Seat dilemma: sitting lower in the 240 and where to mount harness
Seat dilemma: sitting lower in the 240 and where to mount harness
So, I want to sit lower in my s14. I am 6'1" and my head sorta hits the ceiling some times, when it's not poking up into the moon roof area. I also want to start doing solo2 and there is no way in hell I can wear a helmet with this current setup.So I started exploring seating options and found that I will have to go with a bucket seat with side mount rails to get it to sit lower. I would prefer a reclineable seat for convenience but I am willing to make the sacrifice as that seems like my only option. I've read that the bride "ultra low" rails put the seat right on the floor and still allow you to slide it forward and back.With a bucket seat I will need a 4-5 point harness. My question is how to connect the harness into my car without having a roll cage and keeping my backseat... I would be willing to run some of the straps over the back seat in such a way that no one could sit behind me... but I would prefer to leave the back seat clear.If anyone has insight into a good seat to run that sits nice and low, or how to connect up the harness please let me know. I'd like to get everything purchased and setup in the next couple weeks if possible.
Re: (Enlefo)
We got stuff - this is talked about enough times on this forum that it shouldn't be "too hard" to find.
In any case, you don't have that many options unless you go sidemount seat...
Bride Vios III Low Max w/ Low Max rails should be the lowest you can get. Full bucket. That's what I plan on running soon.
You can also get Sparco Pro2000 or Evo, Recaro SPG, Buddy Club, Bride Zeta III/Zeta III L, the list goes on & on. Those w/ a Bride FG rail will sit you about another 1" or so lower, but will be reclined a bit. If you straighten it out, it will sit higher. If you run a Nagisa/Nams rail instead, you will sit straighter, but closer to stock height.
You can work w/ the reclined seating position by getting a deep dish Nardi wheel or Momo/Sparco/Whatever wheel w/ a spacer. All depends on personal preference.
From there, you can remove the bottom cushion on track events to give yourself 1" or so more of clearance - I've done this for autox days, not that bad.
That's about as good as you can do w/ any "bolt-in" solutions. The other choices are to get a non-sunroof model or vert.
Now onto the harnesses - if you do a search, we've discussed this in great detail. There is no "safe" way to mount it w/o a roll bar - even harness bars are a little bit sketchy, but I guess they are better than nothing.
You can either mount it to a harness bar (they sell bolt in ones) or use the rear upper shoulder seat belt bolt area (I think S14's also have one). And only use those for autox & you'll be fine.
In any case, you don't have that many options unless you go sidemount seat...
Bride Vios III Low Max w/ Low Max rails should be the lowest you can get. Full bucket. That's what I plan on running soon.
You can also get Sparco Pro2000 or Evo, Recaro SPG, Buddy Club, Bride Zeta III/Zeta III L, the list goes on & on. Those w/ a Bride FG rail will sit you about another 1" or so lower, but will be reclined a bit. If you straighten it out, it will sit higher. If you run a Nagisa/Nams rail instead, you will sit straighter, but closer to stock height.
You can work w/ the reclined seating position by getting a deep dish Nardi wheel or Momo/Sparco/Whatever wheel w/ a spacer. All depends on personal preference.
From there, you can remove the bottom cushion on track events to give yourself 1" or so more of clearance - I've done this for autox days, not that bad.
That's about as good as you can do w/ any "bolt-in" solutions. The other choices are to get a non-sunroof model or vert.
Now onto the harnesses - if you do a search, we've discussed this in great detail. There is no "safe" way to mount it w/o a roll bar - even harness bars are a little bit sketchy, but I guess they are better than nothing.
You can either mount it to a harness bar (they sell bolt in ones) or use the rear upper shoulder seat belt bolt area (I think S14's also have one). And only use those for autox & you'll be fine.
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Vegascorbin
- Posts: 732
- Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2007 9:56 am
- Car: 1990 240sx dirt track race car
Re: Seat dilemma: sitting lower in the 240 and where to mount harness (Enlefo)
If yo uhave achoice go for the 5 point harness. The lower strap will keep the belts from riding up and allows the othr 4 point to work effectivly. Also remember that the belt should be worn TIGHT. Thats how ther were designed and intended to be worn. cost differance between a 4 point and a 5 point are nill.
