SEATS Discussion - Anything and Everything relating

Bill K. · Post by **Bill K.** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 8:57 pm

John, Good point about the weight. What lite, comfy, adjustable seat do you like?

WD-40 · Post by **WD-40** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 9:44 am

I weighed my rear seat today. It's not quite stock, as it has been recovered, and is missing the back panel from the seatback. (open back). It's probably pretty close to a real stock seat though.

Seat Bottom: 18 lbs
Seat Back: 21 lbs

Total: 39 lbs.

So for what it's worth, right around 2% of my car's weight is the rear seat. I'll probably take it out.

Testing method: bathroom scale, weighed myself, weighed myself holding seat back, weighed myself holding seat bottom, subtracted my own weight from last two measurements. Not precision by any means, but should be a close representation.

- David

WD-40 · Post by **WD-40** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 10:06 am

Almost forgot- if the rear seat is gone, there's no need for the rear seatbelts. My scale isn't accurate enough to measure them with any real accuracy, but there should be another pound or two there.

- David

WD-40 · Post by **WD-40** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 6:02 pm

Curiousity got the best of me.

I pulled out one of the front seats of my '73 SB today. (easier to get to than the '74SB). Completely stock seat, and using the same method as before, I came up with:

Front Seat: 32 lbs
x 2

Total: 64 lbs.

Technically, that seat includes half the mounting "rails". Can't measure the other half as it's welded to the floor.

Conclusion: There's quite a bit of weight in the front seats!

Switching to a pair of seats such as the Corbeau Forza's (16 lbs each) or Kirkeys (14 lbs or less) could easily free up 30+ pounds!

- David

Aurumen · Post by **Aurumen** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 9:07 am

I run Corbeau Forza seats. I like them a lot. They are significantly lighter than the ones I pulled out of my car. They are pretty comfy (not comfy enough to drive across country, but i've driven them 2 hours away with no complaints).

Nick

WD-40 · Post by **WD-40** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:57 am

Nick-
I tried your website, but the link didn't work?

What did you do for seat mounts, did you use the kit aircooled.net sells? Did it require removing that seat track hump that the front/center VW track ran in? (I'd like to get rid of that, if possible!)

Also, have you sat in any other kind of seat (kirkey, sparco, etc..), that you could compare it to the Forza?

Thanks
- David

Aurumen · Post by **Aurumen** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 9:06 am

David,

Actually my car didn't come with that hump. When i bought the car, it wasn't exactly "restored"...hehe. The previous owner had replaced the floorpan in the driver's side and had never bothered to put the hump back in. The passenger side didn't even have a floor pan (i've since replaced) and I don't have the hump for it either. So I ended up making the track that I ordered for the seat (Corbeau seat tracks for a 73 beetle) fit by making my own brackets. Since the car isn't anywhere near restoration worthy and I plan on beating the tar outta it, I wasn't worried about it.

I have sat in Sparco adjustable seats and I'd say the Forza is almost as comfortable (although not adjustable) as the sparco. They're also a hundred dollars or so cheaper. If you're going to "bling", get the sparcos...if you want a racing seat at a decent price, give corbeaus a whirl.

Nick

74Shagenwagen · Post by **74Shagenwagen** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 7:29 am

[quote="WD-40"]Nick-

What did you do for seat mounts, did you use the kit aircooled.net sells? Did it require removing that seat track hump that the front/center VW track ran in? (I'd like to get rid of that, if possible!)

I've asked this question several times before and never got an answer.
For my '73 (with the center hump) I'd like to install some seats like the Corbeau. I always see advertised "universal seat mounts". How are these mounts installed and can I remove the center hump in the floor?

NO_H2O · Post by **NO_H2O** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 10:19 pm

I got a set of seats from a 2003 Celica GTS and striped a rair of VW seat bottoms and welded them up. They fit the stock pan, the right hight, and are very nice.

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 5:36 am

Seats in our Collection

Mitsubishi Eclipse
They worked great especially since the tracks are bolted through the Mitsu Pans....

Stock VW
They're OK until you realize there are other things out there... 68s with the wide head rest are the coolest

Fiberglass
Contrary to what we'd think the fiberglass ones are pretty comfy with some work.

VW Passat
Heated Leather? Better than heater channel heat --- probably not a racing idea

Scat Procar
Liked them -- seemed as if the vinyl was brittle... they weighed more than stock.

Recarro
Worked well.. comfortable... light... and spendy.

Recarro -- Toyota MR2
Probably my favorite for price, weight and ease of installation.

I've only had to go through the classification and safety check a few times --

Overall I've been a fan of Junk Yard take outs from Asian Sports cars.... best on the budget and fitting ... not sure if the inspectors like this retrofit.

T.

Ribz · Post by **Ribz** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 11:49 pm

i had a set of acura integra seats in one of my older bugs, they fit inbetween the humps, used the stock acura rails bolted through the pan on 2x4s lol this was about 12 years ago, give me a break

very sporty and were super comfortable, i think they even had lumbar adj

look on ebay, sparco sprint seats like $225 shipped, id get them but my fat can wont fit in they i bet

and you really only need one unless you x-cross with ur wife/GF/dog/cat/fish/pig/llama ect....

VWader04 · Post by **VWader04** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 12:53 pm

I have the MOMO Start seats...i am currently contacting WEDGE ENGINEERING for seat mounts...they make After Market Racing Seat Adapter Brackets.

http://www.wedgeengineering.net

roachghia70 · Post by **roachghia70** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 1:44 am

Gomer_pyle wrote:i think that bucket seats from a mazda rx-7 are great!

they are comfortable and hold you in place when turning.

that's exactly what i have in my ghia! they were 25 buck a pair at the salvage yard's half price day. i welded angle iron across the pan when i put in fiberglass pan sections, so anything will bolt in with a little work. finding a set of factory seats with some side support wasn't that hard either. some golf gtis had factory recaro seats which could be kinda cool if it weren't for the abnormal mounting design... there's no need to spend $600 or more on a pair of seats if you're just going to have fun with the car!

miller · Post by **miller** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 3:23 pm

I got my seats for 30 bucks out of a junked 944. Their leather and very comfy. The mounting rails will even bolt to the pan after some holes are drilled.

Lingwendil · Post by **Lingwendil** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 10:29 am

I love the stock VW seats in bugs for daily driving, but hard cornering or spirited driving flings you around a little. I've had Procar rally seats, they are very comfortable and supportive, but the vinyl sucks, it seems to scratch and rip easily, plus the seats are heavy. Stock RX7 seats are my absolute favorite seats, spend a bit of tome tooling around in an FC and you will fall in love with them! My personal favorite seats would be RX7 seats recovered in basketweave vinyl to match the stock seatcovers, with a heating pad installed under the covers.

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SEATS Discussion - Anything and Everything relating

Re: SEATS Discussion - Anything and Everything relating