Can the OEM seats be lowered?

[funkynsx]

Hi guy's,
I'm wondering if it is possible to get the oem seats to sit a bit lower?
I'm 6 3" tall and and dont really have enough headspace to fit a helmut(only 1 inch clearance now).
Any suggestion's would be appreciated.
Cheers

 

[mystican]

take out bottom seat cushion...worked very well for me I am approx 6 feet 1 inch

 

[funkynsx]

Ive done that and also bought the dali tall person cushion but it's not that comfortable.
i'm thinking i may trim the oem cushion down a bit and push out the bolsters further.
I was just wondering if the seat can be mounted lower.
Cheers

 

[TURBO2GO]

Ive done that and also bought the dali tall person cushion but it's not that comfortable.
i'm thinking i may trim the oem cushion down a bit and push out the bolsters further.
I was just wondering if the seat can be mounted lower.
Cheers

No it cannot. The bottom of the stock seat is touching the carpet at its lowest point.

 

[Pruhnke]

I have been dealing with the same issue and hopefully the Recaro Pole Position and SOS rail system I picked up yesterday will provide a bit more headroom. I was never really comfortable on track with the seat cushion out sitting on the aluminum pan and slouching.

http://nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71133

from one of my searches on the same subject.

 

[funkynsx]

I have been dealing with the same issue and hopefully the Recaro Pole Position and SOS rail system I picked up yesterday will provide a bit more headroom. I was never really comfortable on track with the seat cushion out sitting on the aluminum pan and slouching.

http://nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71133

from one of my searches on the same subject.

I tried out the Recaro pole position seat yesterday and found it didnt fit me aswell as the oem seat.
And apparently the leather PP seats are not real leather. some synthetic material.
thanks guy's, i appreciate your responses.

 

[TURBO2GO]

Pole positions are a small seat. I'm about 185 and they don't fit me. Here is a fact: OEM seat's shell brushes the carpet. It's that low. No other seat can go any lower. Seats that claim this have less cushioning. I'm pretty comfy with the Dali type cushion I have and gained 2+ inches of headroom. This solution is cheap and works well. What about this is uncomfortable for you? I'd consider a having a cushion made with firmer material maybe... Or softer... Maybe something with memory foam. That will mold itself to your ass. The OEM seat is also very light. The weight is in the rail, not the seat.

 

[clarkm]

Memory foam can be thinner than regular foam, yet still keep you off the seat frame. I have back trouble, and sitting on memory foam, is the only way I can tolerate a trip of any distance, in anything, especially an nsx.

 

[TURBO2GO]

I don't know why they don't use memory foam in entire seats.

 

[angus]

I am 6ft. with a long torso and I have the seat cushion removed but the leather is installed directly to the seat with only 1/4" memory foam, still comfortable and if I wanted to I could wear a ten gallon hat...

 

[funkynsx]

I am 6ft. with a long torso and I have the seat cushion removed but the leather is installed directly to the seat with only 1/4" memory foam, still comfortable and if I wanted to I could wear a ten gallon hat...

lol,
sounds like i will work on getting a better cushion made up.
Cheers

 

[nsxalot]

I don't know why they don't use memory foam in entire seats.

In the cold Memory foam is like a rock.

Lance

 

[Tytus]

I bought a 911 Turbo to solve my head clearence problem for track duty. Works very well with room to spare.

I also bought the lowest profile Helmet and couldn't fit properly in the NSX.

All kidding aside at your height to fit into the NSX with a helmet is a "Tall Order", I couldn't help myself with the pun.

Good luck,

Tytus

 

[funkynsx]

I bought a 911 Turbo to solve my head clearence problem for track duty. Works very well with room to spare.

I also bought the lowest profile Helmet and couldn't fit properly in the NSX.

All kidding aside at your height to fit into the NSX with a helmet is a "Tall Order", I couldn't help myself with the pun.

Good luck,

Tytus

I will be able to get low enough with a helmut on, it's just a trade off between confort and head room.

 

[Tytus]

I will be able to get low enough with a helmut on, it's just a trade off between confort and head room.

The problem is to be in the proper driving position as being reclined and driving with your finger tips or stretched out arms is not safe.

You should be firmly secured all the way back in your seat, not slouched, with your shoulders tight against the seat and the bottom of your wrist touching the top of the steering wheel with your hand stretched out. If to get head clearance you are further away from the wheel than that you are too far for safe car control on a track. Also your legs should never hit the wheel or your hands when turning, shifting, breaking and Toe/healing.

A lot depends on your Ape Index, if your hands are longer and torso shorter you may be able to fit fine, that is why it is not a question of height but body geometry.

Good luck,

Tytus

 

[funkynsx]

The problem is to be in the proper driving position as being reclined and driving with your finger tips or stretched out arms is not safe.

