Too tall for my '85 Carrera Coupe

[TerryF]

I love my 1985 Carrera Sunroof Coupe. I would not trade it for anything. (993 GT2 excepted). My problem is that my stock seats bring my head too close to the roof. With a helmet, I have about one-half inch clearance and that is just not safe.

My seats are very comfortable and my CG-Lock belt attachment is sufficient for my occasional auto-x. I talked to my independent garage (Munks Motors, Waterford, Michigan) and they say there's no way to lower my stock seat any more without major work.

I am almost convinced to buy an aftermarket seat, of the kinda-racy-adjustable-back type to mount lower.

Am I on the right track? Could this work? Has anybody done this (specific products, please)?

Thanks for your help!
Terry, Lansing, MI PCA Motor-Stadt/SCCA-WMR

[JTL]

I have the same issue in a coupe but fortunately my car is a targa. There seems to be just enough space even with a helmet to be comfy. My car has factory manual sport seats.

My friend's 930 coupe with aftermarket sport seats and rollcage doesn't have enough head room with helmet. I'm 6'5" though...

I was also looking for some aftermarket seats for my car. Reason being the new PCA DE regs that don't allow the use of harnesses with stock seats. I think the Recaro Pole Position seats would be pretty good. The Porsche Gt3 seats would probably be ideal but they are pricey. Both seats are fixed though with limits access to the back seats.
I managed to cram 2 kid seats in the back for my twin 4-year-olds for short trips. Come to think of it, I really need a track car and a street car?! Anybody got a decent 951 for sale? Then upgrade the targa to a 993 or better.

jt
-84 targa

[aston@ultrasw.c]

I had a similar prob in my '84.

I installed Sparco EvoIIs. I used their mounting brackets but did not use any sliders. Instead I made up adaptor plates to bolt to the floor rails and then to the Sparco mtg brackets.

The adpators are 2" x 1/8" steel plate with the appropriate holes drilled. It wasn't that hard. It just took a little time and required some careful measurements.

My helmet now fits comfortably and I was able to fine adjust the seat position side to side as well as front to back.

[Peter Zimmermann]

Originally Posted by TerryF

I am almost convinced to buy an aftermarket seat, of the kinda-racy-adjustable-back type to mount lower.

Thanks for your help!
Terry, Lansing, MI PCA Motor-Stadt/SCCA-WMR

I put Recaro leather seats in my '82 SC. They are terrific, and my stock seats remain covered with plastic in storage. 1985 seats were curious because the seat bottom was higher than in other models. Recaros like mine will give you an inch, at least, more headroom, and will hold you better in corners. All things considered, I think that it makes sense to do the swap.

[e p slick]

Sawz-All will open roof a bit more.

[masraum]

I loved the seats in my old '88, but I'd have really liked to have a set of fixed back Recaros. The support of a good seat is amazing compared to the stock seats.

I assume you don't have height adjustable electric seats? The seats in my '88 that had up/down forward/back electric adjustment went pretty low, and I think I've read that the non-power seats don't sit quite as low. Also, a coupe with sunroof loses an inch or two because of the hump for the sunroof hardware.

[85eurocarrera]

from what I understand, seat rails got taller in '85. Had to cut mine down.

[JP911]

With a helmet on stock seats my head was touching the headliner of my non-sunroof coupe. I went to Sparco Evo IIs (without sliders) and have most recently had the stock seat mounts cut out and new mounts fabricated very close to the floor. Now all is well.

[vanwyk4257]

85eurocarrera is correct. If I remember correctly the seat rails were about 20mm higher starting in 1985. I had a 1985 coupe a couple years ago and had headroom issues too. My solution was to sell the coupe and buy a 1987 targa. I've never looked back!

Short of that, you may be able to change seats and gain some headroom, but the issue is that if you mount them with sliders etcetera you may not gain as much headroom as you would otherwise hope for. Your best bet if you love the car is to have someone professionally lower the seat rails. Just beware that the fuel lines run through that center tunnel, so have a shop familiar with Porsche 911's do the work if possible.

BTW, I see you're from Lansing, so we're only about an hour away from each other. I hope to meet you at a PCA Iroc event this season!

[dwhipple]

If you need sliders and are thinking about "race" seats, the Pole Position can be mounted lower than a Sparco. It has a rounded bottom which can be dropped below the level of the rails. I am over 6'4" so I understand.

[Laneco]

My husband tried to convince me that re-dying my factory brown seats in my 81 coupe was folly. We had a set of black 85 or so seats. So I put them in.

Hated them. They sat up MUCH taller than my 81 seats. I re-dyed my old ones and have been using them ever since.

See if somebody will loan you a set of older seats. Try them, if you like them, just swap in a set.

angela

[84_Carrera]

I have been told the manual seats are lower than the power seats, and from what I read here there was a change in 85 anyway. My '84's manual seats give me just enough room in my Cab to run with a helmet, even with my big noggin.

Munks - I have a bunch of receipts from them from the PO of my 84 Cab.

[wcc]

Time to sell it and get a cab with a roll bar. I 'think' I may know someone that's interested in it....

Seriously, first post and no pics??? C'mon! Not that I haven't ever seen your car before...

Welcome to the PP community!!!!

[Oh Haha]

Welcome to Pelican.


Pics of your car would be cool. I may know it as well. Very well, indeed.


Aftermarket seats should give you a bit more room for sure.

I have fixed back race seats in the SC and I have no problem but I'm only 5'7" on a good day.


wcc(Bill)-You've raced the 930 with a helmet, how much room did you have?

[wcc]

Originally Posted by Oh Haha

Welcome to Pelican.


Pics of your car would be cool. I may know it as well. Very well, indeed.


Aftermarket seats should give you a bit more room for sure.

I have fixed back race seats in the SC and I have no problem but I'm only 5'7" on a good day.


wcc(Bill)-You've raced the 930 with a helmet, how much room did you have?

The seats in the 930 have an up/down power adjustment so I actually had, seemed like it anyways, plenty of room with my helmet. The '85 didn't have that feature and it felt close to what my power seats are like in the almost full up position. If that makes sense. And yes, you know this car intimately!

[Oh Haha]

Originally Posted by wcc

The seats in the 930 have an up/down power adjustment so I actually had, seemed like it anyways, plenty of room with my helmet. The '85 didn't have that feature and it felt close to what my power seats are like in the almost full up position. If that makes sense. And yes, you know this car intimately!

Boy, I hope he doesn't find that can of tuna we planted.




Crap, he can read this, can't he?










j/k

[Chris84Cab]

I have an 84' Carrera... although it is a Cabrio. I have fully electric 930 seats in the vehicle and I can drop it down pretty low. I'm 6' 4".

[tomphot]

I've got an '85 RoW with sunroof delete.
Does anyone know how much extra head room I'm getting with the sunroof delete? The whole sunroof thing has to take up at least 1.5" I would think.
I'm 6'5" and fit fine in my car - a friend has an '85 with a sunroof and it is a tighter fit for me in his car.
I'm not sure I could wear a helmet though in either car.

[wcc]

There ya go TerryF. Swap them out for a nice set of electric 930 sport seats. Of course you'd still be using the 3pt belts. If you are really concerned about safety change them out with aftermarket seats and a 6pt harness.

Oh Haha - that's funny!

[TerryF]

I kinda like the saw idea. I would really like to delete the sunroof, but that might be a little extreme for my budget.

Thanks anyway!