3 replies to this topic

[idlethumbs]

Hi all.
I have a Cooper spi with standard seats but I have a long torso (top half) and I sit too high in the car.
On a track day if I have a helmet on I have to duck down as the helmet hits the sunroof.
I have the extender brackets for my legs which is fine.
I can sit lower if I tip the seat back but get a bad back and with the seat extender brackets the seat then hits the bins anyway.
Is it feasible to chop the seat subframe down a bit or ideally just bend it (no welder) to lower the seat a little?

[Magneto]

It might be easier to raise the roof - so to speak! I had a friend in the same position as you and he had his headliner redone and it gained him about 2" of headroom....see this thread.

 

http://www.theminifo...er#entry3437187

 

The other option is a different seat.....I built some Miata (Mazda MX-5 to you all) seats for my Clubman Estate......they are just slightly narrower than Mini seats, so I was able to shift them slightly to the center, that way they would clear the companion bins and the seat could  go all the way back to the front edge of the rear seat. They also sat much lower than Mini seats, so they really were comfortable for a taller or bigger guy.

Edited by Magneto, 10 December 2016 - 04:18 PM.

[idlethumbs]

Problem is the sunroof is above my head so won't be any better. I've had all the seats retrimmed to match the car and door cards so gotta stick with what I have now.
If I can't change them I'll live with it, had them 2 years.
Would just like an extra inch or so.......my missus says the same thing!! Lol.

[neal]

The only other way of keeping your original seats if the previous ideas don't work is to rework the design and shape of the cross member.

 

You wouldn't have to remove it, but cutting and lowering a portion then re-fabricating using suitable steel to maintain the structural integrity.

 

You may even be able to reposition the seat slightly and offset it a fraction towards the centre of the car by 1" (or whatever suits you) making sure of course that it doesn't affect the handbrake and pedal position in an unsafe manner.

 

The cross member (albeit 19/20 gauge steel) is a major structural part of the floor, but if done correctly and if you go overboard strengthening with this idea then it will only improve what you already have. 

 

You will need to be competent in metal fabrication and welding, failing that finding someone that is.

 

Have you considered using a roll cage? (half or full) this will offer you more protection and stiffen your chassis especially as you mentioned track days, after all there isn't a great deal of steel around you.

 

 

I'm sure that others will have had similar problems and will offer ideas and some drawn plans?

Edited by neal, 10 December 2016 - 11:39 PM.