Seat mounts and headroom

[chris.richard]

How the hell do you big guys fit in? I've got my drivers seat mounts finished, and I'm going to get a crick in my neck when I wear a helmet! My hair brushes the roof already -should be grateful for still having some I suppose. I've base mounted seats, with the back mounts bolted straight on the floor, and the top of the seat against the rear window - I suppose the advantage of a pedal box is that you can move it rearwards and have more freedom of position. I'm only 176cm (5' 9.5"), and wish I had longer legs and a shorter back! Hey Ho! :rolleyes:

[SUSIT]

How the hell do you big guys fit in? I've got my drivers seat mounts finished, and I'm going to get a crick in my neck when I wear a helmet! My hair brushes the roof already -should be grateful for still having some I suppose. I've base mounted seats, with the back mounts bolted straight on the floor, and the top of the seat against the rear window - I suppose the advantage of a pedal box is that you can move it rearwards and have more freedom of position. I'm only 176cm (5' 9.5"), and wish I had longer legs and a shorter back! Hey Ho! :rolleyes:


Might be worth trying diffrent seats chris, I have tried 3 and its strange but the smallest seat gave me the least headroom.

[strat6v]

You can see why i re profiled my steering column now. Move the seat base forwards/recline the seat back more. 6' 1" without problems. Could get a helmet on too!

[Sando]

Hi Chris
I think a lot of it does depend on the seat you are using. Has it got any removable base padding?

I'm only 5-9 but I ended up having to use side mounts with the seat on the floor at the back to get the last inch of headroom. Tipping the seat back as you have done helped but I then found I needed to remove the front squab / base padding so that my legs could go straighter forward, this did the trick in the end. You'd then need to some thinner pieces of foam to put back in the original outer cushion to keep it looking right and give you some support.

My backside is probably less than an 1/2 inch off the floor of the car when sitting in. It's still comfy as you are held in place (depending on your seat / belts) and I find I don't bounce around too much anyway
No DVT's or problems on the long drive down to Shaun's last year :)
....But then again I have got a fair bit of ...er...Natural padding :D .....and less hair to hold a helmet up :D

Cheers
Bobster

...Sparco EVO seats

[chris.richard]

I'm using glassfibre shelled seats - there is minimal padding and the shell is sitting on the floor at the back- I can see that different seats would alter things a bit, but it would get a bit expensive doing the trials! When I was sitting in everybodies seats at previous meetings, I was assessing bum fit, I hadn't thought about clearance room.
How thick are helmets these days? (As opposed to how thick are their contents) :)

[SUSIT]

I'm using glassfibre shelled seats - there is minimal padding and the shell is sitting on the floor at the back- I can see that different seats would alter things a bit, but it would get a bit expensive doing the trials! When I was sitting in everybodies seats at previous meetings, I was assessing bum fit, I hadn't thought about clearance room.
How thick are helmets these days? (As opposed to how thick are their contents) :)


Chris,
If the seat is mounted by using bolts underneath then the glassfibre must be significantly thicker in this area and that might be where you can gain an extra inch or two. That was the case with the sparco seat I have as it can be side or base mounted. can post pictures later if that would be any help.
Difference in height with and without helmet 45mm

[catswhiskers]

Chris,
I've found a similar situation to Sando. I'm using Corbeau Forza seats. I.ve bolted the rear frame straight to the floor and have the front jacked up 75mm. This gives me a good comfortable driving position and I can just get my helmet on without it rubbing the roof. The seats also have a removable bum cusion about 1" thick and I find if I remove this and use it as a lumber cusion, I gain more headroom and I'm a bit more reclined which I still find OK. What you will tend to find with a helmet on is that your head will be about 2" further forward from the head restraint and thats why I think the extra bit of lumber support/reclining benefits me. I'm 5'8" so it looks like we are all 'Mr. Averages' ;)

Mick

[strat6v]

The more acute the angle is from the seat back to the base makes things worse. Best seats are omp 70 degree versions. Have a look in my gallery at my seat and column pic. This shows why i had to kick the column up a bit. Would solve your problem too. :)

[chris.richard]

Mick & John from your photo/description, it sounds like the seats are pretty much the same position. 45mm :eek: I'll be driving with my left ear on my shoulder! :rolleyes:

Interesting to see the position of the u-shaped ally reinforcing channel on your floor John - I've seen them installed above & below the floor and fore/aft & side to side - anybody know what Gerry intended? Mine are side to side below the floor.

[richard hall]

just fitted seat to car ,floor mount,driving position of a single seater (cool) now i now why the h/lamps stay up on rally version,again at 5 11" helmet on no head room,good job i am not going to rally this car as you cant see the front of the thing! i even took out the support chanels that hawk fitted and re fitted to underside of car ,fitted a 300m omp s/wheel to give that easy feeling of in/out of car but not complaning! final push no on, starting to look like a car now!

richard

[strat6v]

Just echoing what Richard has said. I have a seating position like a single seater, which i find comfy. The seat side mounts fit into the ally channels and i have reinforcing plates below. Also, i have welded in a 1" diameter box section across the floor to strengthen things as i found quite a bit of flex in the ally panel. This sits where the flat bit of floor is, behind the seat and where the sloping bit starts. Obviously the sheet is rivetted to this too.

The only other problem i see is with the seats being reclined so much, i will probabaly need to add crutch straps to stop myself submarining under the lap strap. either that or let my belly get a bit bigger still. same result!! :)

[Chris J]

Also, i have welded in a 1" diameter box section across the floor to strengthen things as i found quite a bit of flex in the ally panel. This sits where the flat bit of floor is, behind the seat and where the sloping bit starts. Obviously the sheet is rivetted to this too.

I see, hence the new gallery photo?

Do you feel as if you've turned a corner, John? Now that it's all blue coloured?

[strat6v]

Final paint touches yesterday, battery cables in, motor next weekend. This week should see the rad and fans in, heater blower, horns, abs wiring, battery and tray, washer bag etc. Everything under the nose really. May even start with the pedal box too! Pics to follow.

John.