GtiKyle

iTrader: (5)

I've spent a few hours reading old threads, searching, and trying to find some answers, but it's difficult finding what i'm looking for.

I'm looking into autox, and being 6'2 and having to wear a helmet, the stock seats are just not going to do. I don't want to shell out a ridiculous price for seats, so bride and stock Recaro's are a big no. The Corbeau Forza seems to be a decent package, but my question is this :

Will it fit with their rails (door-side shoulder)?
How much headroom will i gain?


Anyone with experience please chime in. I've read the "list of seats that fit" thread, and several others. Can't find what I'm looking for. Pictures would be great too if anyone has these seats in their car.

Thanks.

NeoTuri

iTrader: (2)

I have the Forza seats. I took them out for some TLC, but I cut my own adapter for the stock rails. Everything fits well except the wing on the side. It touches the door a bit and I'm probably going to end up cutting a little material underneath for clearance and sewing it back together.

GtiKyle

iTrader: (5)

How about head clearance? My main reason for putting in an aftermarket seat is the headroom for a helmet.. And i remembered seeing a thread about the FX1 in an FD, and they had to trim the wing a bit too...

Any pics btw?

R3AL.CH1CK3N

iTrader: (9)

good question, i am looking into the same thing

jkstill

iTrader: (11)

Here you go: My FX1 Seat Install

GtiKyle

iTrader: (5)

jkstill : How is the head clearance with the FX1 seat? The seat looks good...I was kind of considering that one too..

NeoTuri

iTrader: (2)

Let me see if I can fetch an old photo. Seats will be back in the car within two weeks.

jkstill

iTrader: (11)

My car has a sunroof, so headroom with a helmet is something of an issue.

The seats sit very low, and I even cut the rear feet off the seats to get more layback and a little more headroom.

I'm 5'11", 31 inch inseam to give you an idea of my size.

Once I get situated in the car, head room is ok.

Taller passengers aren't quite so comfy.

If you don't have a sunroof there should not be any issues with headroom unless you are rather tall.

I've been using Corbeau FX1's for autox for 2 years with no problem, have 1 track day since then, no problems there either.

So much better than stock seats!

The steering wheel then becomes just the tool you use to turn the front wheels, not that thing you hold onto to keep you in the car.

dguy

iTrader: (8)

I'm not a fan of the Forza, very uncomfortable for me. Not to sound like a JDM fanboy but the Bride Zetas are still the most comfortable bucket for me.

GtiKyle

iTrader: (5)

Yah, I'm 6'2, and have a sunroof car, so fitment is definitely the issue for me. But thanks for the input, I'll be continuing to look.

Yah, i remember sitting in a Corbeau bucket, i just don't remember which one it was. I did like how it felt. I might be looking more at the FX1 from reading around. Any REAL bride seat is just too far out of my price range right now, otherwise i would seriously consider some of the more exotic seats available.

oo7arkman

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for doing this write-up. I too have been looking seriously at these seats and they seem to be one of the best seats for the money. Of coarse I would LOVE to have the OEM recaro's but that is just an insane amount of money for seats...

An idea for the OP, the above install is a great idea and by cutting off BOTH front and rear feet off the seat it would give you a little more headroom. And having custom (possibly stationary) mounting brackets made would also allow you to help compensate for your height. Any welder should be able to build some brackets pretty easily.

If you have a smaller than 36" waist then the FX1 pro is always an option and will save you a little bit of space when trying to fit the seat. Check out corbeau's website for the dimensions.

Just to others looking here, this is the cheapest place I have found to pick up some of these. I have NO affiliation with these ppl, just thought I would post up a cheap place to get em. If someone knows where to get them even cheaper let me know!!

http://www.racing-seats-usa.com/corfixback.html

GtiKyle

iTrader: (5)

Excellent, thanks for the advice. I'm thinking I'm pretty set on doing the FX1 pro (im about a 34 waist), unless i find something otherwise. I found this website : http://soloracer.com/raceseats.html has the same prices, and a really good reputation from what i've read. I can weld, and fabricate, but my thinking was that although i haven't let my fiance drive the car yet, i may in the future. A fixed seat would be great for me, but not so much for any other driver...
I guess i could hang onto the stock seat/slider, and swap it if it were ever an issue...

jkstill

iTrader: (11)

I don't think cutting off the front feet would help.

By doing so you will be sitting more upright, bringing your helmet closer to the roof.

jkstill

iTrader: (11)

That's where I bought my seats - they are excellent people to work with.

Before filling the order they contacted me to make sure I knew what I was doing, as they know the seats won't fit in and FD as is.

GtiKyle

iTrader: (5)

Going to bump this for any other activity out there...Anyone else tried an FX1 install or Forza, and can chime in on their experience?

