Crumpler

I wanted to do a DE event this spring in the 86.5, but with a helmet on I don't fit.
I got some good ideas over on the racing forum, but after research, I still don't feel like there is a viable way to do this.

It's a sunroof model, and I'm 6'4, so even on good days, there is about a one-centimeter clearance between my bald head and the roof panel.

I have looked at the Planted seat base adapters and racing seats. But, even with that, I won't get back the 2.5 inches I need to be lowered.
In addition, how do you do aftermarket seats when the seat belt attaches to the OEM seats and not the tunnel?
I have a spare set of OEM seats and looked at trying to eliminate factory sliders or some other way to lower the power seat.
I even looked at some way to pull the roof panel for more room... not happening.

Has anyone tackled this before?
I have enough desire to buy a racing seat, side mounts, and adapters if there is an aftermarket option out there that will work.

Beyond that, I don't want to go nuts on the car for a weekend DE.
Doing DE in the BMW does not sound like as much fun, so I may just bow out, which is a huge bummer.

BC

You need to look at non-sunroof cars. Slamming the seat down will help some, but the 2 inches above your head or a bit less in reality is what makes a huge difference. You can remove the frame of the sunroof and sort of make the panel there permanent without affecting the outside the car, but it would be a wiki-up.

At 6"3", it makes a huge difference, even with normal seats.

gazfish

Crumpler

Yeah, I thought I could pull the panel but the tracks for the sunroof itself are incorporated into it. Then it would get pretty hairy in terms of modifications, with a point of no return.
Rats, I guess this one will remain "never been tracked or DE".





I am boycotting the NFL by the way.
St. Louis has been robbed of two teams over the years.
We agreed to give (he who shall not be named) the stadium he wanted and he still left with the Rams in the middle of the night.
When the league allows teams to move just because they can increase profit margins in a different market -- you are going to lose all brand loyalty from the fans.

77tony

The Forgotten On

Yeah, the early sport seats are low and with out a sunroof you can turn your hand sideways and still not touch the roof.

At least that's what I could do in my 81. I'm only 5'8 but I have a long torso like someone who is 6'2.

I would look for a set of the later sport seats so you still have functioning seat belts.

928 GT R

Different approach that I used in my outlaw GT to make helmet room for track days:

I was solo so I purchased one Recaro SPG seat with slider and removed both seats. Instead of tying to use the factory belts, I had a Harness Bar fabricated and use 5 point racing belts.

The harness bar mounts where the shoulder harnesses normally mount and positions the belts properly above your shoulders to avoid compressive spinal injuries (unlike mounting your belts to the roll bars that are sold for 928's.)

On the track, you will find that the 5 point belts are a huge bonus in keeping your seating position stable. I prefer to be fairly close to the wheel and like the seat back set fairly erect.

I will go to the car cave in the next couple of days and take a coupe of photos and measure if I gained the 2.5 inches you need.

Crumpler

Thanks Tony, I thought the manual seat were lower, I will start looking.
I sort of decided to explore the sunroof delete last night. I think this is a non-starter without that 1.5 inches.
I was going to dig into it today.
The car is already a resto-mod so the delete wouldn't be the end of the world.




Blake I've heard about this long "torso" of yours...
Yeah, if there is an option to have stock belts I would like to keep it stock. I don't know why I thought the belts hit the tunnel instead of the seats.

Thanks Doc, any pics are appreciated!
I got a recardo XL coming on loan to see how feasible this is.

hacker-pschorr

Side mount seat brackets and a narrow seat is the lowest you can go. I have Recaro Pole Position seats in my 79, with side mount brackets on the stock rails, the "butt" of the seat is as low as the mounting points on the floor.

Richard S

I used a Recaro SPG, with the stock seat belt receptacle attached to the Recaro.

I believe the early cars had the receptacle bolted to the tunnel, but the later cars had it attached to the seat.

Rich

FredR

Blake,

You must be a low down bum!

77tony

and where is one to find said side mount brackets ? TIA T

hacker-pschorr

From Recaro. It's the only way to mount most fixed back hard shell FIA certified seats.

Brey-Krause also makes their own.

Speaking of Brey-Krause, the seatbelt attachment isn't a unique problem to the 928 and they make some interesting solutions for that:

https://www.bkauto.com/R_9005_Harnes...t_p/r-9005.htm

Another option for sub belts:
https://www.bkauto.com/R_9035_Sub_St...t_p/r-9035.htm

77tony

Erik, so...would you happen to know if these^^brackets work with a set of 79 comfort seats and approx how much headroom would be gained ? TIA T

hacker-pschorr

Not without radically modifying the seats, even then not sure it's feasible.

But I think you are missing the big picture. How low my seats are is because of the design of the seat. The side mount brackets give you an option to mount the seats without the slider which will give another 1/4" or so of headroom.

With a little modification I think I could get these seats even lower, but those stock units are too wide to go there.