You should be firmly secured all the way back in your seat, not slouched, with your shoulders tight against the seat and the bottom of your wrist touching the top of the steering wheel with your hand stretched out. If to get head clearance you are further away from the wheel than that you are too far for safe car control on a track. Also your legs should never hit the wheel or your hands when turning, shifting, breaking and Toe/healing.

A lot depends on your Ape Index, if your hands are longer and torso shorter you may be able to fit fine, that is why it is not a question of height but body geometry.

Good luck,

Tytus

Everything you mentioned happens but i've got a plan to improve the situation.
I've got to have the seat right back cos of my long legs but i am too far away from the steering wheel so i'm getting a sparco d shaped wheel and a spacer to move the wheel closer to me. With the combo of a smaller wheel and bringing it forward should solve my problems.
Cheers

 

[docjohn]

As Tytus and you have mentioned for the track, body/limb position is very important ,but so is your ability to comfortably use those limbs...that means that as you gain speed and comfort level you will be spending more energy/effort bracing your body as well as trying to drive the car,this wastes your efforts,so consider a propper 5-6 point harness system down the road.Then read all of Daves(turbo2go) posts about his track journey:wink:

 

[funkynsx]

As Tytus and you have mentioned for the track, body/limb position is very important ,but so is your ability to comfortably use those limbs...that means that as you gain speed and comfort level you will be spending more energy/effort bracing your body as well as trying to drive the car,this wastes your efforts,so consider a propper 5-6 point harness system down the road.Then read all of Daves(turbo2go) posts about his track journey:wink:

I would like a 5 or 6 point harness but i have read a few posts that say if i have no roll cage installed it could be dangerous in the event of a roll over cos i would have no where to go if the roof caves in.
Also i would need a harness bar that doesnt take up much space behind the seat.
Most of these decisions all come back to will i have enough room.
Maybe i will invest in a shrinking ray gun.:wink:

 

[docjohn]

thats why I refered you to turbos threads about the whole risk/benefit ratio for a harness system without the cage.It is all about our own personal decisions when tracking. In the end your body habitus will make the ultimate decision for you. Good luck.

 

[Tytus]

I would like a 5 or 6 point harness but i have read a few posts that say if i have no roll cage installed it could be dangerous in the event of a roll over cos i would have no where to go if the roof caves in.
Also i would need a harness bar that doesnt take up much space behind the seat.
Most of these decisions all come back to will i have enough room.
Maybe i will invest in a shrinking ray gun.:wink:

It's probably cheaper to buy a car you fit in properly than investing in a ray gun. Once you advance and start getting faster on the track the stock belts and seats will just not hold you in as you slide all over the place and it will start becomming unsafe. As Doc says, you will be exerting lots of energy and hanging on instead of concentrating on controling the car.

Those of us that are above average in height, sorry Doc, find it challenging to properly fit in the NSX; it's one of the reasons I drive something else on the track and save my NSX for the street.

With enough mods you can probably make it work and then be rewarded with being able to track the NSX, a reward in itself. One thing I have done in the past in another car was lower the pan, actually cut it, and lowered the pan in the driver's seat area to get more headroom. Not sure how this would work in the NSX but I did get a better center of gravity due to lowering the seat but it was not an aluminum car, this could pose a challenge and would have to be done by a very competant race shop.

Good luck,

Tytus

 

[docjohn]

Tytus you just have a few extra vertebrae:tongue: Besides with that big turbo you can fit a hibache grill next to you and make lunch during the sessions.

 

[Tytus]

Doc, great idea, would like that medium or rare...

 

[funkynsx]

I can fit in the car using dali's tall person cushion and wearing an old motorcycle helmut.
The helmut just skims the top of the roof and if i get a more modern low profile helmut i should have enough room.
The problem with the dali cushion is it's a poor quality cushion and is quite uncomfortable.
I will get a new cushion made up, push the boslters out wider and all will be good.
I understand the rigors on the body when tracking, ive done quite a bit of karting and have felt the pain.
thanks guy's

 

[Pruhnke]

I have been exchanging e-mails with Chris at SOS and he is near releasing a new option in a seat cusion for us. Hopefully it will be more comfortable tha the Dali not tyhat I have any experience with that one.

The SOS rail and Recaro Pole Position did not get me the additional headroom I was seeking.

 

[funkynsx]

I have been exchanging e-mails with Chris at SOS and he is near releasing a new option in a seat cusion for us. Hopefully it will be more comfortable tha the Dali not tyhat I have any experience with that one.

The SOS rail and Recaro Pole Position did not get me the additional headroom I was seeking.

What a great company sos are.
I heard off Chris they are in development of their own HLS(hydralic lift system).
Can't wait for that one.
I will find out about this cushion aswell.
Cheers