Re: (CRIPES)
I've never seen that site before... interesting stuff... dunno if I'd buy some unknown brand though.CRIPES wrote:try here....
http://www.memoryfab.com/produ...ar136
http://www.memoryfab.com/produ...ar135
I've done some research and found that the GIAS is gonna be to small for me. I sat in a Recaro pole position and it was pretty nice. Thinking about a Profi XL since it's the same size as a pole position but wider shoulders and better padding. I don't know if I can get it to work with my stock belt though. Anyone else have any good info?
Re: (Enlefo)
FAT ***!!! hahaha, lose some weight! that's what I'm doin .
I actually just installed my Bride Vios III ("Low Max" seating, sits similar to GIAS I believe, but full bucket). It's the ONLY way to go. Sits almost perfectly center - I'm sure I could get it to sit perfectly center if I take it out & adjust it some more. I'm a 36" waist & still squeezeeeeee into the VIOS okay. I need to lose a lil more weight though, haha.
Once you go full bucket, you "shouldn't" run stock harness anymore, since it orientates you different & stuff. That being said, I still do run my stock harness, but that's just for legality purposes, I have a 5-point that I use/will use underneather for safety since I'm also running a roll bar.
Found this picture from bride-jp.com, it's pretty neat (& w/ the amount of seats I've been through, seems pretty accurate too):
I actually just installed my Bride Vios III ("Low Max" seating, sits similar to GIAS I believe, but full bucket). It's the ONLY way to go. Sits almost perfectly center - I'm sure I could get it to sit perfectly center if I take it out & adjust it some more. I'm a 36" waist & still squeezeeeeee into the VIOS okay. I need to lose a lil more weight though, haha.
Once you go full bucket, you "shouldn't" run stock harness anymore, since it orientates you different & stuff. That being said, I still do run my stock harness, but that's just for legality purposes, I have a 5-point that I use/will use underneather for safety since I'm also running a roll bar.
Found this picture from bride-jp.com, it's pretty neat (& w/ the amount of seats I've been through, seems pretty accurate too):
LOL I was like 190 a few months ago now I'm 175... Not gonna make my hip bone any smaller though and that's the tight part on the GIAS I've heard. Good to know on the VIOS. This whole thing keeps turning into more and more of a cluster f. I don't wanna cage the car and lose my back seat but I need to sit lower... arg.
Re: (Enlefo)
ROFL, ur 175 & 6'1"? You'll fit in basically ALL the Brides dood... The GIAS should fit just like the VIOS. Based on internet "research", there would be no chance in hell I would ever fit any Bride seat...
Even the Zeta III's (which I did not fit when I was 160lbs btw, back in 2002), have been redesigned - I sat in one maybe 2 months ago & I fit - 190lbs now.
175lbs, don't make me laugh - unless somehow you managed to get ALL ur weight into ur hips & have a 40" waist line...
W/ no cage/roll bar, my best suggestion for lower seating position is one of the Bride Low Max Reclinables (GIAS, Stradia, Cuga, etc). Expensive, but you gotta pay to play.
Even the Zeta III's (which I did not fit when I was 160lbs btw, back in 2002), have been redesigned - I sat in one maybe 2 months ago & I fit - 190lbs now.
175lbs, don't make me laugh - unless somehow you managed to get ALL ur weight into ur hips & have a 40" waist line...
W/ no cage/roll bar, my best suggestion for lower seating position is one of the Bride Low Max Reclinables (GIAS, Stradia, Cuga, etc). Expensive, but you gotta pay to play.
Re: (brokeAs240sx)
See.... after my original run of research I decided the GIAS was perfect. Then I spoke with a several dealers who said it would be to small for me. Both said they were about my size and that a GIAS would not be comfortable for long trips etc. Also started another thread about this on Northwest Nissan's and one guy who sells seats said if I was a 32 waist or bigger I would not be comfortable. I am 32-34. This car is my DD and I want to be able to take road trips in it. I wish I could find a dealer who actually stocked some of these things so I could sit in one.
