tack welds and Ouila! I have saved $2 a foot! (call me cheap!)

HTH

 

Hi Chuck,

We are indeed on exactly the same page, and I saved the edging for re-use too. Rather than cut the wing straight down parallel to the bend, I noticed that the area that interfered with my driving position was just part of the wing, and that that part was unwelded re the edging. I made my first cut as per the attached pic and tried it out and that was all that was needed to give clearance at my elbows. These seats are a bear to cut, aren't they! I was proud of the fact that I only broke 1 jigsaw blade. http://www.usa7s.org/aspnetforum/upload/113505965_SeatTrim.jpg