Pennock's Fiero Forum
  General Fiero Chat - Archive
  Recaro Seat Mounting Solutions??

T H I S   I S   A N   A R C H I V E D   T O P I C
  

Email This Page to Someone! | Printable Version


Recaro Seat Mounting Solutions?? by AkursedX
Started on: 05-03-2008 04:54 PM
Replies: 11
Last post by: Marvin McInnis on 05-23-2008 12:49 PM
AkursedX
Member
Posts: 2890
From: Lackawanna NY
Registered: Aug 2000


Feedback score:    (16)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 83
Rate this member

Report this Post05-03-2008 04:54 PM Click Here to See the Profile for AkursedXSend a Private Message to AkursedXDirect Link to This Post
Hi all,

I have an opportunity to purchase some suede Recaro seats for my Fiero. Here's a pic:


I test-fitted these in my Fiero today, and they physically fit, but I don't know what I am going to do about mounting them.

Here's the bottoms:




As you can see, mounting would be quite different from the stock setup. Another thing that makes this process a little more difficult is that I'm 6'3" and I can really lose any height. I sat this seat on top of the Fiero brackets and I fit ok. I felt I was up maybe 1/2" from stock.

I know some crafty people who can weld so here's my potential solution. I think the best way to go would be to utilize the recaro sliders, cut off the horizontal mounting brackets and weld floor plates onto all four corners big enough to then adapt them to the Fiero mounting studs. It seems like this would be possible and it might even put the seat lower. I don't see using the stock Fiero brackets. We discussed a number of potential solutions, but ran into issues with each one.

Another potential solution is this place:
http://wedgeengineering.net...id/5426/Default.aspx

I will call them on Monday and see what they can do for me. If they can put something together that'll work without increasing seat height, I might just drop the coin and go that route.

So, does anyone have any other potential solutions for this? Has anyone mounted recaros in a Fiero before? If so, could you please share your experiences and/or mounting solutions?

------------------
'88 GT- 257rwhp 319rwft/lbs 12.95@106.1mph

[This message has been edited by AkursedX (edited 05-03-2008).]

IP: Logged
PFF
System Bot
AkursedX
Member
Posts: 2890
From: Lackawanna NY
Registered: Aug 2000


Feedback score:    (16)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 83
Rate this member

Report this Post05-14-2008 02:31 PM Click Here to See the Profile for AkursedXSend a Private Message to AkursedXDirect Link to This Post
Well since no one replied to ths thread for possible solutions, I will show you what we did for future reference.

In the end, we adapted the stock Fiero sliders to the recaros.

The recaro seat has 6 mounting point on it. Two hole about an inch apart in the front and a hole in the rear on each side. In comparison to the stock Fiero seats, these holes are about 7cm wider total.

So what we did was take some pieces of 2" wide 1/4" thick stock, cut 8 pieces of it about 2.5" long (I can't remember any of our exact measurements). We then used a drill press to drill holes to mount them to the Recaros.

From there, it was a matter of lining up stock brackets, tack-welding them on, and test fitting. We found that we had to offset the brackets towards the inside since the seats were a bit wider than the stockers. We also had to cut down part of the upper plate that we used in order for the levers that the sliders use to have full movement.

The final modification we had to do to the brackets was to notch the mounting holes on the floorplates, because once again, the seats were wider and have more leg bolster.

I would like to thank my friend Matt of the Michigan Volkswagen Enthusiasts who did the welding and most of the fabbing.

Heres the obligatory pics to help explain what I typed:

Stock Seats:


This is a pic of the brackets with the four plates tack-welded on awaiting final welding. You can see the notches we had to make for the levers. You can also see the notched floorplates.
This images is larger than 153600 bytes. Click to view.

A couple more closeups of the plates both before and after final welding:






This images is larger than 153600 bytes. Click to view.



Action shots of Matt welding:




The completed brackets mounted on the Recaros and ready for installation:
This images is larger than 153600 bytes. Click to view.

Installed Seats:







I do sit a bit taller in these seats due to more padding, but there is no sacrifice in range of motion. I'm 6'3" and I still fit ok, but it's just a bit more snug now. But the seats are far more comfortable.

Hope you enjoy.


------------------
'88 GT- 257rwhp 319rwft/lbs 12.95@106.1mph

IP: Logged
Kyle1016
Member
Posts: 483
From: Berkeley
Registered: Apr 2006


Feedback score: (2)
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post05-14-2008 03:55 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Kyle1016Send a Private Message to Kyle1016Direct Link to This Post
Those maybe the best aftermarket seats I've seen installed in a fiero. They look like a perfect !
How do they feel?
IP: Logged
AkursedX
Member
Posts: 2890
From: Lackawanna NY
Registered: Aug 2000


Feedback score:    (16)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 83
Rate this member

Report this Post05-14-2008 10:22 PM Click Here to See the Profile for AkursedXSend a Private Message to AkursedXDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Kyle1016:

Those maybe the best aftermarket seats I've seen installed in a fiero. They look like a perfect !
How do they feel?



