Solo2GS

Just got a new 99 FRC with adjustable sport seats with the factory space to put harness straps through the head rest. Adjustment is great and I have a good 1" of head room and plenty of legroom driving the car with the seat all the way down and back. What I need is an extra anything 1/2" - 1" to fit comfortably with a helmet on.

Any suggestions on how to get the seat lower to the floor?

davidfarmer

Take the padding out maybe. I have some old seats and am going to try that for a friend. You might be able to modify the bottom of the mounts, by cutting/welding, but I'm not sure off hand. We may also take the headliner out.

Solo2GS

I know Hardbar makes csutom seat rails for race seats, but wonder if they work on the stock seats any?

Only solutions from my forum search so far are:

- Take 1 or 2 springs off of the OEM seat bottoms to let me sink into seat a bit further. (maybe get 1/2 inch).

- Remove a bit of foam from seat (trade off of comfort vs. drop)

Us tall guys have all the fun! Seems someone makes a 1-2" seat lowering kit for Viper seats, I am surprised no one has come up with a kit for the C5 seats.

rikhek

FWIW,

I'm only 6' and I CAN'T run with a helmet AND the top on. I must take my top off during track use. I don't run in the rain or when it's real cold so I can live with it. Only way to fit with a helmet is to lay the seat back gangsta' style. I can't drive the car in a prone position....

Rick

Solo2GS

Anyone try hardbar seat rails on a factory seat?

I was reading another post about getting some more headroom...

StArrow68

I've see several posts over the years that taking 2 of the 4 springs out
of the seat bottom gives about an inch extra room.
Randy

Webz

Solo2GS

Great link. I am going to have to take the seat out and place with it. Maybe make changes then measure how far off the ground the top of my head is while having the seat on the garage floor.

So how did your project come out at the end of that post?

RAFTeRACER

Take the padding out of your helmet!

larryfs

ghoffman

Sorry for any confusion, but our seat rails are made for racing seats that have side mounts, or NASCAR type seats (Kirkey, Butlerbuilt etc)and do not work for stock seats. With a Kirkey on our rails, you can actually put the seats almost on the floor:

The Sparco Evo can go as low as the floor as well. The best thing is this system allows you to stop compromising and put in a proper seat for the track, and go back to your street seat for the street and the swap only takes a few minutes. The racing seats allow the lap and shoulder belts to be correct, and allow you to use the steering wheel to steer the car, not as a handle to hold on. They are available for C4, C5, C6 and C6ZO6, Viper, anodized red, black, or plain.
http://hardbarusa.com/hardbar/produc...products_id=45

Solo2GS

I did the old spring trick and it seems to have given me about a 1/2" or slightly more headroom. Helmet just barely brushes the roof which if far more acceptable. However I can see in the long run getting a proper race seat will be next as it only takes 4 nuts to take out the seat and swapping them back and forth will be easy.



By adjusting the springs in the back of the seat if allows the seat to sit lower.

Solo2GS

An update. I did what you did above and it worked out great. Just enough headroom now to make it work!

Turbopower87

I know this is an old post but does ziptieing the springs under the seat like that create any extra stress on the seats? Does it make it less comfortable?

Solo2GS

It doesn't make it any less comfortable for me. Better then bouncing my head off the roof! How much extra room do sport seats give I don't know. What I do know is I am 6' 5" and with a helmet on I can fit in my car and not touch the roof. In a 2004 Z06 with the seat all the way down I touch the roof!