Really looking for a definitive answer (have done piles of searching): seats

[Scott S]

Hi All -

I have done a pile of searching and read a ton of threads - but I cannot find a definitive answer.

In the same car/all things being equal (same internal seat rail height) do the manual/standard seats from 74 - 77 sit you lower in the car than later power seats - especially the 993 seats?

I am looking for every inch I can find. My 77 sunroof came with 993 seats. I had them modified by having the foam shaved and removing the "S" clips than hold the springs together under the seat foam. I even manually made sure that the adjustment motors are absolutely/fully bottomed out. While they are now ok, If I could just find one more inch, the car would be perfect.

While I hate the idea of going to an after market seat, if I have to do so, can anyone give recommendations on a seat (for a bigger guy - 6'2" 280) that will put me the absolute lowest in the car without modifying the factory rails (the ones welded to the tunnel/sill)?

Thanks so so much.

[Groovie Ghoulie]

Bump! 6'2 215 guy here with the same problem.

[Rich Gas]

Hey Scott, you're a big boy! I'm 6'2" and the standard comfort seats in my 84 sometimes feel very low, and I have to scoot close to the wheel to get some height. Stock, manual comfort seats of the 78-84 variety should work for you.

Rich

[Scott S]

I am all torso - I only have a 30-31" inseam, but I have over an 8' reach. My pants are all standard, but my shirts are talls. Basically, I am an ape.... just not quite as smart.

[manbridge 74]

The PO to my car had the foam cut down in 74 sport seats when he recovered them. He was about 6'2" and he fit well. I had at 5'9" at least 6 inches of room above my head with these.

I now have some Recaros and the seating is also about as low so you may have luck with them.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Scott S

but I have over an 8' reach.

Ever try playing drums? That reach would help.

[Rich Gas]

Yeah, my younger brother is your size...same wingspan. Knuckles dragging on the ground. You must be friggin pumped brother. Anyway, when I had my 77 it had stock seats, and I never noticed pinched headroom. It was one of the most comfortable cars I've ever owned. Maybe switch back to stock...

Rich

[JAR0023]

I really can't answer the seat question but I think I remember reading the older seats on the newer rails lowers you a little. You've probably already done this but make sure you don't have the spacers between the seat and mounts. My '86 has these on the passenger side and no way I could fit over there. You've already worked over the seat bottom so seems like you've attacked the problem pretty well to this point.

I'm built the same. 6'2"-225 with 32" inseam. Monkey arms, too. My initial instinct was to lean the seat back for more headroom but quickly realized that if I have my head positioned in the sunroof area there is more room that just behind it. I fit but just barely. I had to pop the buttons off my ball caps. I tried with a helmet and it's a complete no-go. -J

[JAR0023]

Some seat height threads I've bookmarked over time. May be something new in here that you hadn't seen. -J

No weld to tunnel seat lowering

I think this one mentions the SC sliders are thinner that Carrera sliders.
Seat Height ?

1985 seat height

Newbie ? Seat rail height?

[KTL]

Well you have the older style "shelf" mounts in the chassis. The newer style is a structurally stronger C-section with legs that support it on the floor. I think the newer mount is a little shorter but not 100% certain. I'll take a measurement of that in my '79 racecar (still on the old flimsy shelf mounts) vs. the C-section mounts in my '87 street car.

I know that information I shared above doesn't help you (your chassis is what it is, not likely to cut out and weld in new mounts) but might help future people.

Another thing that doesn't help you is your sunroof. Not trying to be a jerk. Just pointing out that the sunroof operates in a framed assembly and that assembly lowers the headliner quite a bit. I cut out the sunroof in my racecar because my helmet is already too close to the upper cage "halo" structure. My intention is to shim the cage up and also lower the seat. Had to cut out sunroof framing in order to be able to shim the cage upward. So I feel your pain, in terms of to what lengths you have to go in order to gain some headroom!

[Jack Stands]

No further info to add, but a similar problem (6 ft. tall with a 29" inseam). The best solution I found is to buy a Targa or a Cabriolet, and never keep the top up .

[964TargaC2]

I had 993 seats in my 964 for a while and they sat higher than the original seats

[Scott S]

Okay, so last night was car night (the one night a week my wife allows me to disappear into the shop until I decide to go to bed - it. is. awesome.)

About a month ago I pulled the seats out of a 944 in our local pick and pull wrecking yard (for 14.00 each!) under the premise of seeing what I could come up with to address this ongoing height issue. Yesterday I was sent on an errand to our local Hobby Lobby to pick up some odds and ends to finish up our Halloween decorations (yean, I am THAT guy...). On the closeout fabric rack there was a roll of pretty decent marine grade black vinyl. Shockingly, there was also a remnant of perforated vinyl (I have never seen that at a fabric store before). For $12 I picked up the remnant and a yard of the standard black.

Then I dove in (disclaimer - I am into this for 26.00 - it is nothing more than a test).

The seats from the wrecking yard are the same era as the seats in my car - so the backs can be swapped. Therefore, I decided on creating just a seat bottom, using my existing back.

