Moving seat back on 2g

[97 GSX 97]

When I did my rear delete, I mocked it like the 350z. My buddy had one and it inspired me. Ill snap a pic later, but I built a frame out of some wood and went at it with black indoor outdoor carpet. A few people thought it was factory.. I know, no pics, no use. Just give me a little bit.

Holy crap tha sounds awesome! I would love to see that!

 

[jayson_gold]

I think you might get an extra 2 inchs out of moving it back. The seats may touch but thats OKAY they're just foam.

The simplest way to do this would be to make mount plate extenders.

Get 2 strips of 1/4" steel that are 6" wide and are 24" long, weld a 1" strip on to make an L shape

Then drill 4 holes...2 holes for the stock bolts and 2 holes for the NEW bolts!

Now in the rear you may have to weld the plate extender on so the old bolts aren't in the way.
It's going to raise the seat 1/4" but I think it will be okay.

The parts in red are the extenders

we may be trying this...any bit helps

 

[mike96]

we may be trying this...any bit helps

something else you might try. i had a friend do this in his fiero to get a little more room (he is 5' 11" BTW) was to raise the front of the seat about an inch. this brings your knees up a bit making you bring the seat back forward to get to the pedals.

 

[Bluesideup]

Mike I am also tall (6'5") and have modified several cars to fit. I only had a 2G as a parts car and didn't drive it much.

Here are the options.

1. Replace the driver's seat with an aftermarket seat and bracket. The factory power seat in a 2G is a heavy boat anchor and all those motors take up space. You can probably gain 4 to 5 inches of leg room going this route and not have to permanently modify the car.

2. Disassemble the driver's seat and cut the back of the foam down on the seat bottom and seat back. You can gain an inch or more depending on the seat. Google "Miata Foamectomy"

3. Drill out the spot welds on the front seat mount crossmember and have it rewelded farther back. The rear mounts will have to be fabricated.

4. Make seat mount extensions as previously posted but be absolutely sure they are strong enough. You are essentially multiplying the torque applied to the factory mounts so additional support is necessary.

I think option 1 is best, especially if you remove the back seat. I have replaced the seat in a Boxster with a hard shell fixed back seat and had ample room over the OEM setup. You don't need the extreme of fixed back but could gain a lot by new seats and a properly done bracket.

Option 2 is best for a budget modification.

 

[mike96]

budget isn't to steep on doing it the way my friend did it either. all it takes is two 1" spacers and two longer bolts that fit the seat bottom. pull the two bolts out of the front of the seat bottom and loosen the two rear bolts. pick the front of the seat up a bit and put the spacers in between the seat bottom and the seat rails and put the longer bolts in, tighten the bolts back down.

doesn't give you any head room extra head room but may give you up to 2.5" of leg room. for about $4 if you already have the bolts in your scrounge.

 

[Squirrel8811]

You could always just remove the front seat and strap yourself into the back seat.

 

[jdodds]

Just lean the seat back a little bit. Im 6'3" and I still have another 3-4 inches to go back. I dont have the ricer/gangsta lean in my seat at all. Maybe you guys just have longer legs than I do. My pants are about a 34 inch inseam and I thought that was kinda long.

 

[Bluesideup]

My brother is just a little shorter with a 34 inseam and it's shocking how many cars he can fit in that I can't even drive. I have a 36 inch inseam and I'm sure the OP buys his pants at the circus since he's 5 inches taller than I am.