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Replacement Seats for S V
- Thread starter webineer
- Start date
alpine_64
Donation Time
Unlikely to be a direct bolt in as the triumphs MG's tended to have different width seats naarow on tr's wider on mgb. I would guess that a wanted add in the forum would turn up a frame for you. As a side note if you are rebuilding seats, the alpine microcell seats are superior to the try and mg onesfir comfort by a long way.
I have two SVs.
First one came (to me) with what I was told were MGB seats in degraded condition. They look about like this in both style and comfort - you can see the mounts underneath are not like the Alpine's:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/381177656964?lpid=82&chn=ps
The were not direct bolt-in and the previous owner had crafted a (horrible) way of mounting to the floorpans after removing the original welded-in part that the Alpine seat rails bolt to.
Since I had to redo the floorpans anyway - I just ripped out everything welded 4 hardened bolts to the new floorpans and then installed a set of nice $125 miata seats I found at a yard locally.
The second SV came degraded/ripped but original Alpine seats - so I paid Sunbeam Specialities for a complete set of foams and covers and redid the seats myself include cleaning/sealing/repainting the frames.
The Miata seats are an amazingly nice fit and much safer than the originals. Better than my modern family cars.
The rebuilt Alpine seats about 8/10's of the comfort and 5/10 the safety-feel of the Miata's - but look so much better.
I cannot tell if it was the seats, or the condition of the foam - but when I drove the first car with the MGBs I never felt either safe or comfortable. They looked much more period than the Miata's.
First one came (to me) with what I was told were MGB seats in degraded condition. They look about like this in both style and comfort - you can see the mounts underneath are not like the Alpine's:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/381177656964?lpid=82&chn=ps
The were not direct bolt-in and the previous owner had crafted a (horrible) way of mounting to the floorpans after removing the original welded-in part that the Alpine seat rails bolt to.
Since I had to redo the floorpans anyway - I just ripped out everything welded 4 hardened bolts to the new floorpans and then installed a set of nice $125 miata seats I found at a yard locally.
The second SV came degraded/ripped but original Alpine seats - so I paid Sunbeam Specialities for a complete set of foams and covers and redid the seats myself include cleaning/sealing/repainting the frames.
The Miata seats are an amazingly nice fit and much safer than the originals. Better than my modern family cars.
The rebuilt Alpine seats about 8/10's of the comfort and 5/10 the safety-feel of the Miata's - but look so much better.
I cannot tell if it was the seats, or the condition of the foam - but when I drove the first car with the MGBs I never felt either safe or comfortable. They looked much more period than the Miata's.
I have a set of seats from a series V. Already blasted and prime coated. I have had them for over 30 years stored. Great shape.
Let me know if you are interested.
DeRo davidderoberts@yahoo.com
Let me know if you are interested.
DeRo davidderoberts@yahoo.com
webineer
Bronze Level Sponsor
both of my sets are from the 2nd generation MX5 - 1999 to 2005. I do not know if they changed anything after 2005.
lots of the 2nd gen available. I paid $100 for each set plus shipping. Look in
car-parts.com. to see what is available in your area.
lots of the 2nd gen available. I paid $100 for each set plus shipping. Look in
car-parts.com. to see what is available in your area.
I have a set of 1995 M Edition Miata seats that will go into my V6 when the time comes. These seats were the only ones offered (at least in the US) with a separate headrest. (see http://s175.photobucket.com/user/Woodyhfd/media/Unspecified Miata/UnspecifiedMiata075.jpg.html) I wanted these because I felt like they looked a little more 'appropriate' for the car. Mine need to be recovered and I'll probably have covers made that look closer to the stock Alpine seats.
I test fit the seats to my SV and while they were very comfortable and did feel safer than stock, no matter what I did they sat just a little bit higher than stock and my knees rubbed a bit on the steering wheel. I will probably also put a 14" steering wheel on the V6 to make up for the difference, but I am always interested in how others have mounted theirs. So, Pete and Bashby and anyone else using Miata seats: pictures of your seat mounts would be very much appreciated!
I test fit the seats to my SV and while they were very comfortable and did feel safer than stock, no matter what I did they sat just a little bit higher than stock and my knees rubbed a bit on the steering wheel. I will probably also put a 14" steering wheel on the V6 to make up for the difference, but I am always interested in how others have mounted theirs. So, Pete and Bashby and anyone else using Miata seats: pictures of your seat mounts would be very much appreciated!
Here is the mount I built for each of the 4 corners of my Miata seats. Just welded that to the floorpans after positioning the seat correctly. Height adjustable with a wrench since there are nuts on either side of the seat frame mount.
http://bit.ly/1Ak82T0
http://bit.ly/1Ak82T0
Hi Jim
My installation of Miata seats was quite straightforward. I did not attempt to use the original Alpine tracks. Instead I used the tracks that came with the Miata seats. I positioned the seats so that I have maximum forward and back travel and drilled new mounting holes as required and bolted them in. I did use large washers, similar to those used in seat belt installations, under the floor to provide additional strength. That's all I did.
In one car I am using a wooden 15" wheel from an Alpine GT and do not have any leg clearance issues. The other has a 15" Moto-Lita steering wheel and again, I do not have any clearance issues.
hope you are well! Pete
My installation of Miata seats was quite straightforward. I did not attempt to use the original Alpine tracks. Instead I used the tracks that came with the Miata seats. I positioned the seats so that I have maximum forward and back travel and drilled new mounting holes as required and bolted them in. I did use large washers, similar to those used in seat belt installations, under the floor to provide additional strength. That's all I did.
In one car I am using a wooden 15" wheel from an Alpine GT and do not have any leg clearance issues. The other has a 15" Moto-Lita steering wheel and again, I do not have any clearance issues.
hope you are well! Pete
Thanks guys. Good info here for when I get to that point. Some day. Eventually. I hope.
I just installed RX7 seats. They are a difficult install (or maybe its just me) and at 21" wide, by most any standard, too wide for the Alpine. The drivers seat is not centered on the steering wheel, but I think we will adjust to it. I think a seat would have to be about 18" wide to properly center. How wide are the Miata seats?
They have adjustable head rests which work fine as seat belt positioners.
The head rest does not have to be raised that far to clear the belt, just to the first click.
Bill
They have adjustable head rests which work fine as seat belt positioners.
The head rest does not have to be raised that far to clear the belt, just to the first click.
Bill