HOWTO: Installing Aftermarket Seats (with photos)

[WRW]

Got my new seats installed for the StripeMonster. There were a few surprises along the line (as in the driver seat's rails not being the same distance apart as the passenger seat's) And speaking of rails, the MX5 rails were way too narrow for this seat, so the solution was to bolt an aluminium plate on the original rails, then mount the seats on the plate.
Many many thanks to Greg at The Seatwarehouse (www.seatwarehouse.co.nz) who not only gave me a great price on the seats, he also sacrificed half a Sunday to help me get them mounted in my car.

The seats I got

They also look stunning in blue

A few photos from the process:
Measuring my stock seats


Passenger seat removed... Where's the vacuum cleaner????


Measuring the rails... very important, they differ even top to bottom!



Testing the seat on the passenger side to make sure it will fit. It is a very close fit...


Mounting the rails on the plate


Rails and plate fitted to the passenger seat


Stock seat vs new seat


The measurements between the rails (D= Drivers seat, P= Passenger) A bit of difference there. Luckily, no holes were drilled before it was measured...


Finally... seats are in!



They are wonderfully snug and supportive. Makes me corner even faster..

I'll take some better pics of the final result, but photos simply don't do them any justice!

[SLYDIT]

Geez Nina, i hope you vaccumed that carpet under the seats before install!!!!! LOL i bet all that change found under the seats paid for the upgrade?????

[WRW]

Yep, just in time before it's not legal tender anymore

[m ex 5]

omg............please don't tell me they are going to outlaw that as well. sorry if I haven't been following this, but what make are the seats? I am going to have to get some for my baby one day and was thinking some (most) of the aftermarket seats apart from looking garish, are kinda wide ........

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[zippy2]

do you need to get these certed ? they use the original rails, however are not mounted direct to them. my race seat, directly mounted to the original rails and mounting points on the car needs a cert (to get a wof).

[41south]

You mean somebody actually looks under there?



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[WRW]

do you need to get these certed ? they use the original rails, however are not mounted direct to them. my race seat, directly mounted to the original rails and mounting points on the car needs a cert (to get a wof).

These are not race seats tho... but I was told that as long as you use the original rails and mounting points it is perfectly legal, and no problem getting a WoF. Ie no certing needed.

I will know for sure in September when my WoF expires

[WRW]

omg............please don't tell me they are going to outlaw that as well. sorry if I haven't been following this, but what make are the seats? I am going to have to get some for my baby one day and was thinking some (most) of the aftermarket seats apart from looking garish, are kinda wide ........

I don't recall the brand right away, but have a look at http://www.seatwarehouse.co.nz that's where I got them from

[poison]

Look up on the LTSA website, it’s pretty good. For example there is a whole section on seats
 
http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/rules/ ... -2002.html
 
Good Luck
 
Gazza




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[zorruno]

on 2/08/2006 6:36 p.m. WRW wrote:
> Yep, just in time before it's not legal tender anymore

on 3/08/2006 6:05 a.m. m ex 5 wrote:
> omg............please don't tell me they are going to outlaw that as
> well. sorry if I haven't been following this...

...and I think some of you may be getting confused when Nina said "Not
Legal Tender". If you read the full thread, she was talking about the
money under the seats... Nothing to do with seats being certified or not.

Incidentally, great install report and pics, thanks Nina.

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[WRW]

Hehe, yeah. I was talking about the coins that usually live under the seats, mainly 5 cent coins

And I hereby urge others to post their pics and stories of having modded/fixed something on their cars. It doesn't have to be anything big.

Next time I clean the drains behind the seats/by the jackpoints I'll try to remember to take pics and post them. (Unless somebody beats me to it) When I was going to do that for the first time, I was completely mystified by exactly where them darn drain holes were, let alone where to shove that bottle brush that I had attached to a long piece of wire.

Maybe this forum should have a 'garage' section like M-net has? Good for newcomers to the Fabulous Five. Just a thought anyway

[Blues Boy]

The seats look good!

[WRW]

Yowza! About time you stopped lurking Dave

[Blues Boy]

Yeye... It's all your fault.

[Dr Evil]

Hi Nina. Yes the seats look great. And yes, more "how-to" stuff is a great idea.

[Miatamad]

MOD Edit:

To anyone changing to aftermarket seats:

You should be aware that modifications to the seat mounts may require certification.

I believe (but am seaking clarification) that as long as you use the original runners and bolt directly to the seats bracket you do not require a cert.

However with the addition of any mounting plate, change in mounting points etc you will.

Chris

[Trevor]

I am looking for an improved drivers seat and wonder if there have been any recent developments in this area, since this thread last concluded.

I have reduced the OEM seat squab thickness, but I would like to be even lower. I have also considered removing centre padding from the middle back, in order to sink deeper and improve the lateral support.

However my current thoughts are that modifications will not result in a properly satisfactory outcome, as the seat is just to small overall. In particularly the squab is to short to provide adequate support of the full thighs. In this respect I appreciate that available space is at a minimum and not many of the available accessory seat are likely to fit.

Any advice as to suitable makes and models, will be very much appreciated.

Trevor. *<)