Mounting Recaro Pole Position Seats

Britain Smith · 05-30-2006, 01:26 PM

This weekend I decided to put in my new set of Recaro Pole Position seats that I have been storing in the house for a bit too long. I placed them in the car and determined that the clearence between the roof and my head was a bit too close...and that was without the sliders. I am about 6'3" so there has to be other with similar issues.

How are you guys going about mounting fixed back aftermarket seats?

I was beginning to look into drawing up a set of mounts in Solidworks that were modified to mount the seats about 1.5inches lower. Has anybody gone down this route?

-Britain

Cory M · 05-30-2006, 02:14 PM

I have a recaro SPG in my 911 (w/ sunroof), I mounted mine direct to the factory mounting plates using recaro side brackets with no sliders, I have plenty of headroom and a nice low seating position (I am 6'2"). I had to drill a couple of new holes into the recaro brackets to get the legroom right but it was no big deal and doesn't compromise the integrity of the part. With the sliders I fit in the car but I didn't have enough headroom and my helmet rubbed the headliner..

charleskieffner · 05-30-2006, 02:23 PM

sparco sliders mounted to seat. im 6'3 200# works great. actually move seat forward for track days. this is one of those mods you ask yourself "why didnt i do this the day i bought it!" i am at top bolt front rear. ie. 3rd from floor . will proably drop one bolt hole in rear each side, to drop seat lower at rear and the front is higher. enjoy.

SLO-BOB · 05-30-2006, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by charleskieffner
sparco sliders mounted to seat. im 6'3 200# works great. actually move seat forward for track days. this is one of those mods you ask yourself "why didnt i do this the day i bought it!" i am at top bolt front rear. ie. 3rd from floor . will proably drop one bolt hole in rear each side, to drop seat lower at rear and the front is higher. enjoy.

Pics please!

charleskieffner · 05-30-2006, 02:59 PM

im at work will forward when i get home.

charleskieffner · 05-31-2006, 03:54 AM

slo-bob dont have car w/me but check out thread under recaro seat mounting w/rollbar on pelican has some detailed shots.

SLO-BOB · 05-31-2006, 04:34 AM

Thanks!

charleskieffner · 05-31-2006, 04:43 AM

rooted around for some more pics. didnt have detailed slider pics. bought my recaros from mini-works here in phx. he had the sparco sliders and mts in stock for 911's. guys name is victor. mines an '87. if your doing das sports roll bar you will have to notch w/die grinder mount plate on outboard side of each seat. ie. where your stock oem seat belt mounts. seat will go all the way back and you will be happy camper. my 6 way stock recaros compared to the pole positions is night and day.

Tom '74 911 · 05-31-2006, 07:52 AM

I had a thread going a few days ago about my search for more headroom here. Just so I'm clear: do the Recaro PP and SPG seats, when mounted with either the stock Recaro brackets directly to the stock mounting points, or mounted with Sparco sliders directly to the seat and then to the stock mounting points - result in a significant (2"+) increase in headroom?

I'm looking for a way to avoid rewelding my stock mounting brackets to a lower position to gain headroom. Does the lowest part of the Recaro seats - where your butt is - sit between the stock mounting brackets, or is there just not much cushion between your butt and the shell? I'd love some input to avoid welding!

TIA,
Tom

DW SD · 05-31-2006, 08:45 AM

I fabricated mounts from 1/8" x 1" stock some fixed seat mounts which adapt my SPARCOs to the factory mounts. Mine are dropped at least 1 1 1/2". My friend who is 6'5" drove the car with his helmet on. I'm only 6'. The rear of my seat is about 1" above the floor. The front is raised for proper driving position and I also turned the seat so my legs on inline with the pedals. Fits me like a glove.

Would fixed mounts be an option or will someone else be driving the car?

Doug

Tom '74 911 · 08:55 AM

Hi Doug - I am the primary driver. In a perfect world, sliders would be part of the final set-up so an instructor or my wife could drive, but I could live with a fixed solution if it was the only way I can fit with a helmet and be able to sit up straight! Do you have photos of your custom brackets?

Thanks,
Tom

PS: Britian - sorry to hijack - my questions seem to be inline with your original post requesting some mounting solutions for your Recaros that offer more headroom.

DW SD · 09:03 AM

Tom (and Britain, of course),
I'm very certain this isn't the only solution. However, it works.

This thread shows my brackets before they were 100% complete. They are now cleaned up, painted, and all of the holes drilled. They only cost about $10 to make. They are also very light compared to the slider mechanism, maybe a few lbs each seat.

custom SPARCO seat mounts install w/ Pics

I also welded my lap belt mounting brackets to these seat mounts, and applied the suggested geometry from the harness vendor.

Hope that helps!

Doug

Tom '74 911 · 05-31-2006, 09:16 AM

Thanks for the link Doug, that's very helpful. I remember seeing that when you posted it originally, but it didn't pop up w/any of my recent searches.

So . . . it seems like a seat that mounts on the SIDES vs bottom allows for a potentially lower mounting position, assuming that the seat bottom is narrower than the width between the stock mounting rails. True?

Also Doug - aside from being lighter and a lot less $$ than the standard Recaro or Sparco side mounting plates, do your custom fabbed deals offer a lower mounting position, or anything else? I do like them a lot, just don't have your fab. skills!

Thanks,
Tom

DW SD · 05-31-2006, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tom '74 911
Thanks for the link Doug, that's very helpful. I remember seeing that when you posted it originally, but it didn't pop up w/any of my recent searches.