JHew84

iTrader: (9)

I haven't installed it permanently (the brackets I got didn't include the seat belt attachment point) but I did have it briefly installed and tested it out while it was. I used the Corbeau brackets and sliders, the ones I got had about an inch worth of washers on them to "raise" the seat height (I'll be removing those when I do the final install, but left them on for the test fit).

I'm 6'0" and had lots of head room with my helmet on, granted my car doesn't have a sunroof. I'd imagine you would fit, snuggly, but without rubbing your head on the roof. I recently acquired the seat belt brackets so in the next couple weeks I'll be installing the drivers seat, if you're still looking for one at that point I'd be happy to take some measurements/pictures for you.

Probably a result of using the OEM rails. The shoulder supports on my Forza were nowhere near rubbing the door panels using the Corbeau bracket and sliders.




General notes about the Corbeau Forza. Fixed back seats are a love'em or hate'em relationship, I've found very few people who can tolerate certain fixed back seats over others. I've been using my Forza with the showroom stand as a gaming/TV chair for the past few years and don't have any complaints about comfort. Oddly enough I think fixed back racing seats are more comfortable than reclineable ones . While I like the FX1 pro more than the Forza the fact that the Forza fits in the FD without any modifications makes it the top choice in my opinion. While I'm not out to make a show car something about having to hack up a seat just seems weird to me lol.

GtiKyle

iTrader: (5)

Excellent information, thanks! If you do get it installed, post some pics back up here, and anything learned. I'm probably going to be shopping in a month or two.

I wasn't sure the Corbeau sliders would work, from some other things i've read. Glad to hear that it works out...

JHew84

iTrader: (9)

Yeah I was pretty sure I posted something in the racing seat comparison thread but maybe I didn't lol. I also seem to remember a few other people claiming good fitment in an FD using the corbeau bracket/sliders.

I have some other things that need to be addressed first but I'd like to get it installed before an event May 7th, so I should be able to get some info up here shortly after that. If I don't by sometime that next week just bump the thread, I'm subscribed so it'll be a little reminder haha.

GtiKyle

iTrader: (5)

Bumping this for updates, and another question.

Single slider or double? I know there was some debate in another thread regarding the strength. Jhew84...what did you end up with?

JHew84

iTrader: (9)

I am not 100% sure what the distinction is, but I'm assuming they were talking about having two locking sliders as opposed to one locking and one free slide.

I have a single locking slider and it seems to work just fine, I don't get any movement out of the seat. I'llsee as time goes on but I'm happy with it the way it is. If it ends up not working properly in the future I'll just snag the other locking slider from the PS side, after riding around in the passenger side the other day I don't think it would be nice to any passengers so my spare forza will probably not go in haha.


So, preliminary findings after installing my Corbeau Forza... Initially it rubbed the door panel, not terribly but enough that it pushed in a little bit when the door was closed (just a TINY bit). BUT, there is a reason, haha. I already had the newer of the two forza's I own set up on my passenger side bracket ready to drop in, I did a quick comparison and the brackets seemed to be identical so I just dropped it in so I could load the car up and head down to Winged Warrior VI. Additionally those washers I spoke of earlier were also installed and they were causing height issues where I only had a small amount of clearance between my helmet and the roof, I had to slouch a little bit to feel more comfortable. After getting back from the races I had a chance to pull the seat out and swap brackets/sliders around and it fits GREAT, it does still touch the door panel but it is not pushing whatsoever, just barely touching it. I took a piece of thick paper and could slide it in between the shoulder support and the door panel without any effort. Without those washers I sit MUCH lower than before, I'm 6'0" and will have at least an inch or more of headroom while wearing my helmet (haven't had a chance to test that since swapping the brackets). I also haven't had a chance to take really good pictures of how it fits, this is the only one I snapped while at WW VI and it was with the PS bracket, so don't use it as a guide for anything.



When I get a chance I'll take some more pictures of how it fits with the proper bracket and not being raised. But if you're only 6'1" I would confidently say you should fit just fine with this seat, it might be a bit snug but you'll fit. Any other questions let me know.

GtiKyle

iTrader: (5)

Excellent.. I appreciate the info! So if i understand right, you had the Passenger side mounted for the driver, and that was the fitment issue you had? But with the Driver side mount on the drivers side, it fits? I think I might be sold on going this route, especially if you sit a lot lower. That's very encouraging. One last question, what are you doing for seat belt? It looks like you have the stocker in there... Does the stock seat belt work with that mount/seat?

JHew84

iTrader: (9)

Yep, that was exactly the problem, just didn't look closely enough at the two brackets before installing the PS one. I am running the stock seat belt right now, only real issue is it's a little tougher to get buckled and you have to remember to swing it around the shoulder support before shutting the door, but other than that it works great. Just be sure when you get the bracket that you also get the seat belt buckle bracket as well. I bought my brackets used and they didn't have the little piece to mount the buckle receiver with so I picked up an extra set off the forums. You could make one too, it's pretty basic, but it should come with the bracket.