Sparco Evo in 74+ car??

Elombard · 01-12-2009, 04:45 PM

I am trying to put a Sparco Evo XL in a 75 chassis. If I mount it on top of the rails way too high. So I was going to cut the rails off and mount too the floor with an appropriately strong bracket but it seems to be too wide to fit between the center hump and the side sills.

Has any body successfully mounted one of these or do I need to get a narrower seat?

Seems like it would require major surgery of the side sills to get it in.

IS the EVO XL a lot wider than than say an Evo 2? I thought it would just be a tiny bit wider.

I searched a bunch of threads but did not run into this.

JP911 · JP911's Garage

If the EVO XL is the same as the EVO 3, then you may have some trouble getting it to fit. I recall reading posts from others saying that the seat is too wide (the shoulder "wings" hit the door tops). I had EVO 2s in my car and they just barely fit next to each other, and they did contact the doors slightly. Hope this helps.

Elombard · 01-12-2009, 05:17 PM

Jon did the Evo 2 fit down on the floor? or did you mount it above the stock mounting points (plates welded to the tunnel and sill).

Thanks

afterburn 549 · 01-12-2009, 05:20 PM

The Sparco is Nifty but in my opinion after hours of frustration.......take them back and get Recaro

Elombard · 01-12-2009, 07:03 PM

Ok I just checked the specs the the EVO XL fat boy is 2 inches wider so I think a standard EVO would fit. I wish I could take it back but it was a used purchase.

I need to go measure some more.

JP911 · JP911's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elombard

Jon did the Evo 2 fit down on the floor? or did you mount it above the stock mounting points (plates welded to the tunnel and sill).

Thanks

No, the EVO 2 has a pretty wide base. I had the Sparco mounts bolted directly to the stock mounting points (no sliders). This got me just enough helmet clearance in a non-sunroof car.

Elombard · 01-13-2009, 09:04 AM

Yah thats what I was afraid of. The Recaro specs show them much narrower. I probably could not get in one.

mcvgums · 01-13-2009, 10:17 AM

Eric,
Sorry to hear they won't fit. My buddy is redoing an e36 M3 and may be in the market for seats. Let me know if you want to sell.

Mark

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Fitting shell seats in 911/964/993 is part black art and part knowing a friendly machinist.

Vintage914Racer · 01-13-2009, 10:56 AM

I'm interested in the seat if you're looking to sell it.

petevb · 01-13-2009, 11:00 AM

An OMP Big fits between the sills with custom brackets- the largest/ tallest seat I've found that will. Much higher harness holes than a Recaro Pole position, which will also fit. The Racetech RT 4009 W will also just barely fit down low, again with custom mounts. It's probably between the other two in terms of harness height.

I'm 6' 3.5", fyi.

Deschodt · 11:08 AM

I have not tried in this vintage of cars, but as much as I like Sparcos, they are not necessarily designed to fit a Porsche (they have a gazillion brackets though) and the associated brackets and stuff often ends up getting you seated higher than you'd want... And cutting the seat rails on that 911 won't be a picnic either... In a Porsche of that vintage I went with Recaros and they bolted right in, no adapter, nothing... On old 911s, I'd go +1 on Recaro any day, to save yourself the aggravation...

Besides, my 2 sets of sparcos have aged 10x faster than the similar recaros... (all faded)

crashmy911 · 01-13-2009, 11:19 AM

My evo2 did not fit down in there. Had to make some new mounts after cutting the rails out. Should have measured before hand. Watch out if you cut the rails out already. There are fuel lines in there. They like to melt and catch on fire. Ask me how I know. That started a whole other problem.

Elombard · 01-13-2009, 11:29 AM

Thanks for the tips

I have access to a local Sparco "EVO". The owner says it is about 19" at the outside of the side mounts. I think that is too wide also, but very close.

If the side mounts wont fit between the sill and center tunnell I can not imagine mounting one of these seats, you would feel like you were on top of the car!

I am ~6'4" so that is part of the problem.

I know I have to be careful on that center tunnel. Want to avoid it if possible.

It was so much easier on the 73, those seat plates just unbolted!

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by petevb

...... Much higher harness holes than a Recaro Pole position, which will also fit. .....

That can be an issue w/ Pole Position, the harness holes leave little room for different shoulder and horizontal bar matching. You want a straight shot at an angle of 0* to 20* down from the shoulder to the horizontal bar where the harness wraps.

petevb · 01-13-2009, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petevb

An OMP Big fits between the sills with custom brackets- the largest/ tallest seat I've found that will. Much higher harness holes than a Recaro Pole position, which will also fit. The Racetech RT 4009 W will also just barely fit down low, again with custom mounts. It's probably between the other two in terms of harness height.

I'm 6' 3.5", fyi.

I should note that I've only got experience in a '78 (Pole Position) a '70 (OMP Big) and a '69 (Racetech RT 4009 W with a little bit of metal work to increase clearance). I'm not totally sure how the '75 chassis might differ between the sills, so if you want to try any of these seats perhaps look into that further or PM me for pics...

Tom '74 911 · 01-13-2009, 03:19 PM

I have experience mounting a Recaro SPG and SPG XL in my car. I chopped out the stock mounts to get them lower so I could fit w/my helmet. Here's some pics - I'm happy to measure anything if it helps - just ask. It was a process to say the least, but worth the effort in the end. Do lots of measuring etc.... side brackets are not all created equal dimensionally - I had to look and look for some that would work with the SPG XL as it's pretty wide.

Tom

Elombard · 01-13-2009, 03:51 PM

Thanks Pete, I wonder if the distance between the sills and the center tunnel is the same in pre 73 cars. If I had to guess I bet the distance is a little bigger in the early cars.

Tom that looks like a first class install, did you have any issues with the fuel lines in the tunnel?

175K911 · 01-13-2009, 05:01 PM

Sparco Evo fits fine in my '86 with BK side mounts and Sparco slider.

Elombard · 01-13-2009, 05:18 PM

Hey 175K

Thats amazing? I measured and the width from tunnel to side sill is ~18". The Evo is supposed to measure 19" across the side mounts???

Do you have a pic, are you mounted on the floor?