Thanks for the compliments. They feel great! There is alot more cushioning on the bottom and the side bolsters and leg bolsters keep you nice and snug. I also like the length adjustment on the bottom.

------------------
'88 GT- 257rwhp 319rwft/lbs 12.95@106.1mph

IP: Logged
doublec4
Member
Posts: 8289
From: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jun 2003


Feedback score:    (20)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 150
Rate this member

Report this Post05-14-2008 10:49 PM Click Here to See the Profile for doublec4Send a Private Message to doublec4Direct Link to This Post
excellent write up and solution.

I had tried the same thing with some other aftermarket seats but they ended up being slightly too wide for my liking. I ended up buying sparcos and it just so happened that the brackets lined up perfectly with the width. I only had to drill two holes in the stock brackets to adjust the length of the mounting holes.

The recaros are very nice quality. Good job!
IP: Logged
Kyle1016
Member
Posts: 483
From: Berkeley
Registered: Apr 2006


Feedback score: (2)
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post05-20-2008 04:08 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Kyle1016Send a Private Message to Kyle1016Direct Link to This Post
anymore pictures of the whole car ?
IP: Logged
AkursedX
Member
Posts: 2890
From: Lackawanna NY
Registered: Aug 2000


Feedback score:    (16)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 83
Rate this member

Report this Post05-20-2008 05:26 PM Click Here to See the Profile for AkursedXSend a Private Message to AkursedXDirect Link to This Post
To be perfectly honest, I don't really have any good pictures of my car in it's current state. Here's a couple from last year. I've been meaning to get out and do a good photoshoot.

This images is larger than 153600 bytes. Click to view.



------------------
'88 GT- 257rwhp 319rwft/lbs 12.95@106.1mph

IP: Logged
Erik
Member
Posts: 5625
From: Des Moines, Iowa
Registered: Jul 2002


Feedback score: (3)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 168
Rate this member

Report this Post05-20-2008 07:40 PM Click Here to See the Profile for ErikSend a Private Message to ErikDirect Link to This Post
I have heated Recaros in my Fiero pretty similar to yours ..just installed it yesterday and man did it make a difference on how the car feels. I feel much more secure and it makes the car feel much better handling wise as well as being comfortable ride wise
IP: Logged
Dennis LaGrua
Member
Posts: 15453
From: Hillsborough, NJ U.S.A.
Registered: May 2000


Feedback score:    (13)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 329
Rate this member

Report this Post05-20-2008 09:07 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Dennis LaGruaSend a Private Message to Dennis LaGruaDirect Link to This Post
Those Recaros go for about $250 pr. They look great and are a good buy. Too bad that the rails need so much work to make these seats fit.

------------------
87GT - with 3800SC Series III engine, 4T65eHD
87GT - 3.4L Turbocharged engine, modified TH125H
" I'M ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

IP: Logged
Erik
Member
Posts: 5625
From: Des Moines, Iowa
Registered: Jul 2002


Feedback score: (3)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 168
Rate this member

Report this Post05-20-2008 10:20 PM Click Here to See the Profile for ErikSend a Private Message to ErikDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:

Those Recaros go for about $250 pr. They look great and are a good buy. Too bad that the rails need so much work to make these seats fit.



Mine were very easy to mount ..just used the Fiero track and welded 4 small tabs that line up with the Recaro mount holes
IP: Logged
AkursedX
Member
Posts: 2890
From: Lackawanna NY
Registered: Aug 2000


Feedback score:    (16)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 83
Rate this member

Report this Post05-20-2008 10:33 PM Click Here to See the Profile for AkursedXSend a Private Message to AkursedXDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Erik:


Mine were very easy to mount ..just used the Fiero track and welded 4 small tabs that line up with the Recaro mount holes



Pretty much the same. If you have a friend with a welder, it's not much of a problem. It took us an afternoon.. The first seat obviously took us the most time with some trial and error, but once we knew what we needed, the second seat went in real fast.
IP: Logged
PFF
System Bot
Marvin McInnis
Member
Posts: 11599
From: ~ Kansas City, USA
Registered: Apr 2002


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 227
Rate this member

Report this Post05-23-2008 12:49 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Marvin McInnisClick Here to visit Marvin McInnis's HomePageSend a Private Message to Marvin McInnisDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:

Those Recaros go for about $250 pr.



Where??? I'd like to find a similar pair at that price.

[This message has been edited by Marvin McInnis (edited 05-29-2008).]

IP: Logged



All times are ET (US)

T H I S   I S   A N   A R C H I V E D   T O P I C
  

Contact Us | Back To Main Page

Advertizing on PFF | Fiero Parts Vendors
PFF Merchandise | Fiero Gallery
Real-Time Chat | Fiero Related Auctions on eBay



Copyright (c) 1999, C. Pennock