How to: Modify stock seats for head/helmet room
05-09-14, 11:04 AM
#1
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How to: Modify stock seats for head/helmet room
I'm 6'1" and 200Lbs and there was absolutely no safe way for me to wear a helmet in my car, a 93 touring with sunroof. I tried hunching down and wedging myself in but I wasn't able to turn my head which is a big no go in my book. I only realized this issue a few days ago, and with an autocross event this Saturday I was determined to find a quick fix.
Tools:
3/8 ratchet
14mm socket
12mm socket
Wire dykes
Phillips screwdriver
Flathead screwdriver
Razor blades
Lots of zipties
Duct Tape
The memory foam pillow of your choice
Optional: Trim tools
1.) Remove the drivers seat. There are 5 14mm bolts in total and an electrical connector for the buckle swith.
2.) Place seat on stable work surface and remove the left side plastic trim and recliner handle. There are 3 Phillips screws in total.
3.) Separate the seat back from the bottom. There are 2 12mm bolt and 2 14mm bolts. Make note as to which side they came from.
4.) Remove the seat tracks from the base. You will have to move the sliders to expose the 4 12mm bolts. Two of them have shoulders on them, make note which side.
5.)Remove all of the hog-rings and the black plastic push clips holding the leather to the seat bottom. If you don't understand or aren't comfortable with this step take it to an upholstery shop.
6.) Remove the center seat foam bottom.
7.) Since you will be further down in the seat after this mod I highly recommend trimming the seat bottom side bolsters. Your hips and *** will thank you.
Here's how I trimmed and re-secured mine:
8.) Take your memory foam pillow and place it where the seat bottom used to reside. Leave some over hang on the front to better fill the seat cover. This is the perfect material because it squishes nearly flat when sat on but expands to fully fill the seat bottom when you aren't sitting in it.
9.) You will need to get creative securing the seat cover around the pillow and through the seat base with zipties. Use your head, it's not rocket science.
10.) Use zipties also around the edges where you removed the hog-rings.
11.) Reassemble in reverse order and double check all bolts for tightness. Tip: Get all seat track bolts started before tightening, and start all seat back bolts before tightening.
**The seat will fill out better after some driving and the material shifts to fill the leather**
RESULTS: I gained at least 1.5 inches or more of headroom and can now wear a helmet with no headliner contact and am able to turn my head completely unobstructed. Added bonus: The bottom bolsters hold me in better now and the seat back bolsters sit in a much more effective spot on my back.
Tools:
3/8 ratchet
14mm socket
12mm socket
Wire dykes
Phillips screwdriver
Flathead screwdriver
Razor blades
Lots of zipties
Duct Tape
The memory foam pillow of your choice
Optional: Trim tools
1.) Remove the drivers seat. There are 5 14mm bolts in total and an electrical connector for the buckle swith.
2.) Place seat on stable work surface and remove the left side plastic trim and recliner handle. There are 3 Phillips screws in total.
3.) Separate the seat back from the bottom. There are 2 12mm bolt and 2 14mm bolts. Make note as to which side they came from.
4.) Remove the seat tracks from the base. You will have to move the sliders to expose the 4 12mm bolts. Two of them have shoulders on them, make note which side.
5.)Remove all of the hog-rings and the black plastic push clips holding the leather to the seat bottom. If you don't understand or aren't comfortable with this step take it to an upholstery shop.
6.) Remove the center seat foam bottom.
7.) Since you will be further down in the seat after this mod I highly recommend trimming the seat bottom side bolsters. Your hips and *** will thank you.
Here's how I trimmed and re-secured mine:
8.) Take your memory foam pillow and place it where the seat bottom used to reside. Leave some over hang on the front to better fill the seat cover. This is the perfect material because it squishes nearly flat when sat on but expands to fully fill the seat bottom when you aren't sitting in it.
9.) You will need to get creative securing the seat cover around the pillow and through the seat base with zipties. Use your head, it's not rocket science.
10.) Use zipties also around the edges where you removed the hog-rings.
11.) Reassemble in reverse order and double check all bolts for tightness. Tip: Get all seat track bolts started before tightening, and start all seat back bolts before tightening.
**The seat will fill out better after some driving and the material shifts to fill the leather**
RESULTS: I gained at least 1.5 inches or more of headroom and can now wear a helmet with no headliner contact and am able to turn my head completely unobstructed. Added bonus: The bottom bolsters hold me in better now and the seat back bolsters sit in a much more effective spot on my back.
05-09-14, 07:22 PM
#2
Removing the foam to gain some room has its downside too. I can't imagine sitting in that seat for any significant amount of time. Its nice that you now fit better. I have the same fitment issue. Reclining the seat isn't a perfect solution, but it works for the short duration of an autocross run.
05-09-14, 07:47 PM
#3
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There is still plenty of padding to be comfortable. All I did was replace the high-density foam with memory foam to allow more compression. My car was not safely drivable prior. Maybe I'm taller in the torso?