Installed a Recaro Sport seat last night

[Cop]

Originally Posted by rx3

I initially installed it with the buddy club seat rails.
It did slide well enough but they had significant play. Because I didn't know whether any other slides would have less play I decided to fix the seat directly onto a seat base. However, the planted seat base is heavier than the buddy club rails alone, which is why I flexed some material off (now the screws are also more accessible).

Since I'm the only driver I don't need it to slide and the passenger seat is still the original one. I primarily used it for autocross purposes and most competitors don't use slides either.

It's currently not installed (I'm not driving this car in the winter). I will post pictures once it is installed again.

How was the seat height after switching to just the base and seat?

[rx3]

Sorry for the late response, I was adjusting/increasing the seat height using something like this (cut to length):
http://www.cap-aluprofile.com/S1084040L.jpg
(I think I have kinda long legs and a short torso, so I'm not sure whether this info is of any use to you).

(FWIW, none of the guys I race against use any slides.)

[mmmcambelsoup]

I also had to drill new holes when installing aftermarket seats using the planted seat bracket. I was expecting a 'plug and play' scenario. That seems to rarely happen these days.

[Cop]

Originally Posted by rx3

Sorry for the late response, I was adjusting/increasing the seat height using something like this (cut to length):
http://www.cap-aluprofile.com/S1084040L.jpg
(I think I have kinda long legs and a short torso, so I'm not sure whether this info is of any use to you).

(FWIW, none of the guys I race against use any slides.)

How did you change the seat height with that piece? Not visualizing it very well haha

Originally Posted by mmmcambelsoup

I also had to drill new holes when installing aftermarket seats using the planted seat bracket. I was expecting a 'plug and play' scenario. That seems to rarely happen these days.

Any issues adjusting to the lower seat height?

[mmmcambelsoup]

Any issues adjusting to the lower seat height?[/QUOTE]

I'm 5'8 on a good day, so height was't really an issue for me w/ the planted bracket.

[Cop]

Originally Posted by mmmcambelsoup

Any issues adjusting to the lower seat height?

I'm 5'8 on a good day, so height was't really an issue for me w/ the planted bracket.[/QUOTE]

Not sure if I conveyed my question clearly, did the aftermarket seat being lower feel weird to you vs the OEM seat height? I know the planted base w/o sliders will drop you a couple inches as far as seating position goes vs OEM. I too am 5'8

[rx3]

Originally Posted by Cop

How did you change the seat height with that piece? Not visualizing it very well haha

I connected the seat base to the seat side mounts using 4 screws (one in each corner).

I used 4 of these aluminum blocks as washers/spacers (screw goes through the center hole). They were placed between the seat base and the seat side mounts. (In order to get some extra height which I had with the rails before.).

A machine shop cut those aluminum blocks to length (length of about 1.5" each), which took about a minute.

[mmmcambelsoup]

Not sure if I conveyed my question clearly, did the aftermarket seat being lower feel weird to you vs the OEM seat height? I know the planted base w/o sliders will drop you a couple inches as far as seating position goes vs OEM. I too am 5'8

Def dropped the seat height and took some getting used to, but I prefer my chair to be lower when throwing the car around. I'm running a Nardi 350mm wheel and have it adjusted to the lowest setting as well.

[Rookie84]

Originally Posted by rx3

Here you go.

I also made a buckle bracket such that I could get a belt buckle extension through that opening in the seat.

Very nice! I need to do the same thing as I just purchased Recaro RS-GE for my car.

So did you just shorten the length of the stock belt buckle bracket and connect belt buckle extension? Did you cut the stock one or make a new one?

[rx3]

I left the stock belt buckle as is.

I made an extension (basically a sheet metal piece with 3 holes, 2 holes to connect with the seat base bracket and one hole to connect with the belt buckle). This extension moved the connection hole to the stock belt buckle about 5 inches to the rear. This way I didn't have to shorten it.

If possible I would weld a new bracket to the seat base, so you don't need an extension. (In my case this wasn't an option because the seat was too far back.)

[Rookie84]

Originally Posted by rx3

I left the stock belt buckle as is.

I made an extension (basically a sheet metal piece with 3 holes, 2 holes to connect with the seat base bracket and one hole to connect with the belt buckle). This extension moved the connection hole to the stock belt buckle about 5 inches to the rear. This way I didn't have to shorten it.

If possible I would weld a new bracket to the seat base, so you don't need an extension. (In my case this wasn't an option because the seat was too far back.)

I see. Thanks for the info! I will try something similar with mine.

[el-92]

Originally Posted by rx3

Here you go.

I also made a buckle bracket such that I could get a belt buckle extension through that opening in the seat.

You have a diy or did you purchase from a company for the extender