Too tall for my '85 Carrera Coupe

[TerryF]

And here I thought that strange smell in the car was just old Castrol...do tell.

I have some skills and tools to work with sheet metal bracketry. Do you guys think it is possible to lower the seat just by fab-ing a new bracket?

Here's a pix of the car, nothing has really changed on the outside since I got it. In addition to the stuff that got lost before I got it, I've lost the rear seats now and gained a Wevo shifter and Momo Prototipo with an OMP extension.

[Oh Haha]

Looks good, Terry!

[wcc]

It's lookin' good! Hope to see it at some of the events this year....

[Inniswhe]

I lowered the seats in my 84 sunroof coupe about 1.25" . I am 6'3" and I fit comfortably in now. I wanted a lowering method that did't require welding to the tunnel.
See below.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=392571

[vanwyk4257]

Now I remember you from the PCA Iroc event at Ionia last year!

I would second what Inniswhe said about avoiding welding on/near the center tunnel if possible due to the fuel lines running through it.

[911st]

TerryF,

I am in the same situation with my 85 w factory electric sport seats & SR. I believe that in 86 Porsche lowered the seat rails.

I am considering, removing the SR, sourcing later seat rails, cutting down my drivers seat bottom and removing the electric function, and / or Recaro race seats. I love my sport seats though and not having to have race belts to DE/TT.

Might just remove the SR shelf system and remount the stock SR panel in a fixed position. It is the box / shelf that eats up about 2" of our head room.

One person removed some of the springs in the seat and was happy with how he rode lower for more head room.

[Joe Bob]

When I swapped out my stock seats in my 83 for Recaros, I dropped down over 3 inches.

[billroth]

Originally Posted by mikez

When I swapped out my stock seats in my 83 for Recaros, I dropped down over 3 inches.

Which seats did you put in?

[Joe Bob]

I think they are SPDs?

[OttawaDave]

Hi all,

Resurrecting this thread to ask a specific question to those in the know about 1985 MY cars, as I too have a bit of a clearance issue.

In 1985, the seats were changed to the design that was used through the rest of the 3.2 Carrera years. My question is, were the seat rails made higher in 1985 (vs 1984), or were the rails unchanged and the height issues were caused by the seat (thereby necessitating lower rails for MY 1986).

The reason for asking is that I'm curious if SC seats (or 1984 MY Carrera seats) would offer more space without making any modificaitons to the rails/metal work.

Thanks in advance,
Dave

[911st]

I believe the seat rails raised to clear the DME under the seat with the start of the 84's but do not know this to be fact. In 1986 the seat rails were lowered to give more head room.

In some or later years Porsche did have an option to lower the seats that was mostly just putting less padding in the seats I believe.

If you are trying to fit a helmit you might try removing the sunroof liner and sliding it back into the back of the top. I did this and put my seat up so I can fit my helmit up in the opening. It has made things more livable but is not an great solution.

I think Recaro's can get about 1" more clearance with slider rails. Maybe almost 2" w/o sliders but not confident in this.

So to answer your question, I do not know if SC seats will lower you but I suspect not unless you modify them. It might be possable to take the lower apart of not electronic and chop and modify the bottoms to make for more room.

[teenerted1]

no mods needed

[OttawaDave]

Thanks for the responses guys.

911st - ideally yes, I would like to fit a helmet comfortably, but somehow having the top of my head sticking out of the sunroof doesn't sound like the safest solution.

Ted - are you saying no mods needed to fit a pair of SC seats and that they'll help with my head-room issue? Also, is that you in the pic? If so (and I'm sure I'm not the only one), could you fill us in on how you fit??

Cheers,
Dave

[mca]

I am an even 6 feet and I have to crouch while wearing a helmet in my 82 with sunroof. Not sure that SC seats would help much.

Maybe there are variations in helmet profiles?

[Joe Bob]

Recaro SPDs......it dropped my nearly 6 inches......

[911st]

Where they installed with the standard side brackets?

Sliders?

I heared about 2" w the brackets and about 1" with sliders.

[80-911SC]

delete sunroof for a track car expensive ? just rip out liner ,remove hard ware and weld in old sunroof piece , touch up paint and done . it'll cost you a couple hrs and a hundred bucks... .

[80-911SC]

you can also remove padding from the bottom of the seat and drop down a bit also. i read that in a post somewhere around here , don't remember where though

[911st]

Originally Posted by 80-911SC

delete sunroof for a track car expensive ? just rip out liner ,remove hard ware and weld in old sunroof piece , touch up paint and done . it'll cost you a couple hrs and a hundred bucks... .

Are you sure it is that easy?

[80-911SC]

Originally Posted by 911st

Are you sure it is that easy?

never did it but your just plugging a hole ,
its got to be easier that the cabrio to coupe DIY kit
or the targa factory completion set complete with coupe and sunroof option
(not available at pelican parts, or any where i hope)