I pulled the junk yard seat apart. I cut the foam bolsters away from the center cushion. One of the issues with simply shaving down the foam and using the original cover is that the cover acts like a hammock due to the bolster upholstery being attached to the center upholstery (this may be why the sport seats sit a bit a lower, as the bolsters are separate from the center).

I then cut off the bolster supports on both sides of the frame. Yes, this included the switch support. The seat frame was now 100% flat.

I manually retracted all of the motors/supports for the seats power functions. I then removed the motors and the drive cables. I also cut off any un-used/un needed brackets associated with the motors. There is now no space between the seat frame and the sliders – just like if the sliders were bolted directly to the frame, vs being attached to the motorized lift mechanism.

So, on to upholstery. I had some decent sized pieces of foam at the shop – not closed cell, but firm. I cut and notched as needed and created the bolster padding. Even though the block of foam is close to 4” square, there is less than in inch on the top of the edge of the seat frame (where the original bolster used to be). Having no experience doing this, this was tough. Tons of manipulation of the vinyl to get it to lay even reasonably well. The spikes on the frame that hold the original covering to the frame allow for lots of repositioning however. I used hog rings on the front and rear edges as well to make sure things were secure.

I then took the center section of foam that I cut from the factory piece and wrapped it in the perforated vinyl. I used 3M headliner adhesive – that stuff is awesome. I made the bolsters a bit wide on purpose so that the center foam was a tight fit. I then wrapped the front and rear edges around the frame and used the spikes on the frame to make everything (very) secure. Here are some pics a bit before I was done - be gentle....

I have not put it into the car yet, but I was correct that making the bolsters and center cushion separate pieces allows the springs to flex much more. I will get it into the car next week and report back. One thing to know, while the seat looks like it has bolsters, it really doesn’t. They go flat as soon as you sit in the seat.

$26, no sewing and 4 hours work of work. If this solved my problem, I will take it to my local upholstery guy and have him recreate it “for real” with the correct seems, etc

[nineball]

i have both power 993 seats and 74-80 sport seats for my 83SC. the 993 are definitely taller, mostly due to the power components in the bottom. the sport seats are much lower, and due to their design you even sit lower in the actual seat.

i would suggest, if you are willing to pay for them, to get a set of the 74-80 sport seats. not only are they shorter (your butt area) but they feel 100x better than the 993 seats.

[JAR0023]

Nice work on the seat bottoms. I think ultimately you are going to want some bolstering to keep you in the seats.

Without seeing it could the factory supports be lowered/widened and rewelded to the frame? Could you bend your own supports from steel rod stock? -J

[JAR0023]

If you are feeling bold and like plaid you could grab this seat I found browsing at DC Automotive. -J

[PcarPhil]

Originally Posted by Scott S

In the same car/all things being equal (same internal seat rail height) do the manual/standard seats from 74 - 77 sit you lower in the car than later power seats - especially the 993 seats?

The short answer to your question is yes.

I'm 6'4" with a long torso and I just skip all the stock seats and go with aftermarket Recaro seats. The Speed S is a very comfortable sporty seat that gives about 2" additional headroom compared to '74-'89 stock Porsche seats, manual or electric.

[Scott S]

Well, it worked. I have a good inch between my head and the headliner. I went out and bought another bottom foam section from the wrecking yard (4.00) so I could incorporate the 993 seams into my butchered seat. Here is the end result (prior to putting the side hinge trim back on). Well see how long it will last - but after sitting in it for a half hour making engine noises (it was -12 here, so I did not drive it), I think it will fill my needs for now.

I did the seams myself, so I am into the entire project for $30.

[4flyboy]

Originally Posted by nineball

i have both power 993 seats and 74-80 sport seats for my 83SC. the 993 are definitely taller, mostly due to the power components in the bottom. the sport seats are much lower, and due to their design you even sit lower in the actual seat.

i would suggest, if you are willing to pay for them, to get a set of the 74-80 sport seats. not only are they shorter (your butt area) but they feel 100x better than the 993 seats.

Could not have said it better Nineball tho I will add my experience .....

I bought some Electric Turbo Sport Seats for my '84 T.L. last year and had fellow Pelican Mark Krivanek (username Marko) repair the original vinyl bolster on them.

While at his place in Tampa I spotted and fell in love with a pair of 80-84 NON electric sport seats (they aren't crazy expensive yet) ....one thing led to another. He sold them to me and recovered them beautifully in Can Can red leather (match my blk/red int.).

In the interim I used the Turbo Sports seats. I had to recline them to keep my head out of the sunroof.... a la Herman Munster. I' 6'4" 225 with a long torso. Yikes.

Anyway, the day arrived and I bolted in the new seats sans electrics and on standard Recaro rails. I felt like I was sitting in a hole!

I figure at least 2" (non-scientific). I'm still near the roof but I can sit at a comfortable angle.

My younger friends has assumed that I was simply getting "cooler" with my head reclined behind the "B" pillar. Hated it.

The later (80 - 84) non electric Recaro seats are the best kept open secret on the forum. I expect their price to skyrocket in coming years.

They are at least 30 pounds lighter, more comfortable and gorgeous........

Here is Mark's handiwork........... black piping btw. Hope this helps.

Scott