Question on seat mounting.

[Guest danedwards648]

HI new here names Dan. I used too own a 280z and a 280zx.I liked these cars alot.I'm 6'7" i used too fit in the pervios two cars allright believe it or not but i've gotten older and alittle bigger around the middle.I remember i think storage compartments behind the seats.So sorry for lo0ng post but i'm wonder if the area behind the seats could be removed and floor pan modified too move seats further back.I know it will require alot of fab just wonder if there is the room too due it.Thanks alot for anybodys time hope too buy another one and v8 this one.

[JMortensen]

That's a structurally important part of the car. You can cut it out, but you should really do some bracing in there if you do. Having been working in that area a lot in my car recently I find it hard to imagine that you'd need the seat that far back. I think if you lowered the seat in relation to the floor you should be able to get a bit more headroom and then you can slide the seat back further than stock and sit a bit more upright. If you do that I think you'll get the legroom you need and still have a couple inches to spare before the seat hits the storage compartments.

[Guest danedwards648]

I plan on using a custom made kirkey seat with thin padding.That should lower the seat hieght and seat back thickness.I would rather not cut into it but was just wondering on the effects if i had too get another inch or two of room.Sometimes being tall really has it disadvantages.In my 99 transam i had too make new mounting brackets for the seat also.Thanks for your input and time.Hope too buy another one in a couple of months.Dan

[z-ya]

I'm going to look seriously at moving the rear part of the floor that slopes up further back in my next project. The problem is that the fender well is in the way of making the mod useful. I may even modify the fender well if there is room to clear the tire.

 

On my street car I shortened a set of Bad Dog seat brackets so that my Celica GTS seats would fit and give me enough head room (I'm 6' 2"). In my track car, I have a Richarson aluminum race seat with the thin padding, and I have enough head room with the stock seat brackets, and sliders.

[Guest danedwards648]

Thanks for thehelp guys i think i'll try the seats first was planning on just solid mounting the seats with no rails as i'll be the only one driving the car.Nice looking cars guys.

[datsunlover]

I put Honda SI seats in my 280 (Recaro clones) and set them back as far as I could.. I think I cut out the stock seat brace and moved it back 2.5" or so, and built my own mounting brackets, using the Z seat rails on the Honda seats. The back of the drivers seat actually rests on the rear fender well, but it is good for me as far as leg room. Head room is a small issue now, as I've raised the seating position about 1.5" from stock, but I found the main issue is the space between the tunnel and door jamb.. it's a little tight, but I'm only 180lbs so I'm fairly comfy in there...

[Michael]

The Kirkey (or similar) sheet-metal seat might address your situation without having to remove the sheet metal storage compartments. I have a drag-race Kirkey in my 280Z, mounted to the roll cage. I’m only 5’8â€, but the firewall is set > 6†back from stock, shortening the legroom accordingly; but there is still about 2†remaining between the seatback and where the storage compartment front-walls would have been (on my car they were eventually removed, but only after the roll cage was built and the seats were installed). One of the members here, who is about 6’2†and ~220 lbs, sat in my seat and commented that he was “relatively comfortableâ€. So, given your stock firewall location you should have plenty of legroom and headroom with the sheet-metal seat without further mods to the Z unibody. However, you will have to mount the sheet metal seat to an actual roll cage. It would probably be illegal - not to mention unsafe - to attempt to mount the seat to fixtures bolted to the stock mounting points in the floor. And the seat would no longer be adjustable (would not slide back and forth).