Modified by Enlefo at 5:25 PM 4/24/2008
Modified by Enlefo at 5:25 PM 4/24/2008
Re: (Enlefo)
Do what I do, buy the damn seat anyway - make er fit, hee hee. "Uncomfortable" is all relative.
Always the option of keeping stock seat for daily & swapping out on race weekends - this is probably your best bet if you are not willing to sacrifice daily driving "discomfort".
I have to get out of a VIOS several times a day. It sucks. I think my fatness stretched the seat out some. At first, ur like "damn, this sucks", then you get used to it... just don't drive in more comfy new cars, haha.
It all depends on how much you are willing to sacrifice, hee hee.
Even something like the Buddy Club wide (think it's called standard now) should work okay - cheap seat, combine that w/ the Bride FG Rail (will sit you lower, but angled back) or Nagisa Rail (will sit you a lil higher but straighter, but you can always remove the seat padding during autox). I've taken trips for at least a hundred miles, race, then drive hom, in this seat just fine.
I still think the GIAS will fit you just fine & you will love it - your choice, obviously. Of course, I'm no "dealer".
32-34" waists have NO issues w/ any of the current Bride seats. I don't sell seats, but I've sat in plenty. Feel free to ignore the 36" waist guy who 'shouldn't' fit in Brides of any kind... There are also other reclinable models, I think the Stradia or Cuga may sit a lil wider than the GIAS if you are really that concerned.
Good luck in your search.
Always the option of keeping stock seat for daily & swapping out on race weekends - this is probably your best bet if you are not willing to sacrifice daily driving "discomfort".
I have to get out of a VIOS several times a day. It sucks. I think my fatness stretched the seat out some. At first, ur like "damn, this sucks", then you get used to it... just don't drive in more comfy new cars, haha.
It all depends on how much you are willing to sacrifice, hee hee.
Even something like the Buddy Club wide (think it's called standard now) should work okay - cheap seat, combine that w/ the Bride FG Rail (will sit you lower, but angled back) or Nagisa Rail (will sit you a lil higher but straighter, but you can always remove the seat padding during autox). I've taken trips for at least a hundred miles, race, then drive hom, in this seat just fine.
I still think the GIAS will fit you just fine & you will love it - your choice, obviously. Of course, I'm no "dealer".
32-34" waists have NO issues w/ any of the current Bride seats. I don't sell seats, but I've sat in plenty. Feel free to ignore the 36" waist guy who 'shouldn't' fit in Brides of any kind... There are also other reclinable models, I think the Stradia or Cuga may sit a lil wider than the GIAS if you are really that concerned.
Good luck in your search.
So I called this Bride dealer and spoke with this really ice a guy over there, he has some zeta III L's in his s14. He said the low max seats like GIAS and VIOS will run into the hump in the floor right under the front part of the seat in s14's and will not fit :-( he said maybe if you jack them up all the way but then you won't be any lower.
I don't wanna swap out seats. My stock drivers seat is getting worn down and is separating in the middle on the bottom cushion. Also the seat doesn't come out far enough and doesn't support the back of my knees. So my right leg hurts after long drives.
I don't wanna swap out seats. My stock drivers seat is getting worn down and is separating in the middle on the bottom cushion. Also the seat doesn't come out far enough and doesn't support the back of my knees. So my right leg hurts after long drives.
Re: (Enlefo)
I think I know what he is talking about - it should only be an issue if you have really short legs - the hump in the seat is toward the back, so if you scoot the seat real close, then it hits the hump on the floor in the front -> that's a REALLY short person who probably won't be able to see past the top of the steering wheel in a Low Max in the lowest position in the first place.
If you are seriously considering a GIAS or VIOS or other Low Max system in your s14, I'll find some time in the next couple weeks to test fit my seat into my friend's S14 & see how it all fits & exactly where the hump on the seat hits the hump on the car & snap some pictures.
Of course, if you are just "eh" about them & this isn't making or breaking your decision, then I won't bother.
If you are seriously considering a GIAS or VIOS or other Low Max system in your s14, I'll find some time in the next couple weeks to test fit my seat into my friend's S14 & see how it all fits & exactly where the hump on the seat hits the hump on the car & snap some pictures.
