Lowering driver's seat in 911SC

Has anyone had experience or success lowering the driver's seat in an SC? I could use about an inch more headroom. I've taken the seat out and didn't see an easy way to modify the seat rails or mounting points in the car (as I've done before with other cars). Maybe the easiest thing to do would be to cut down the foam cushion? Also, does anyone know if the later electric seats from the Carrera with height adjustment go lower or only higher than the SC manual seats?

Darren Cooke
81 911SC Coupe

Darren,
You can remove the seats rails, which involves grinding them out, and then weld the seat supports for the '86-'89 911 in place. They are more than an inch lower.
Beware, though that some seats will have interference problems by being lower, like the '74-'77 sports recaros. Look carefully first.
I did that routine on my '76 carrera, it gives a totally new feeling, more race-like. Of course it brings help if you're real tall.
Have fun, GeorgeK

I forgot to mention that a lot of carpet will have to be recut as well.
GeorgeK

I am going through the same process. I found an upholstery guy who is really good. He was able to take the leather cover off the seat, take out about an inch and a half of foam and put the cover back on while I waited. That helped a lot, but for me, not enough. I am 6 ft 6 in and when I bought the car I had the seat rails extended to get me back, and now with the seat somewhat lower, I am almost there.
The problem is that I have a roll bar I want to install and my head is still about an inch above the bar (without helmet). The bar is about an inch and a half below the cabriolet top when it’s up (almost never). The bar forces the seat into a more upright position so I lose some of the advantage from being slightly reclined.
The upholsterer has an old Recaro that he says he can recover to match the passenger seat. He says, with the Recaro, I’ll be below the roll bar than for sure.
Are Recaro’s that much lower?
Story of my life: nothing fits without working on it.
good luck -Andy

[This message has been edited by Andy Snow (edited 07-12-2000).]

Thanks for the replies. I'm 6'4" and have the same problem with fitting in cars, Andy. I'm glad I don't have to worry about (for now) any helmet or roll bar clearance issues. It's hard enough fitting below the low roof line of the coupe body.

I suspect that having the foam cut down a little would be the easiest solution, but I may have to resort to modifying or relocating the seat mounts.

Darren Cooke

Darren and Andy:

I am 6'3" tall, and have found that with the sunroof of the coupe, the only way I could fit was to get the Sport Seats, which are lower. So I ordered the car that way, and I do fit. On my 1974 911, with regular seats, I had to crank the recline back a little.

With a helmet on for Drivers' Events, I have to crank the recline back quite a bit to clear the sunroof, but it's tolerable for the "short" time I'm on the track.....Andras