Seating - Options?

BigBird68 · Post by **BigBird68** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 2:15 pm

I've read a few posts regarding seating when the driver is 5'4" or less, how about if the driver is like me 6'8" tall. Looking for a seat that will allow my right knee not to much involvement with shifting.

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 3:18 pm

Just take the front seat out and sit in the back.

I wonder if adding metal to the seat mount and redrilling the mounting holes would be feasable.

Gerard Del Monte · Post by **Gerard Del Monte** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:31 pm

I don't know, brother, I am shy of 6'-1" and my seat is jammed back as far as it will go and is JUST workable. If you are that tall, I dunno. Any possibility of jiggling pedal locations and gaining any foot/leg room that way?

Mark_vaughn · Post by **Mark_vaughn** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:19 pm

mdrburchette wrote:Just take the front seat out and sit in the back.
I wonder if adding metal to the seat mount and redrilling the mounting holes would be feasable.

I would go this route. You could probably pick up 3-5 inches by moving the mounting points back with rail extentions. You could probably just use angle iron for the extentions, and it may lower the seat a little which could help also.

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 12:59 pm

Hey Big Bird,

what year is your Spider? Sounds like you are asking for 6 or more inches, which i cannot envision possible with a back seat in place.

Denise may sound like she said it tongue-in-cheek, but her advice may be your only route.

If you remove that back seat, and play with the front seat mounting locations, you may be able to get a couple of inches, but not before the seat becomes tipsy. You'll need to somehow prop up the back of the seat gliders as you move the whole assembly back off the raised standard mounting blocks.

BigBird68 · Post by **BigBird68** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 1:35 pm

I have a 1980 Spider, I use to have a 75 Fiat "Abrath" Spider when I lived in Hawaii and didn't have this leg problem.

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 8:01 pm

is it possible that the seat tracks have attracted some grime, dirt, and gunk....and no longer move back to the extreme rearward position?

might be a good time to remove the seat, take off the tracks and clean them thoroughly....lightly coat them with a lubricant....properly reinstall and see if you've gained leg room.

my '80 driver's seat does not travel well rearward, and i can tell by looking at the passenger side that it has lost some rear travel. this does not bother me, cuz i am only 5'7"....and it travels far enough back for it's main man (me).

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 8:16 pm

if the seat track hold-down bolts get loose, they'll block the track from moving all of the way back

1976fiatspider · Post by **1976fiatspider** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:16 pm

just a thought.... I stand about 6 feet and was not really comfortable with the seat pushed all the way back.... legs too long.
I noticed that by removing the retracting lap belt I could get a few more inches of travel out of the drivers seat... only problem was there was no other place to mount the belt..... the solution I came up with was a non retractable, middle seat belt from a large 1970 chevy sedan. Not sure which model, but it was the correct color and it even fit the fiat belt latch.

grin fixed my leg problem, only now I find that I wish the car had tilt steering and a longer gear shift... oh well!!
cheers!!!

fiater · Post by **fiater** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:36 pm

BigBird, How's head room with the top up? I'm 5'10" and my head almost touches the top. Also with the sun visor down, I can't see under it. Also, With the seat back far enough for my legs, I have to stretch to reach the 10-2 position on the wheel. I heard that Italians prefer the 5-7 position. I'd like to put a tilt-telescoping wheel in both of my Fiats. Italians must have short legs and long arms. I love my Fiats, but they're the most uncomfortable (but the coolest) cars that I've ever owned.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 9:33 pm

I find the seating position very comfortable, a vast improvement over the classic Brit style with the steering wheel shoved into your chest. Of course I did swap in a pair of Honda Prelude seats

fiater · Post by **fiater** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:08 am

Mark, Ever since I saw that CRX seats were an easy swap, I've been wanting to change my seats. Did the Prelude seats bolt right in, or did you have to get creative? also is there less headroom with them? thanks

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:04 am

it was an easy installation, I just had to make some small brackets. I'd say it increased the headroom, I think the seats are lower than the stock ones. I never drive with the top up, so it's hard to say for sure

fiater · Post by **fiater** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 8:45 pm

Once again, thanks Mark. p.s. It never rains in calif.?

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 9:12 pm

not very often, but we did have snow flurries this morning!