So . . . it seems like a seat that mounts on the SIDES vs bottom allows for a potentially lower mounting position, assuming that the seat bottom is narrower than the width between the stock mounting rails. True?

Also Doug - aside from being lighter and a lot less $$ than the standard Recaro or Sparco side mounting plates, do your custom fabbed deals offer a lower mounting position, or anything else? I do like them a lot, just don't have your fab. skills!

Thanks,
Tom

Tom,
Mine offer the ability to utilize the stock seat rails welded to the chassis by the Porsche factory. The seat bottom must be narrower than the rails, true. My Evo 2s clear by a mile. Well, maybe 1/2" or more on each side? If you use the sparco universal mounting plates, I've seen people drill new holes in the floor and then have to add plate on the back side to make sure the seats don't rip out in an accident. Kind of bubble gum and bailing wire, if you ask me.

This isn't the right solution for everyone, but it works for me.

Doug

Tom '74 911 · 05-31-2006, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DW SD
Tom,
Mine offer the ability to utilize the stock seat rails welded to the chassis by the Porsche factory. The seat bottom must be narrower than the rails, true. My Evo 2s clear by a mile. Well, maybe 1/2" or more on each side? If you use the sparco universal mounting plates, I've seen people drill new holes in the floor and then have to add plate on the back side to make sure the seats don't rip out in an accident. Kind of bubble gum and bailing wire, if you ask me.

This isn't the right solution for everyone, but it works for me.

Doug

Doug - your solution is the best I've come across. I definately want to use the stock seat rails welded to the chassis if at all possible. I will cut them out and have them welded in lower (last resort), before I mount anything directly to the floor. I'm still a little unclear on something though (sorry for being Slo-Tom). Can one use Recaro or Sparco side mounting plates and mount them to the stock seat rails welded to the chassis - similar to your set-up? Or do the side mounting plates not work with the stock seat rails welded to the chassis?

Tom

Cory M · 05-31-2006, 09:52 AM

Quote:

I also welded my lap belt mounting brackets to these seat mounts, and applied the suggested geometry from the harness vendor.

If you plan on racing or doing time trials make sure you read the rules first, some clubs don't allow harnesses to be attached to seat brackets.

DW SD · 05-31-2006, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cory M
If you plan on racing or doing time trials make sure you read the rules first, some clubs don't allow harnesses to be attached to seat brackets.

Cory,
I didn't read any rule books. The harnesses have five unique mounting points per seat, but the lap belt mounts on my fabricated mounts. The factory attached one side of the seat belt to the seats, so that's surprising. Oh well, maybe another project in the works some day. I passed tech in SDR PCA for AX / DE, but I guess they probably aren't too picky.

Tom,
The distance between the two mounting brackets for the SPARCO universals is not wide enough to bolt to the Porsche factory rails.
They mount on the side of the seat and then curl back in underneath the edge of the seat itself. Their width is very close to the width of the seat.

I have a pair of SPARCO seat mounts and decided against using them for that reason.

Doug

Tom '74 911 · 05-31-2006, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DW SD

Tom,
The distance between the two mounting brackets for the SPARCO universals is not wide enough to bolt to the Porsche factory rails.
They mount on the side of the seat and then curl back in underneath the edge of the seat itself. Their width is very close to the width of the seat.

I have a pair of SPARCO seat mounts and decided against using them for that reason.

Doug

Doug - thanks a lot, that's exactly what I needed to know (but didn't!). Your car is fantastic by-the-way. Now all this seat mounting mumbo-jumbo makes perfect sense. I think I may be looking for a seat w/side mounts and then have a local welder fab some brackets like yours for me.

I really like this forum. I live HOURS from the nearest physical Porsche-related shop/dealer resource, but I can get just about anything answered here with a search or post and a little patience.

Thanks again,
Tom

Cory M · 10:44 AM

PCA Rules Booklet:

The following are guidelines for the proper mounting of restraint......Attachments must be to the car itself and not to the seat frames...

From the POC 2006 GCR's

10.5 Harnesses must be mounted to either the chassis, backed by large diameter washers, to the roll bar or cage, but not to the seat

These rules refer to racing and TT's - you're probably fine for AutoX and DE since they allow stock seats which attach the belts to the seat. They may not catch it in tech but if you do a lot of TT's you should probably change it. I only noticed it because I have been reading and re-reading the rulebooks to make sure that the 944 Spec I'm building is legal.

DW SD · 05-31-2006, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cory M
PCA Rules Booklet:

The following are guidelines for the proper mounting of restraint......Attachments must be to the car itself and not to the seat frames...

From the POC 2006 GCR's

10.5 Harnesses must be mounted to either the chassis, backed by large diameter washers, to the roll bar or cage, but not to the seat

These rules refer to racing and TT's - you're probably fine for AutoX and DE since they allow stock seats which attach the belts to the seat. They may not catch it in tech but if you do a lot of TT's you should probably change it. I only noticed it because I have been reading and re-reading the rulebooks to make sure that the 944 Spec I'm building is legal.

I'll have to explroe further. By definition, my lap belts aren't mounted to the seat. The way I see it, is the seat is mounted to the harness bracket, which is mounted to the seat rails. Ultimately, what matters to me is safety. I believed that that this was a very safe manner in which to mount.

The sub strap and shoulder harnesses are mounted in agreement with the rules.

I'll explore with Jae or Black Forrest once I have my car back together.

Doug