Seat swap list for s30's

[goob_os101]

I got a pair of barley used 370z seats.  Fit great, I just need to install new floor pan before I mount them.

 

 

[DocFreud]

 

 

 

 

it is done, my bodyshop didnt want to hammer it out, also they lowered the rails so i can sit lower. 

 

i like it how it turned out. 

 

only thing: i had to remove the sliders and revers the recaro side brackets, otherwise the seat would be to close to the wheel.

[ZvirgoMan]

Does the 280z and zx have the same measurements I heard they were different widths

 

Thank you 1979 280zx owner

  

[ZvirgoMan]

Don't know if this helps but 3 q35 seats bolt right into 350z with a little massaging to quote the gentleman on that tread and since 350z seats fit 280z I figured this might help not sure if you had this on the list or not have a good day

[auxilary]

This weekend Capt_Furious and I installed NA Miata seats into his early 260z. I know there are other Miata seat posts in this thread, but hey, why not add more of the same

 

Picked up a pair of NA Miata seats with rails for $100. No major tears - just some usual wear on the driver's side bolster, but no holes or major tears. These have speakers in the headrests, so the wires were cut hanging out of the back. They were dirty and got a decent cleaning from a wet-vac (I needed to rug-doctor the carpets at home, so... this worked out).

 

 

Miata seats rails. The spacing between stock Z rails and stock Miata rails is about 3/4" difference.

 

 

The guide pins and mount tabs are riveted in, so they had to be drilled out and they pop right off. The mount tabs on the other side were cut off.  

 

We used the guide pin hole as the reference point and drilled new holes in the back of each rail. M8x1.25 45mm long bolts were welded in so they wouldn't spin. These were regular hex head bolts and cleared internal rail guts just fine.

 

 

When we removed the driver's side seat, we found that the mount tabs were cracked/torn. The rear mount plate fully separated at the spot weld and had a huge crack, so I welded in 1/8" plates to fix this. Ugly but functional.

 

Drilled new holes off a cardboard template I made and the seats went in like butter. The seat height is taller than stock and the headrests are lower than Z head rests, despite the seats looking to be of the same height. 

 

Edited September 5, 2021 by auxilary

[capt_furious]

The ol' MK I calibrated butt dyno says the car is MUCH faster with the new seats.

 

We all know that's a lie.  My keister's been lying to me for decades.

 

But, I'm much more comfortable and confident than I was with the nearly 50 year old factory seats out of aux's 240.  That's got to be worth something.  With the mounts fixed and the newer seats, there's much less perceived shake / rattle, and the bolstering is what I'm used to from my much-maligned and departed '94 Miata M Edition.

 

A drive up Suisun Valley, into Wooden Valley and past Berryessa on Saturday had me pushing the car in the turns much more than in the past.  Thanks to all of aux's boredom and hard work during COVID, new suspension, tires, and seats really make for an improved ride, even if much of it is perception.

Edited September 8, 2021 by capt_furious

[Michael]

Its interesting that you fellows have a positive impression of the Miata seats.  My daily driver is a 1991 Miata, and while the seats are functional, they aren't exactly the highlight of the car.  In the Miata community, tossing the stock seats and replacing them with something aftermarket, is a common practice... first for more support, and second to save weight.  Yet another alternative is the "surfboard" (high back) seats from the NB2 Miata.

[JMortensen]

I had a NB and the surfboard seats suck. Worst part about the NB.

[ZedsDeadBaby]

Let me start by saying I am a tall driver at 6'6", I am looking to update my stock seats. So far I have tried leather Miata seats, like another poster said here, they arent really an upgrade and wont stop you from moving around IMO. Plus for tall drivers, you lose an inch in height from stock seats.

Next I tried the Sparco R100, the shoulder wings rub the driver side door jam, plus you lose about 2 inches in height over stock. For taller drivers i would suggest removing the rails below the seat but i am not sure if that fixes the shoulder issue.

Next I tried the Cobra classic RS seat (Pictures includes, you can add to the list), they fit great, look great but again i lose height unless i remove the rails.

[JMortensen]

The factory mounts are pretty tall. I think you're going to have to remove them with any seat you choose at that height. If you want to race might need to go 1x1 square frame and screw directly into the tubes.

BTW, removing the mounts is a PITA too. 487 spot welds holding those bastards in.