Tarmac Rally Seats

[ozstang65]

There used to be a reg (still is??) regarding how close your head could be to the main hoop. I found this to be the main limitation to where I could put the main hoop.

[Roger Miller]

Diya read this ?................

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=52&start=61

[MK1_Oz]

Yeah I did mate. useful stuff.

I used 75x50x3 plates today and have the drivers side in. Had trouble getting the seat low enough as the Velo side brackets cannot be used with a Velo seat in the lowest position as the bolt head interferes with the seat bottom...go figure!

Codriver side tomorrow (hope they fit side by side)

[MK1_Oz]

OK. I now have both seats in. I think it is touch and go whether the main ROPS hoop will go infront of the rear seat crossmember or behind it.

My main concern really now is the navigator's seat. I have tried to get it low but have only achieved about 1.5" below the drivers. That doesnt bother me too much as I am not driving for sheep stations. What does concern me is that going low has limited how far into the middle I could mount the seat. Pushing it over as far as possible I discovered that the head restraint wing stops the doot shuting. The only options I could think of is to do as Roger did when mounting his seats low and that is to 'redesign' the side of the trans tunnel i.e. cut chunks out of it. After 2 days of stuffing around with seat bars I didnt have the heart nor head to do that so I had up some 5mm spacers to go under the navigators left hand seat bracket. THis had the effect of tilting the top of the seat over enough to not hit the door. Sitting in the seat I dont think you can pick the very slight lean (famous last words!).

I also had to extend the RHS nav seat bracket to ensure the bolt could be fitted into the bar (Velo told me there would be no issue with doing so).

In the last photo you can see I had to cut off the lower right had corner of the 75x50x3mm plate. Hope the scutineers dont mind

If the ROPS bloke cannot fit the side intrusion bars then I will just tell him to go to town and make the seats fit!!!!!

[Roger Miller]

.............So those things are anti crush tubes, not nuts.


viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3641



PS
Just wait till u get to drive the thing and you'll see the how weird you look with all the bruises on your right elbow.

You'll soon get used to it and develop this even weirder elbow / arm [right only] placement when steering, to miss the door and cage etc.

[MK1_Oz]

Is Escort elbow a known phenominon when using XL seats???

I either lose alot of size or poke up with it.....scrap that. I dont want to get smaller cos that would mean another mortgage to buy new smaller seats

[MK1_Oz]

[INBreplica]

there must be a way Glenn.If you ever saw the size of "team Overweight"(Mike Bell and Mal Sinfield) and the way they fitted into the ex works BDA,you would know what I mean.
attached is a Dallas Dogger pic of Mike

[MK1_Oz]

I'm not that cuddly!!!!!!!

Were there's a will theres a way. Guess I am just a little nervous about chopping the car about too much as I rate seat mounting strength reasonably high on my list of things to get right

[Momus]

I did one drivers seat install where the adjustable inner side mount was integrated into the tunnel which was also narrowed.
The seat mountings were 2 multi position nut plates welded on the inside of the tunnel.
The seat mounting bolts, 8 mm socket heads, went through sideways from the inside of the seat. There was a spreader under the capscrew head to protect the kevlar and a short spacer, large diameter from hard plastic, between the outer seat and the tunnel.
The outer seat mount ran fore aft with the height/rake adjustment plate welded directly.

[MK1_Oz]

[Momus]

You will be weakening the tunnel by reducing its cross section, but not by much if the job is done carefully.
It is a fairly common modification and CAMS allow it for Improved Production.

[MK1_Oz]

Cheers Momus. I assume you would change the brace underneath to suit the new metal's shape? Butt weld no good? Is the one piece of metal concept for ease or is moving the existing tunnel section inwards then filling with fresh metal just going to be weak?

I think your idea is pretty much what I had other than yours is larger and has an overlap weld.

[Momus]

Restore the bracing if you can. I like the lap seam for fitting ease and welding convenience and strength; it's usually what you see manufacturers do too in body shell construction.
Cutting then pushing the original tunnel section in is a reasonable way to do it though you will have unnecessary welded joints and sharp angles in the plane they are least strong.
Replacing a large section and jointing at OE lines is often easier and neater than trying to jig saw puzzle small pieces.
BTW a readily available sheet metal product called 'Zincanneal'; zinc coated, annealed steel sheet is a good option for easily formed, self healing, paintable, readily welded material.
Have fun.

[MK1_Oz]

ta for your help mate. got 85% of my roll over spit made this weekend so hopefully tomorrow I can turn her over and have a good look at it all!

[Gary P.]

Danny's car

[MK1_Oz]

[Steven F]

I have a pair of Cobra GT seats in my mk2, one Sebring Pro and one Suzuka Pro. They're pretty much the same size as your Velo seats. I'll see if i can get some pics of the mounts later today. One difference is the cage was put in first in my car, then the seat mounts then the harness mounts and harness bar.

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[MK1_Oz]

would appreciate it

[Steven F]

There are 4 pics up a couple of posts ago. What other angles do you want?