I finally got my Bride FG rails in... they're not that hard to put together and install (although it took a bit of manipulating since I think my seat bolt holes are a little too far apart...this isn't the first time I've had the same problem).

Unfortunately, while having the extra hold is nice, it didn't give me all that much more headroom (I'd say it's about the same, except I'm sitting more upright, and closer to the front of the car).

There is about 3-4 mm of extra clearance I COULD have had if the rear bolt holes were any lower (except drilling holes voids Bride's 3-year warranty)...

Also, the Bride FG rails for the FC (and assumable the SA since one of the sides is the same) are one-peice, not two-peice like the other versions (two piece have better clearance since they let the seat go lower.

If the FG rails had been two-piece, they'd be a bit harder to install, but I could have had upwards of half an inch more clearance, combined with lower rear holes.

Now I need to actually test drive it...

 

Mmm, twice as much hold is nice, even when you're driving normally... it helps to make up for the fact that automatic seatbelts suck. Although working the clutch would be a bit harder if I had a harness...

I think the gap between the bottom of the seat and as far as it could go down if the holes in the seat were a bit higher is actually closer to 5 - 7 mm, maybe more... I could probably drill new holes in the seat and use helicoils (which is what it comes with in the first place) to gain a bit more headroom, not to mention it would recline a bit more.

 

which Bride seats did you get?

 

pics or ban...

:AA:

 

pictures please

 

It's not a Bride seat, it's a generic ('F1 spec').

The rails are Bride though.

No camera :p

I figure a Bride seat would have had less clearance between the bottom of the rail and the seat...

 

The seat is a little tight for my currently fat **** (I only started a diet about a month ago... I've dropped 10 pounds or so thus far, maybe a bit more), unless I'm wearing nylon shorts or something (so that I slide into it better), but DAMN, my hold has literally gone up so much that I'm only moving about 1/3rd of what I used to, even without a harness.

Although, a Bride LowMax seat and rail would have been freaking awesome...

OTOH, while I don't have as much headroom as I want, when you consider how much farther forward, and upright I'm sitting, I probably gained close to an inch of clearance... and I'll gain another precious half inch if I re-drill the seat holes.

 

one picture...

the uploader is a PITA so go here: http://mixi.jp/view_bbs.pl?id=231424...omm_id=1507863

 

Update:

I drilled two new holes in the seat (the rails have a warranty, the seat doesn't) and used Helicoils... now I have about another half-inch of headroom.

I should have JUST enough headroom to wear my helmet and just barely skim the roof, I think (...I'm not about to go outside and put a helmet on inside my car...). I might even be home free.

I can also (finally) see the blinker indicators, as long as the butt pad is out, in a normal sitting position. Rock on!

Although I think I might need another 5 MM worth of steering spacer though... to go with my 80mm spacer... lol

 

Valkyrie - how tall are you? Does your car have a sunroof?

 

5'11, and yes... otoh, my sister is 5'10, and she was 2-3 more inches of headroom than I do (apparently I have a long torso).

(and a huge ***)

 

Heh...I'm not gonna throw stones

I'm a bit long in the torso as well - 5'11" with a 31" inseam. I don't fit really well with the stock seat and a helmet on, but I manage. It would be great to have just another inch of clearance.

 

Dammit Valk, you're too good. Now all we need is some with a low-max to chime in. I have to admit the position and hold of bucket in these cars far outweighs how much head room I'd like to have. 6'4, 160, nuff said...

 

They only make Low Max rails for the FD...

OTOH, a Low Max seat can apparently gain a little bit if you use an FG rail

BUT, the problem with the FC's FG rail is that it has a bar that runs across the back, keeping you from gaining what looks to be at least another half inch (more with a Low Max seat).

 

Hmm. Sorry for my ignorance, I've only owned Sparco sprint seats, however when glancing at Bride Seat on the 'net I've only fallen in love with the Gardis III, the full bucket with the big OFF ROAD USE ONLY! warning label under the picture. I've sat in two Zeta IIIs and one Zeta II and I could feel that the Bride was a little bit tighter than my Sparco, but not worth the extra $600 difference in price range.

 

Bride seats are basically meant for Japanese people, so they will be tight...

Most any full bucket seat will fit into a Bride rail, as long as it's not a wide seat (you only have a CM or so to play with)... whether or not you'll get max headroom with a Sparco or brand besides Bride is not known with the FC version of the FG rail (unless you cut off the rear crossmember).

Well, the good news is that my helmet doesn't touch the roof any more! So long as my head is tilted even, or oh so slightly downwards. OTOH, it hits the door trim (that covers the automatic seat belt track)... which isn't as big of an issue (my head can hit it almost as easily).