Rear Seat Deletes ???
 

I'd like to do a rear seat delete, but I don't want to spend $1500 on a carbon fiber kit, which is the only one I can find anywhere.

Does anyone know of a company selling a rear seat delete kit that uses a cheaper material like ABS or MDF or something? Or possibly a shop in SoCal that could fabricate something for a reasonable price?

This?

^^ lucky if you live in North Carolina. :(

What about the new subaru option that is comming out for the rear seat privacy cover?

Oh wow, that's neat! I wouldn't mind that at all, since the reason I didn't like the CF one from Seibon was the price and you can't fold down the rear seat anymore. Any word on what price is looking like for that?

Ok looking at some of the other cars, wouldnt it have the same effect if you just drive with your seats down?

Essentially yes, though you'd be getting rid of the weight of the actual seats. When you drive with them down, they're still... There!

The only thing that I dont really care for is that even though the seats are taken out (they are foam so not really much of savings unless its a hardcore track car) but the plastics on the side are still shaped as if seats were there. Like there are armrests, curves, etc.

OP have you thought about just putting in a harness bar? That gets rid of the seats kind of... as they become useless due to the harness bar support bars going into the seat belt holes of the rear seats.

Another good point. I wonder what they weigh out to (the seats in total)...

well weight should not be the reason to get a rear seat delete because Im thinking the wood/carpet used to cover up where the seats go actually weigh more lol.

I really think the subaru option of the cover looks best.

Using the bathroom scale method, The seat buckets are ~6 pounds each, the back rest is ~15 pounds and the rear seat belts, folding brackets and misc hardware are ~10 pounds. You'd really have to try to make a delete that heavy. Here's some in progress photos of my fiberglass endeavor:


http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...psc549e1f7.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...ps528e0fc5.jpg

That's a very interesting progress pics! :coolpics:
Keep up the update :thumbsup:

I'd really like to see something come to market that has recesses to hold things, or even just a lip to prevent things from sliding.

i made this thread in the Southeast Regional Forum a while back but nobody seems to be interested: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29561

I've always felt this Official Weight Reduction Thread should be in a more general area where most people can't miss it.. :iono: Not everyone who wants to reduce weight intends on racing/tracking their car.

It's 21.2 lbs according to the first post there.

I have to say, I'm blown away by the amount of responses already! It's so great to see how this community has grown in the last year and how helpful everyone is!

My goal of deleting them is appearance and function first, weight loss second. The rear seats are useless for humans, so I might as well make it easier to store things, add a cage, or even some audio equipment later. I've driven with the rear seats down, but everything in the trunk slides all over, and the trunk doesn't have any sound deadening, so it's pretty loud, which is annoying. Also, like another guy said, they are still "there", so you don't get the weight reduction.

Yes, I saw rearseatdelete.com, and I agree, it would be great, if I lived in North Carolina. I think the fiberglass idea is bitchin! The $/weight on that would be nice. I definitely don't have access to any composites equipment, though.

Maybe I should switch to a SoCal posting, and ask for local shops that can do this type of fabrication as custom work. A lightweight piece with some sound deadening and carpet just to seal the trunk off from the cabin shouldn't be that hard to pull off for someone with experience.

Just need some foam, fiberglass, resin cheap brushes and packaging tape. Everything is available at home depot.

I got mine rough sanded, shaped and popped off the mold last night. A bit of filler and a bunch more sanding tonight.


http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...psf5e339a7.jpg

Grab a chainsaw and go to work. Then, voila! No more backseat.

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...0005_large.jpg

I would pay out the ass for something like this (pic is rear seat of FD RX-7)

^^ I miss my FD...

I did my battery relocation to the storage bin behind the driver. It was definitely something I thought about doing when I saw the back seats ( lack of usage thereof). I'll most likely just go without rear seats and put them in when I go on trips and someone pulls the short straw and gets stuck with the rear seats lol

I traded a '73 240Z for a '93 RX-7, and I feel your pain :cry:

just get some cardboard and place over area to give u a layout. coat with resing to harden and then apply glass and make a mold out of it..

Takes a bit more effort than the method mentioned above.

I'm just waiting on my fabric to come in and it should be good.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...ps74c8e53f.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...ps0c847e61.jpg

Getting closer. added "go fast" holes and straightened the body work up a bit. may vinyl wrap instead of the ultrasuede.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...ps6703d75a.jpg

Looking good!!!

Getting closer. added "go fast" holes and straightened the body work up a bit.
You sir are an inspiration to us all!:respekt:

hey antlers, how did you construct this? would you be king enough to explain the process especially how you got a mold of this...

i went the other way, im making a 2 piece delete... i only have the passenger side so far.

how will you prevent it from rattleing/vibrating against the interior?

It isn't in the car anymore, but it never did rattle.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...psebf158ef.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...ps9013f0de.jpg

nice job antlers... it has that old school look with the carpet choice. very unique. i might paint mine to match the WRB exterior paint. carpet would probably be easier. or i might do a wrinkle black finish.
i guess ill figure out the finish when its ready...

here are some pics of my progress....

by the way... im almost complete with the sub box/ rear seat delete

dont worry i didnt abort the project.
but i sure know some helpfull things for next time working with fiberglass
the other side should take half the time.

Shot an email to these guys, waiting on a response.

Ill be adding this to the Driveway Labs product line, a little bit of pretty for the inside go go with the diffuser outside.

Really like the idea of that.

Had a 2 door gti a handful of years back. Made a similar shaped delete out of plywood, with a vertical brace it was strong enough to sit on. The top was hinged to make the box work for storage.

Really want to do the same to this car. Though the seat back does a very good job keeping the cabin quieter.

Any thoughts on how much torsional rigidity the car loses, when the seat back is gone (or down)? I would think there would be some loss, since it's a single piece, tying both sides together via the latches. I ask, because I didn't hear the rear deck pop issue, until after a drive with the seat back down. Could be related, could be coincidence.

Why not just take the seat out, and carpet the area?

Some good ideas, I'd really like to make one that resembles the one in the BOSS 302 Laguna Seca.

http://mustangsdaily.com/blog/wp-con...-6346612-A.jpg

Another reason to add to why delete the seat. I'm very tall and have the seat back literally all the way. With the rear seat removed I can move ti back the 2" I really want. I come from owning 2-door coupes and that is how I like my cars. I have a truck for everyone else. Also makes it easier for a cage/harness back and battery relocate.

So, I can take my car there, but I have to find a way to justify driving 4hrs to have them keep my car for 3-5 days. I have to find a way to get back to SJAFB -___- But it is do-able.

Same for me. Its my DD, and I hate driving my wife's car lol

So why not just suck it up for 3-5 days!? You are so much more closer than I am. =[

I'll consider it lol