Seat Adjustment 1984 SE (Page 1/1)
Sayakachibi DEC 10, 07:19 PM
Hey y’all. I’m 4’10 and trying to figure out a way to raise my seat so I’m able to see better. I don’t want to use a pillow because it just falls out of the car and is just super annoying. Has anyone modified this at all? What would I need and any suggestions would be so appreciated.
theogre DEC 10, 10:28 PM
Take seat out of car.
Use spacers & long bolts were seat is attach to the rails.
put seat back in car.

Use small Steel Pipe or other hard things as spacers. Square blocks of Metal or Some Plastic types w/ holes drilled thru is likely better then pipes. (Nylon, Delrin, & other very tough plastic won't compress etc.)

But note that higher seat(s) can likely will cause problems w/ the Seat Belts.
Example: You can't simply move the SB Latch because the bolt goes into reinforce hole in the "tunnel" over gas tank.
Lap & upper belts is made for factory seat design too & may not work right in a wreck if you raise them too much.

May cause problems w/ the pedals too just because the angle of feet & legs even if can reach them @ all.

⚠️ Warning: This type mods may cause legal problems. Many "Handicap" aids/mods many require you to have script from doctor or related, required relearning by certified trainer, retest to drive, restrictions on your license & more just to install them.
I've been dealing w/ many "Handicap" aids/mods for decades. If done wrong or missing doc's etc, is often 10 to 100 times worse in & after a wreck for dealing Insurance & in court(s) that's if you survive w/ junk mods.

Example: they make various pedal extensions but need a script to buy/install etc.

Also, The "Norms" can't drive w/ many mods either can cause problems when you go to mechanic, inspection in some states, some parking like Valet Parking, etc. because can't fit or other problems.
Some aids can even be a Ticket w/ cops stopping "Norms" driving w/ your equipment.
Is big reason why many have to remove or disable their aids for anyone else to drive.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 12-10-2023).]

cvxjet DEC 11, 01:57 AM
I raised mine a bit with some spacers- but I also realized that the seat bottom was sagging a bit; It is a ring of stamped metal and then the foam is poured into it- but the center section has basically no support....I took the seat to an upholsterer and he mounted straps across the bottom to support the foam- gained a full inch of height from that alone.
fieroguru DEC 11, 06:53 AM
20+ years ago, I raised the seat for a girlfriends fiero. She was 5'-0". As Ogre said, simple spacers between the sear and rails works.
If you can't make the spacers, you can buy them from mcmaster.com. Then you just need to pick up the longer bolts from a local hardware store.
https://www.mcmaster.com/pr...cers/screw-size~3-8/
olejoedad DEC 11, 02:43 PM
As Fiero seats are mounted to studs in the floor, longer bolts and spacers will not work.
theogre DEC 11, 03:36 PM

quote
Originally posted by olejoedad:
As Fiero seats are mounted to studs in the floor, longer bolts and spacers will not work.

The seat Rails are attach to the floor.
The Rails are also attach to the seats w/ Bolts. This is where the spacers w/ long bolts will live.

If the floor studs are rust frozen, carefully spray w/ PB baster etc & wait 1 to several days to work.
Carefully because carpet & under layers hates many "oils."
drip a bit on the stud showing, if needed drip more next day etc. If sprayed normally the carpet can pull extra away then slowly fail in bigger & bigger areas.

It helps when have 13mm "ratchet head" or "squeeze" wrench to remove rear nuts.
fieroguru DEC 11, 07:39 PM

quote
Originally posted by theogre:
The seat Rails are attach to the floor.
The Rails are also attach to the seats w/ Bolts. This is where the spacers w/ long bolts will live.



As Ogre mentioned, the simple spacers and longer bolts go between the rails and the seats.

These can be used between the chassis and the rails, but doing it this way places the sheet metal bases of the rails 1" higher than the carpet and increases the changes of bumping into them.
https://www.mcmaster.com/91405A117/
Patrick DEC 11, 08:47 PM
I found an image of a Fiero seat and seat rails just for reference purposes.



In older threads covering this topic (hint, hint), it's mentioned to use a length of steel channel as a spacer on each side... which I think would be much more rigid and stable (than a small individual spacer at each bolt)... especially in event of a collision.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 12-11-2023).]

theogre DEC 11, 10:06 PM
Many things will do the job.
Steel or Aluminum flat bar, square bar/tube & more. Many scrape metal parts can work too.

Just make sure doesn't easily bend or worse. More so where the bolts go thru & bolt can crush a weak channel or square tube now or over time.