1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

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Old 08-30-13, 01:14 AM
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Seats

OK Boys and girls, what are the best seats you have ever seen or fitted in a first gen. I am considering purchasing a SA and swapping the whole interior out to modernize it. Looking for comfort/sport/not too heavy if possible.
How hard on a scale of 1-10 were they to fit.

Thanks
Old 08-30-13, 04:39 AM
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my first SA came with a burgundy interior which i replaced with a complete 83 interior including dash frame but i hacked the compartments or boxes behind the seats to clear the frame so boxes were there for looks. shifter surround were from SA since i kept the stock tranny. now i think it was a waste of time and it was pointless as it ruined the originality
Old 08-30-13, 10:28 AM
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I still miss my original highback SA seats - some of the best, most comfortable car seats I've ever experienced. I've got a pair in the garage waiting for me to find time to restore/recover them.

The FB originals weren't bad, but IMO the SA highbacks were superior.
Old 08-30-13, 10:29 AM
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the best seat i've had was the recaro spg, http://www.autoracingseat.com/up_img...151257GCHI.jpg

it actually was really comfortable in normal driving, long road trips were fine, AND it worked at the race track.

peepers has a sparco that is pretty good too.
Old 08-30-13, 11:25 AM
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imho- pre84 seats suck. too slippery during spirited canyon driving.

cant go wrong with a recaro
Old 08-30-13, 01:33 PM
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I'm quite pleased with the mazdaspeed 3 seat. Had to remove the slider to attach it to a Planted bracket, but 1000% better support than 85 seat. And looks good.
This from an old guy with a bad hip.
Old 08-30-13, 02:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Siraniko
imho- pre84 seats suck. too slippery during spirited canyon driving.
With the factory covering, yes. Done up with a proper material, though, they can be as sticky as you want.
Old 08-30-13, 03:04 PM
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I replaced my SA seats with seats from a 83 (I think). Had them covered with leather and had the bottom and side bolsters accentuated for a deeper bucket and more pronounced side stability. Hold you in place waaay better. They also have a tilt adjustment and an adjustable lumbar which helps me be more confortable. Almost as good as an after market alternative, but with a stock look.
Old 08-30-13, 05:25 PM
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I liked the seats from my 82. Sat low and had a higher back than my 83 or 85. Definately more comfortable than my 85 seats. Ill probably get them re covered and have them add some side support while they are at it.
Old 08-30-13, 07:29 PM
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s5 GXL seats.

-Direct bolt in.
-Great bolster support.
-Adjustable tilt.
-Black with red pinstripes will look great in a black 1st gen interior.
Old 08-30-13, 10:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Cookboy
I'm quite pleased with the mazdaspeed 3 seat. Had to remove the slider to attach it to a Planted bracket, but 1000% better support than 85 seat. And looks good.
This from an old guy with a bad hip.
Pictures please. I was always curious how the mazdaspeed seats fit.
Old 08-31-13, 12:10 AM
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I was talking to the guys at Mazdatrix about how, at 5'11" I barely fit in my 85 SE with leather seats. They said the SE seats sit higher than the cheaper models and result in a good inch or less headroom.
Old 08-31-13, 12:29 AM
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there is no difference between the se and non-se except some has an adjuster to raise or lower the part where you sit on.

and yes, the 83 seats have lumbar (my spelling suck lol) support like the 84-85. my bad.

reconditioned pre-83 seats still suck due to lack of support. beasty boys wont have any issues sliding but for someone like me 5'6 160 lbs it is a problem (weight mainly due to super extra large you know what lol).
Old 08-31-13, 01:10 AM
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^***? Haha j/k I have the opposite problem...I'm a fat *** I guess...5'11" 216 lbs..got some thick *** bones though...maybe that's why I like the older seats more. I agree that the lack of lumbar suport hurts though.
Old 08-31-13, 01:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Redliner223

Pictures please. I was always curious how the mazdaspeed seats fit.
A kid at the local Friday night cars & coffee said
" it looks like it's supposed to be there" I mostly agree, but it's maybe an inch higher than stock. But then, the stock seat was kinda sagging, so maybe not.


Seats-image-148129422.jpg



Seats-image-3472059432.jpg
Old 08-31-13, 02:44 PM
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that does look really OEM
Old 08-31-13, 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Cookboy
A kid at the local Friday night cars & coffee said
" it looks like it's supposed to be there" I mostly agree, but it's maybe an inch higher than stock. But then, the stock seat was kinda sagging, so maybe not.


Attachment 508805



Attachment 508806
Lucas behind the seat!
Old 08-31-13, 04:36 PM
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Originally Posted by wankel=awesome
Lucas behind the seat!
Kinda like Brylcreem, a little dab'll do ya.
Old 08-31-13, 11:17 PM
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My issue with my '85 seats is that with a helmet, I'm hitting the ceiling. And I'm only 5'8". Bolster support isn't terrible...but could be better. I was thinking about a fixed racing bucket like the Recaro j9fd3s has, or a Bride, just so I can get more headroom. But I don't have a cage, and a fixed bucket seat in a non-caged car is kind of a no-no. BUT, I'm not taking my fb road racing either...just auto-x, so maybe it's OK.

That MazdaSpeed3 seat does look good...a lot better than I expected it to look. The EG Civic guys love to cram S2000 seats in those cars...they're huge and look terrible...scale is all off.

fm
Old 09-01-13, 09:22 AM
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On my old one I had bucket seats. Much more head room but the **** will suffer.
Old 09-02-13, 01:01 PM
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Being chiefly a track car, comfort over long distances isn't an issue. I just want more headroom.

fm
Old 09-02-13, 07:31 PM
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Rx8 seats

Little more work to get them in, there's several threads with install details.
Attached Thumbnails Seats-jul_13_2011_6885.jpg  
Old 09-03-13, 03:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Jhereg
Little more work to get them in, there's several threads with install details.
Word.
Lovin' mine too.
Depending on the color combo they can look like they came with the car. Can't beat the Rotary Style. I went with the cloth version since these are quite a bit lighter than the full-on-electric/leather model. This is not a bolt-in job, but as said, others have been there so the How2 is known.
Driver side: no fit probs for me @ 6'1"/195 and sunroof. Absolute comfort. Pass side sits a bit higher tho, but this may be a problem with ANY non-RX seat since the floor on that side is raised along the tranny to accommodate the exhaust, so fair warning...

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska
Attached Thumbnails Seats-interior-09-sm.jpg   Seats-dash_240sm.jpg  
Old 09-03-13, 06:25 AM
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'85 12a
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Those 8 seats do look great. I was headed there but the speed3 caught me and was a bargain.
Old 09-03-13, 08:07 AM
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Originally Posted by wankel=awesome
Lucas behind the seat!
LOL. I guess that's standard issue.


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