Race seat install

[Andy]

I wouldn't have a problem with asking if we can confirm that we have enough folks lined up. I would hate to ask for a discount and then not follow through on our side of the deal. If we can get some serious commitments, I don't see a reason not to ask.

[BLINGMW]

Hunter - I think there are better bolt in options for the BMW's.

I'll say! I didn't know you guys were paying for or DIYing this much fab work! hock: Especially on a Miata? Or Mustang? Come on, no-one makes a bracket that fits these often tracked cars? The Corbeau bracket fit with no modifications on my E30. Well ok, I had to ream out two holes just a touch that were a little off, but they went in in minutes. And I thoght they were pricey at $70 something each. Wow. I guess Evan's idea of mounting to the Corbeau bracket for your car makes some sense. I would have returned them and just had someone weld up something similar out of a stock seat bracket if I had to hack them up to get them to fit! :roll:

[white_2kgt]

Or Mustang?

I didn't pay for any fab work, did it myself, and they make a bracket, but it sucks, they make brackets for TONS of cars, and they suck apparently. I guess it would have centered a smaller seat but the EVO II was off to one side to far.

[Maengelito]

i have a sparco pro2k seat with sparco sliders. i've used the sparco bottom mount base in my integra, a DASport bottom mount base in my 240 and currently have an OMP bottom mount seat base in my miata. i've been atleast an inch or two lower on all occasions and all have seemed just as solid as the OEM seat. my only gripe is the OMP seatbase i'm currently using because the miata is so cramped and the sparco seat doesnt recline, its really hard to get the rear bolts in. aside from that, all have been really good

[Dave]

I called Mitch up today at Piper. He seems like a really nice guy and we all know that his work speaks for him. He said that, at this time, he is interested but unable to make any specific offers and will have to treat each case/person independently. The problem is that they are currently focused on catching up on all of the work they have scheduled (already scheduling people up into May) and completing the move into thier new facility. They are looking to expand with the new facility and are taking the steps to make that possible.
He sounded genuinely interested in having us as a client but just couldn't work on any specific details at the moment because of all of the other stuff that the company is in the middle of right now.
If you have any other questions or such, PM me, I guess I'll be the MM contact with them unless you want to arrange for the work yourself.

[Andy]

I pm'ed w/details but yes, I'm down for a group order w/Piper Motorsports. My appointment is for May 15th but I can adjust to fit a group schedule.

[Andy]

I had another question w/regard to the Sparco Sprint. Pete said that he was planning on cutting a hole in his sprint. A guy on the MR2 forum who does hill climbs, track days and drag uses Sprints in his car. He just runs the lap belt over the front the seat and he says that once the harnesses are tied down, thereÔÇÖs zero movement w/ regard to the sub belt. So I actually have three questions:

1.Is this safe?
2.Is the idea of cutting a hole in the sprint safe w/ regard to maintaining the Sprints integrity?
3.As an instructor, would you feel comfortable getting in a seat with the sub belt running in front of the seat or through a hole in the Sprint.
4.Or lastly, should I just buy a damn Evo and be done with it.

*edit* I meant sub belt.

[Sijray21]

i thought the hole was for the crotch belt to prevent sliding out from under the lap belts in the uneventful case of a frontal accident?

[.RJ]

Think about what happens when you run into something - if the sub belt is wrapped over the seat, then it will loosen in a hard impact. If its under the seat and through it, it will tighten up.

That said, I had my sub belt wrapped over the front of the seat on my lunchbox when I crashed into, and ended up on top of the T3 tire wall at summit and it worked fine.

I say cut a hole in the seat.

[Maengelito]

i think the main function of the sub belt is to hold the lap belts over your pelvis in the event that something bad happens. if the belt is on the front of the seat, it should give a bit because there's nothing holding it back, but it would most likely still hold the lap belt over your pelvis depending on the type of impact. if its through a hole in the seat, its got nowhere to go which is safer, but i dont think it'd be so wrong to have it over the front. that being said, i really like my pro2k seat and i really liked all the evos and evo2s i've sat in. i cant say i've liked any other seats.

[PDenbigh]

The purpose of the sub belt is to prevent "submarining" under the lap belt and destroying your insides and ripping ribs, etc. As far as the physics are concerned I would not feel safe wrapping it around the front of the seat. I guess in theory you could just become sandwiched between the belt and the seat after the impact. If it is through the base of the seat it keeps you where you need to be.

About a year ago Chad posted a good article on harnesses and theory behind them, based on testing. Maybe he can dig it up again.

[Sijray21]

i really like my pro2k seat and i really liked all the evos and evo2s i've sat in. i cant say i've liked any other seats.

that's the one i'm planning on getting, good to know!

it also appeared i misunderstood the previous question by andy. Thanks for clearing that up!

[Evan]

4.Or lastly, should I just buy a damn Evo and be done with it.

other alternatives are the Momo Start. Economical Fiberglass seat with sub hole. Make sure you test sit the seat though, it didnt fit me well.
Corbeau Forza. Steel frame seat (like the Sprint) but with a sub belt hole. Im selling mine if you want one. A benefit of the corbeau is that corbeau makes very good vehicle specific brackets

EVO is definately the best alternative, but most costly both in seat cost and fabrication cost

[white_2kgt]

4.Or lastly, should I just buy a damn Evo and be done with it.

THAT is my suggestion (or any seat that is properly constructed and designed for harnesses, the EVO's aren't really designed properly for 6pt belts, only 5, but they are close enough for the cost). I don't like hearing this talk of cutting holes in seats. As soon as you do, BAM there goes all those certifications you just paid for, SFI, FIA, useless once the seat is modified. Now will NASA say anything, chances are NILL anyone would ever stop you from going out on track w/ a modified seat, but according to the CCR, they could.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.corner-carvers.com/wiki/index.php?Notes%20on%20Race%20Car%20Harnesses">http://www.corner-carvers.com/wiki/inde ... 0Harnesses</a><!-- m -->

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.schroth.com/installation-instructions/en/index.html">http://www.schroth.com/installation-ins ... index.html</a><!-- m -->

[.RJ]

I don't like hearing this talk of cutting holes in seats. As soon as you do, BAM there goes all those certifications you just paid for, SFI, FIA, useless once the seat is modified

Not always -

I posed this question to Grumpy about seat mounting holes - what if the threaded inserts that you use to mount the side of the seat with got cross threaded? Well you can drill it out and back it up with a proper grade nut and mount it, and then repair will be at the discretion of the tech inspector but done properly it will pass and retain its cert.

Same thing as the sub belt hole, I'm not sure - but there is some leeway with it.

[white_2kgt]

I don't like hearing this talk of cutting holes in seats. As soon as you do, BAM there goes all those certifications you just paid for, SFI, FIA, useless once the seat is modified

Not always -

I posed this question to Grumpy about seat mounting holes - what if the threaded inserts that you use to mount the side of the seat with got cross threaded? Well you can drill it out and back it up with a proper grade nut and mount it, and then repair will be at the discretion of the tech inspector but done properly it will pass and retain its cert.

Same thing as the sub belt hole, I'm not sure - but there is some leeway with it.

I don't see how you can say with a straight face that removing the threads out of a bolt and cutting a 4" hole in fiberglass is the 'samething'. I can guarendamntee that cutting a hole in the bottom of an SFI and FIA spec seat is going to void its rating.