Of course, if you are just "eh" about them & this isn't making or breaking your decision, then I won't bother.
Re: (brokeAs240sx)
Wow, that's quite an offer. I think I should be able to gather the info I need without that but I'll let you know. I am enrolled in a race driving school on May 16th so I need to get a seat installed in my car before then. I am gonna call up Touge Factory again and ask them some more fitment questions. They were who I was originally gonna buy the GIAS through. I spoke with a guy there who suggested I was to big for it and that I should check out some Recaro's. I am gonna run up to Seattle this weekend (200 miles up) and check out the Zeta III L this guy has, then run over to another shop and check out the Recaro SPG Profi XL and the Sparco Evo 2+.The Zeta III L is about an inch wider at the hips and an inch and a half at the shoulders, so unless that has a bit of wiggle room I'll have to dismiss the GIAS as to small.
Re: (Enlefo)
Zeta III (& L) & Recaro SPG should be a great fit. THE Profi XL sounds a bit big (ppl my size can "comfortably" fit the SPG).
New Zeta's are easy peezy to fit in (I don't know if tees-usa has updated the sizing on the Zeta III's on their site, but as I said, the new ones fit much easier than the ones from several years ago).
New Zeta's are easy peezy to fit in (I don't know if tees-usa has updated the sizing on the Zeta III's on their site, but as I said, the new ones fit much easier than the ones from several years ago).
So, I drove up to Seattle Saturday and I ended up getting a sparco evo 2 plus. Fits GREAT. Didn't get it mounted in the car yet cuz the dealer I got it from didn't have the correct brackets. But got the seat, rails and sliders and he said he'll ship me the brackets this week when they come in. Got the Recaro rails/sliders, dealer said they were lower profile. I'll update about fitment when I get it in the car. If it isn't low enough I'll try a set of Bride hardware.
Re: (Enlefo)
That's what you get for not listening to "Q to the V", :P.Enlefo wrote:Well, got the last piece of hardware today... the seat sat about an inch HIGHER then stock... Sparco mounting stuff is lame. Needless to say now I have to return these and track down some bride FG rails and see how those do.
Just FYI, I don't think the evo 2's even fit Bride FG rails w/o custom L brackets (they fit the EVO, but that's already about max sizing). A Local shop guy went through a bunch of different seats and informed me of this.
The Vios are fitting my 36" *** great daily driving
ha ha yeah, I wanted to check out the Bride Zeta III's when I was up there... drove out a ways to meet with this dude at his shop. He told me he had Zeta III's in his s14 and I could see how they fit. After driving 150 miles up there though he flaked. So I just went to my other destination and checked out the recaro's and sparco's. I am really happy with the seat and I am gonna get some Nagisa rails for it. I talked to a local shop and they said they sit even lower then the bride FG rails and should fit my seat. The Evo 2 and the Evo2 plus are the same size in every dimension except height so I hope they fit.
Re: (Enlefo)
Good luck! Would love to see how these work out for you. Lots of 240 guys have issues w/ getting the right side mount seat (mostly taller/bigger guys). I think between the two of us, we'll have most of the seat configs down, haha.
When I was running the Buddy Club wide (now called standard), I had it with both Bride FG & Nagisa/Nams rails.
The Bride FG was definitely lower than stock, but sat you back @ an angle. Once you get it straight by moving the rear mounting hole up, the lower than stock advantage disappears.
The Nagisa rail I ran w/ the same seat sat you @ a proper upright angle but also sat you higher than the FG, and very similar to stock height, if not very slightly higher from what I remember. I worked around that for autox by removing the bottom cushion during my runs.
Of course, now I worked around everything by getting a convertible
When I was running the Buddy Club wide (now called standard), I had it with both Bride FG & Nagisa/Nams rails.
The Bride FG was definitely lower than stock, but sat you back @ an angle. Once you get it straight by moving the rear mounting hole up, the lower than stock advantage disappears.
The Nagisa rail I ran w/ the same seat sat you @ a proper upright angle but also sat you higher than the FG, and very similar to stock height, if not very slightly higher from what I remember. I worked around that for autox by removing the bottom cushion during my runs.
Of course, now I worked around everything by getting a convertible