Author Topic: Ultimate Racing Mod - Cloth Seat Bottom! (Read 16374 times)

kennysabarese · « **on:** November 07, 2009, 05:47:30 PM »

So all you AutoXers out there. I have the ULTIMATE MOD for you.

So at MD Mod Meet JPM brought me two cloth seat bottoms. I installed one on my drivers seat, and it makes a noticeable difference keeping you in your seat.

This keeps you in the seat way better than the CG Lock.

Swapping it out was a breeze, and though it looks ugly, well I don't really care.

Thing is I will probably end up getting racing seats soon, so if anyone wants one or both of these, I probably won't keep them. Let me know.

Now the best option would be to support JPM and get some fancy seat covers, but if you are cheap or broke, this works.

snaponbob · « **Reply #1 on:** November 07, 2009, 07:33:22 PM »

I cinch my CG Lock so tight my bladder screams out in protest. My ass won't move, but the rest of me is sort of loose. I wear volley ball knee pads to keep from banging up my knees. Next season - Kirkey. BTW, why does your interior look gray??

Uranium-238 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 07, 2009, 07:37:03 PM »

Quote from: snaponbob AKA Orphan Pilot on November 07, 2009, 07:33:22 PM

BTW, why does your interior look gray??

Camera flash?

I don't have any issues with my CG lock. Would love to have a 6-point harness to keep my torso from moving around, but that's something to do down the road.

kennysabarese · « **Reply #3 on:** November 07, 2009, 07:40:08 PM »

Don't just cut holes in your seats and slap in harnesses. Seats is really what makes the difference (such as the kirkey's bob mentioned)

Uranium-238 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 07, 2009, 07:48:12 PM »

Oh I know that. Definitely buying some lighter, more comfortable racing seats. Got to ride along with Larry Casey for two runs in his Cobra today, and the seats he had were really quite comfortable. Certainly better than the stock seats, which tend to make my back hurt.

kennysabarese · « **Reply #5 on:** November 07, 2009, 07:50:38 PM »

I'd like to get sparco evo's or kirkeys, the K's are lighter and half the price, sparcos much more comfy.

Uranium-238 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 07, 2009, 08:02:18 PM »

I'll start seriously researching seats when I'm closer to getting a roll bar. I do know I want ones that sit lower than stock.

snaponbob · « **Reply #7 on:** November 07, 2009, 08:34:42 PM »

Quote from: Uranium-238 on November 07, 2009, 08:02:18 PM

I'll start seriously researching seats when I'm closer to getting a roll bar. I do know I want ones that sit lower than stock.

Lower ?!?!?!?! My seat foam collapsed so much that even after repacking the original, I had the seat base foam replaced (warranty), packed in the extra foam I had been using, and FINALLY did not feel like I was looking out of a bath tub !!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, I'm 5'8". No, I don't have the electric seat base. Hard to see the pylons when I am practically looking through the steering wheel. The nice thing about the Kirkey I will be installing is that it surrounds my lower body and mid torso. It does not have the "wings" at shoulder and head levels. Having sat in the 17" wide version, with the cover it will be just right.

Here is the challenge with seats for the Kappas. Nobody, repeat NOBODY, has seat brackets for either bottom or side mounts. Additionally, the seat belts attach to the seat rails. Having discussed this at length with a local race car fab shop, we are going to retain the stock seat adjusters and bend up some flat stock metal to create brackets to attach to the rails, and then bend up some plates that will attach to the seat from the lower plates. I plan on documenting the build up when I do it. I have seen some threads on the BB, and frankly they look scary. And the idea of installing seat belt plates on the floor is absolutely the LAST option. Since the shoulder belt will not dependably lock, I will either use the stock belts with a CG Lock, or just racing lap belts and cinch them up tight.

Uranium-238 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 07, 2009, 08:46:29 PM »

I'm 6', and the fixed all the seat collapse issues on the 09's. I'd love to sit lower, should help with heal/toe downshifts, I'd be able to see the speedometer/tach better, and (someday) be able to pass broomstick passes more easily.

Kuprito · « **Reply #9 on:** November 07, 2009, 09:20:44 PM »

Not mine but I wish I had this seats...

