Fixed-back Seat Question (Sparco, Recaro, etc..)

[Flash]

I wasn't sure where to post this question (realized the non-performance section would probably not give me the type of responses I'm looking for). But I recently completed my swap to manual transmission and I am no faced with a dilemma I never faced before, or at least realized until now. I will call it driving logistics.
My legs hit my steering wheel, my head is too close to the roof (I could never wear a helmet), I could not heel-toe if my life depended on it. So realistically, the Sparco Torino (driver seat) worked for a while. But I would like to sit lower and in a better position for driving. I'm asking anyone with experience with Recaro, Sparco, Bride, OMP, etc fixed-back seats with the side mounts to chime in. How much lower do the seats with side mounts make you sit in a DSM (1g or 2g)? I think sitting on the floor would be the best alternative. Could someone post pictures of their setup?
I know Ludachris has Recaro fixed-backs with the Recaro side mounts, I have seen them in person, even when I was looking at them didn't specific examine the seat position.
So far my perception is the fixed-back seats with side mounts get you pretty much on the floor; am I accurate or is my thinking totally skewed?

 

[D_Eclipse9916]

You are somewhat accurate. I ran a sparco fixed back without sliders (basically a small steel frame between the floor and seat) and that was nice and low. I am 6'2 and even with a helmet I still had a good inch of head clearance.

With the momo side seats I have just a little less, by maybe .5 inch of head room, and that is without sliders again. Who needs sliders on a fixed back? You obviously built the car for yourself and are not putting people int he back, so why waste time with sliders?

That is my experience IMHO

 

[1992awdlaser]

If you make your own mounts you can make the seats as low or high as you want.

 

[cioc]

Here are some homemade mounts I fabbed up over a year ago. I still have the Sparco sliders and side mounts but it places you slightly left of the steering wheel. I'm with D_Eclipse9916 on the anti slider movement. I was hesitant at first but it gives me more of a reason to not let others drive my car.

The brackets you are seeing are the driver's side. The left side uprights go straight however the right side needs to bend outward before going up due to the offset of the factory mounting location...and the width of my seats. Hope this helps!

<a href="http://s116.photobucket.com/albums/o39/cioc/?action=view&current=DSC02294Large.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o39/cioc/DSC02294Large.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s116.photobucket.com/albums/o39/cioc/?action=view&current=DSC02296Large.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o39/cioc/DSC02296Large.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Zero Bar]

I have a Butler aluminum seat in my car, it is mounted on the floor via a bracket on each side of the seat and 2 on the back to the rollbar. Obviously my setup wouldn't work for you without a rollbar and some interior removal. The right side bracket is on the exhaust tunnel which was pounded out as far as possible without having to cut and weld as I'm a big guy and have a wide seat. I don't have any really good pics of it except this one: <a href="http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/ZeroBar78/?action=view&current=4Sale001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/ZeroBar78/4Sale001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> and this one: <a href="http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/ZeroBar78/?action=view&current=4Sale004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/ZeroBar78/4Sale004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

As you can see my seat is on the floor and gives me ample head room at 6'2". The momo steering wheel helps a lot too with leg room. I probably sit 4+ inches lower in the car like this.

 

[asian312]

Just remember, safety first. Seat + harness requires a roll bar.

 

[schemauer]

Here are some pics of the seat mounting in my car. I mounted a slider to the bottom of the OMP seat that I installed. The way it is installed keeps the seat as low as possible.

 

[kahl23]

A few things to consider: I have some minor issues with my helmet hitting the headliner with my Cobra Imola S seats. I'm only around 5'11" but I know that proportionally my torso is longer than my legs compared to my brother, also 5'11" but with no clearance issues. Also, if clearance is an issue, I can just remove the bottom padding on the seat and bam, extra 2 inches of headroom. Whenever I have to drive with a helmet I just pop out that padding.

 

[BoostFrenzy]

You should be able to keep the Torino seats, just get rid of the sliders. I have an older Sparco S-Light (fixed back) and the only thing it sits on is a Wedge bracket. I have been told by people that it feels too low but I love it. For me it's perfect. The only complaint I have is about keeping my tail bone in one piece. The way my seat is designed is to have it as low and as light as possible. So the cushioning under your gluteus maximus is minimal. Big dip equals hard hit to the bottom. But once you take a corner in them, you forget all about it. So before you go out and spend some nice change on some full fixed back buckets, try getting a bracket made that sits real low and bolt it straight to there and see how you like it. If it's still not right, then sell them as a package and go for the new stuff .

 

[pinder91]

I have Sparco Fighters in my car, while they are not side mount, the positioning of the seats were a concern of mine, being 6'2". I had originally planned to have sliders, but my height, and the need for a helmet and cage in the future lead me to eliminate the slider idea. I opted to make my own brackets and call it good.

This is how they look in the car.

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[white_dsm]

hot^