Seat Installation Observations/Questions

#1

Hi All,

My seat brackets arrived today along with my Snap-Off QD(thanks Daniel!). I now have everything but the steering wheel to proceed with locating/installing my Racetech R4000W seat. I’m using the Racetech brackets and the “feet” will probably be turned in under the seat.

Getting the wide seat to center with the steering wheel is going to be a bit of a challenge. I didn’t realize the column was installed so wonky. With hub adapter & quick disconnect installed, it looks to be about 25 - 35mm inboard from the center of the seat - that’s with the side bolster of the seat rubbing against the tranny tunnel.

I know I can’t mount the brackets to the floor - too low. I laid a couple of 2x4’s flat in the floor and it was better, but I think still too low. I’m 5’-10" and said to have a long torso.

I don’t think I can make a final decision until the steering wheel gets in - MOMO Mod 80 @ 350mm dia with a 37mm dish. The dish should help some with resolving the offcenter, but I don’t think completely. If I have to raise the seat high enough for proper steering wheel presentation, I may indirectly resolve the tranny hump issue.

Would any of you know if the E30 steering column has any Left-Right adjustability?

Oh yeah - I have searched in this forum and didn’t see any previous threads addressing the above. I saw the seat bracket and seat installation threads (which were informitive), but nothing really addressing the above.

Thanks,

KB

#2

I have a wide Cobra seat and getting it to center was impossible once in and mounted up against the tunnel the off center thing is not a problem when driving. One problem is getting the door to shut and the window to roll up if you are keeping it in, close the door and see if you like it! Don’t forget the window net!

#3

I lowered my steering column and shimmed the seat on one side to recenter it with the wheel. Also, I had my cage guy fabricate new mounting points on the floor to help with the situation.

The more you space the wheel towards the seat, the worse the steering angle becomes. I was reaching up for the wheel. I used 1/2" spacers and new longer bolts to lower the column. Also, I experimented with different wheel/quick release combos to get the best position for me.

JP

#4

In playing around with mounting brackets I found that tilt back of the seat helps with the tranny tunnel issue too. I managed to get 30 degrees of layback in the seat. It felt great, I almost fell asleep trying it out. :slight_smile: Unfortunately, my R3 Rage HNR is only good for 0-25 degrees. Also, the more you have the seat layed back, the further your head is from the head rest. That means more distance to travel and probably a harder hit on the back of your head if you have an impact from the rear. I guess I’ll shoot for 20 and see how that feels.

As for nets, I’m really in the dark right now. I don’t think I can fit them until after the cage is installed. I did look at the left wing of the seat and it was just missing the inside of the door by about 2mm. The door still presently has it’s stock panel in place.

I have a buddy with a 318 that was set up for SE30. He’s started altering it for a different class, but maybe the seat is still in. I’ll pay more attention to the things I’ve picked up on tonite. I’ve sat in it a few times but really wasn’t sure what I should be feeling or looking for. All I remember was that it was too tight!

#5

I turned the transmission side seat bracket around as well. My seat bracket is right at the edge of the floor up against the tunnel, but the seat still has clearance since it mounts inside the brackets. My steering column is not exactly centered with my seat, but after a year of driving, I don’t know that I even notice it anymore.

Make sure you put the eye bolts for your harness in before you get the brackets all mounted. There isn’t much room between the seat bracket and transmission tunnel to drill the holes afterwards. I had to take the seats back out,remove the heat shielding from below in the tunnel, and installed the eye bolt through the side of the transmission tunnel instead of the floor. I put large backing plates in the tunnel.

You’ll install and uninstall the seat about a dozen times before you get everything right. I did.

John