Awesome!

kennysabarese · « **Reply #10 on:** November 08, 2009, 06:58:49 AM »

i want to sit lower as well. i may mount seats without slider rails. gunna get some phone books and test heights someday

lil goat · « **Reply #11 on:** November 09, 2009, 09:59:27 AM »

I am thinking maybe JPM needs to make a Velcro seat cover, then get the matching pants and your good. I am still in search of a seat that will fit with the RMR roll bar, it will get braced this winter to be fully track legal somehow.

kennysabarese · « **Reply #12 on:** November 09, 2009, 10:06:48 AM »

goat, What seats have you looked into? How has the RMR bar interfered?

lil goat · « **Reply #13 on:** November 09, 2009, 10:27:18 AM »

I have looked at all the Sparco's, I have a friend who works for Sparco I could get a sweet deal if one of them fit, I really like the cheap Sparco's they are very comfortable, the top outside corner is where the problem is, most seats have the "wings" and they won't fit with the bar unless you are very far forward, I have mine all the way back. Some of the Kirkey's look like they will work. The top just needs to be no wider than the stock seat.

snaponbob · « **Reply #14 on:** November 09, 2009, 10:43:42 AM »

Almost everything that will fit between the tunnel and the door have wings at the shoulder level that hit the door. There may be some very expensive seats that may slip into place, but they are at or north of a grand each. There are NO seats that have adapters for the existing seat tracks. Taking the lead from existing side mount brackets, I will be fashioning my own to mount this (and this will fit in the car but has no adjustments other bolt holes in the side plates). http://www.kirkeyracing.com/index.php?link=browse&code=Series41

Ben L · « **Reply #15 on:** November 09, 2009, 10:44:42 AM »

Kirkey drag race seats have lower bolsters but not the upper wing. They might clear the RMR style bar.

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kennysabarese · « **Reply #16 on:** November 09, 2009, 10:48:57 AM »

Adjustable seats will be a lot harder to fit because of the adjuster. If the seats have adjusters on both sides you can cut one off. You probably are aware of this.

I'm looking for racing seats. Hopefully they will fit better. Though I won't be able to get stuff behind the seats.

kennysabarese · « **Reply #17 on:** November 09, 2009, 12:03:06 PM »

Speaking of seats, the ones in our cars really suck. My gf's 08 Mustang's seats are so much more comfortable. I might have the saggy seat problem, but my lower back always hurts when I get out.

I gotta play with lumbar support more. Racing seats will probably make all this worse.

DrJones · « **Reply #18 on:** November 09, 2009, 12:30:28 PM »

I currently have a Sparco Evo in my GXP.
I made a jig of the floor board lay out and built the jig off of that. The problem with the EVO is the seat height and shoulder bolsters. The seat cannot be mounted Higher or lower as there is no room.
because i am 6'4" I have to put the seat most the way back and it will hit some of the convertible top mechanisim and tear a little hole on the seat cover.
I am also using the Sparco sliders.

Next season i'll be going to the kirkey's. solid mount the passenger seat and modify the current set-up with the sparco sliders for the driver.

lil goat · « **Reply #19 on:** November 09, 2009, 12:43:12 PM »

There are some decent looking cheap seats here, not sure any would work with the RMR bar but they are super cheap (throw aways)
http://www.hyperautoparts.com/shop/home.php?cat=377&gclid=CIyKsfet_p0CFaM45Qodpk93pg

I like these but doubt they will work

kennysabarese · « **Reply #20 on:** November 09, 2009, 12:44:09 PM »

Quote from: DrJones on November 09, 2009, 12:30:28 PM

Next season i'll be going to the kirkey's. solid mount the passenger seat and modify the current set-up with the sparco sliders for the driver.

Have you tested out kirkey fitting? any specific model? there are many out there. the drag seats are much cheaper and aren't as wide up top. the road racing ones are similar shape to the EVOs

snaponbob · « **Reply #21 on:** November 09, 2009, 01:56:16 PM »

Kenny, I posted a link to the 41000 series Kirkey seat a few posted north of this one, and Ben posted a picture of one of these. Having done a lot of Google searches and phone calls about seats, other than the Kirkey, everything else is either a) more to MUCH more expensive, b) heavier to MUCH heavier, c) almost nothing will fit well in a fairly confined Kappa interior, and d) there are NO mounts of any kind for Kappas. Even the popular vendors here and the two other BB's admit that the seats they offer have fitment issues.

kennysabarese · « **Reply #22 on:** November 09, 2009, 09:57:18 PM »

I was just asking DrJones if he had any first hand experience trying to get them to fit. I should have quoted him. Modifying my post now.

snaponbob · « **Reply #23 on:** November 09, 2009, 10:56:30 PM »

I have dropped various solid and adjustable seats into the Sky at a local race shop. Sparco, Recaro, and others. All had fit problems. The 41000 series Kirkey seat drops right in with no interference. They are available in various hip widths from 15" (Twiggy, I guess) to 21" and maybe a bit wider. The cloth seat cover makes the seat comfortable enough, but an upholstery shop could tailer that as well.

kennysabarese · « **Reply #24 on:** November 10, 2009, 10:34:04 AM »

Cool. I didn't realize you had actually dropped in a bunch of seats. Forgive me... I may have missed that. Good to know

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Author Topic: Ultimate Racing Mod - Cloth Seat Bottom! (Read 16374 times)

lil goat

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Ben L

lil goat