Fatboy seat fitting

Tue Feb 21, 2012 12:45 pm

I've managed to sort things so that I can keep my track 325 and am just making some final changes prior to my first test of the year.

I'm a big chap and have just bought a Sparco Evo XL race seat but has anyone else fitted a fat-boy seat in their e30? I know that there isn't a huge amount of width and I'm concerned that the Sparco might be a little too wide?! The current seat is a Cobra Monaco.

Anyone got any experience / advice before I get stuck into trying to swap the seats & mounts over?

Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:38 pm

Loose some weight?

Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:53 pm

I'm working on it.

The problem I have is that while I was learning to walk again, I spent a couple of years in a wheel-chair so a) I put on weight and b) my arms and shoulders bulked up from using them to propel myself along. I am on a diet but because my pelvis now has several metal plates keeping it in one piece, I need a seat that offers plenty of support.

I finally weighed my car today and with fuel it was exactly 1040kgs. I still have a little more to lose, when I replace the front bumper & spoiler with a lighter fiberglass one. I will also lose a bit more when I fit the track rims & tyres. (Raceline 7x15's & 888r's) I'd love to get under 1000kgs but I don't know how realistic that is whilst keeping road legal?

Tue Feb 21, 2012 5:39 pm

These will help you get the seat aligned and make fitting it much easier: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280826972682

You keeping the car now then?

Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:36 pm

rix313 wrote:These will help you get the seat aligned and make fitting it much easier: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280826972682

You keeping the car now then?

Thanks for that.

Yes, I managed to find an alternative financial solution. I plan to build another e21 track car but this year it's all about the e30.

Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:57 pm

Hoobs wrote:

I finally weighed my car today and with fuel it was exactly 1040kgs. I still have a little more to lose, when I replace the front bumper & spoiler with a lighter fiberglass one. I will also lose a bit more when I fit the track rims & tyres. (Raceline 7x15's & 888r's) I'd love to get under 1000kgs but I don't know how realistic that is whilst keeping road legal?

Should be doable. How much petrol was in @ 1040kgs? My 318is (with me in it) weighed anything from 1030 to 1050kgs, with around quarter tank of fuel. I'm between 70 and 80kg (depending on time spent exercising Vs time spent eating pies), and the engine is 15 kg or so lighter than a 325 one. The car still had glass and original underseal and was road legal, no passenger seat though. It's worth a search back through old posts for weight saving ideas as a few people have posted up stuff.

Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:50 pm

Mark, I've tried the exact same seats in an e30, its close but they fit. The wings are the main problem but they clear the door pillar ok, you may have issues if you also have the same passenger seat as you might need to put it slightly forward or back of the drivers seat. I can get pics if needed.

Wed Feb 22, 2012 7:50 am

Cheers Rob. I don't have a passenger seat so shouldn't be a problem then.

I should be able to reach sub 1000kgs then Brian? I'm surprised your 318is got down so low with the original glass fitted! Without you & fuel it must have been about 970kgs?!

Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:58 am

Good luck with the install

I have Recaro SPG's in mine at normal width and the wings are the main issue - they need to placed at the right height to clear the door when it closes..

Thinking in 3 dimensions really helps here, but with the MSA install kit mentioned above you should be laughing.

Wed Mar 21, 2012 10:08 am

Managed to get the seat in on the Sparco side mounts. Luckily, being tall meant that it's far enough back to clear OK. The door panel just touches the top wing of the seat but the panels are being junked soon anyway. I haven't got to drive on track, since fitting the new seat, but it's just so much nicer than the old one. Way more comfortable and supportive. Plus, we took the time to get the right driving position. Well worth the added effort.

Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:31 pm

Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:53 pm

Just for you I went and took some.

This is my car. Please excuse the councilesque elements such as ''brows'' and clear indicators.

The seat is mounted on regular Sparco side mounts bolted to the floor with high tensile bolts and the floor was reinforced combined with large washers, to spread the load.

It's a tight fit but there is just room. The inner door panel touches but it'll be in the bin soon anyway.

I don't usually have a passenger seat but I was going to give a few passenger rides at Snetterton a couple of weeks back. It'll be coming out again very soon.

I also plan to ditch the dash eventually and will just have a small digital display for fuel and in order to have a speedo for the MOT. The standard tacho etc don't work hence the Racetech item. I'm also fitting an Omex shift-light.

Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:33 pm

Hoobs wrote:
This is my car. Please excuse the councilesque elements such as ''brows'' and clear indicators and massive block of delboy flats in background.

Wed Mar 21, 2012 7:31 pm

Those delboy flats overlook Richmond Park and cost £400k

Wed Mar 21, 2012 7:50 pm

Shocking the prices down south! No wonder there's so many southerners sold up and moved up here as u can buy a mansion up here for that lol

Wed Mar 21, 2012 7:56 pm

Tell me about it. My pal has a nice house near Leeds and his mortgage is half my rent!

Fri Mar 23, 2012 6:17 pm

Dude I have the wide ass corbeau revenge in my e30 on the corbeau mounts and all is fine. Its close but nicer on longer drives as stops the pinching around the hips.

Fri Mar 23, 2012 9:35 pm

Nobby_N wrote:Shocking the prices down south! No wonder there's so many southerners sold up and moved up here as u can buy a mansion up here for that lol

Not bad for a whole block.

Sat Mar 24, 2012 6:19 am

Screacher wrote:
Nobby_N wrote:Shocking the prices down south! No wonder there's so many southerners sold up and moved up here as u can buy a mansion up here for that lol
Not bad for a whole block.

Each block consists of 10 flats and a penthouse at an average of £441k each. Plus you have to pay for the permit to park outside your own flat and you don't get a garage or even a garden. Even rents are stupidly high and I couldn't get or afford a mortgage that size even if I wanted to.

Sat Mar 24, 2012 9:40 pm

DasChin wrote:Dude I have the wide ass corbeau revenge in my e30 on the corbeau mounts and all is fine. Its close but nicer on longer drives as stops the pinching around the hips.

I find my narrow seat gives me terrible chaffing!

400k?? Jeepers - I will stay in the glorious North West!

Sun Mar 25, 2012 9:08 am

ever driven to the ring (400 miles) in a slim seat northern monkey whippet breeder?

when you lose the feeling in your feet in Belgium it aint fun.

stay in the north west, peasant

Sun Mar 25, 2012 9:24 am

DasChin wrote:Dude I have the wide ass! My corbeau revenge in my e30 on the corbeau mounts just about fits me in with the help of a crowbar and all in all is fine. Its Toight like a tiger but not nice on longer drives as stops the pinching around the balls.

Fixed

Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:12 am

DasChin wrote:ever driven to the ring (400 miles) in a slim seat northern monkey whippet breeder?

when you lose the feeling in your feet in Belgium it aint fun.

stay in the north west, peasant

^^^^ That's funny!

Yep - been a few times with my slim seat - Belgium is painful!

Just off to feed the dogs...

Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:30 pm

Fitting the new, wider seat has transformed the feel of the car. I don't feel like I'm simply perched on the seat anymore and I no longer get terrible cramp in my right leg/foot!

This may sound like a daft question but how tight do you guys have your harness? Obviously I don't have it loose but should it just be as tight as possible but without cutting off the blood circulation? Also, which is best, 4 or 5 point?

Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:48 pm

^^^ Great result!

Both harnesses have advantages / disadvantages.. I use 6 point (Schroth) and went for the most expensive I could afford for ease of adjustment - there is a WORLD of difference between cheap and expensive harnesses.

There is an argument that 4 point belts can be bad for 'submarining' (when you sink beneath the belt if you have a prang) and of course the flip side is that your knackers stop you doing that if you wear a 5 or 6 point harness..

A 6 point (my opinion only) is better as aforementioned knackers can sit in between the 2 lower belts...

Tight as you like - look at how tight an F1 driver is strapped in - literally a foot on the chest and heave - the belts tend to 'relax' a touch so just tight that they pinch and after a couple of laps they are normally sound as a pound.

Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:18 pm

Mikey_Boy wrote: there is a WORLD of difference between cheap and expensive harnesses.

Definitely.

I spent a bit more than I'd planned and bought a Willans with 4'' webbing and it just feels so much better than the cheaper Sparco item I had before. The buckles are way better too.

I know from past experience how important quality belts are. I nearly lost my life due to not having them.

Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:58 pm

Holy moly... You are lucky to still be with us after that one...

With you all the way on quality harnesses - I just hope I never have to need them to their full capabilities...

Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:02 am

Yeah, it was pretty nasty. I fractured my skull, broke my neck in 2 places, broke my back in 2 places, shattered my pelvis and broke both femurs. Apart from that I was OK though.