seat tracks

[nitroman]

Has anyone modified their seats to slide farther back? I did this to my Maserati & there was an intentional metal tab, which when removed eliminated the rear stop for the seat.

I don't want to take out the seat just to get the lay of the land if someone else has already done the "engineering work" for the Elan.

[GeoffSmith]

Matt,

I've got a couple of seats for Algirdas in my garage. Shout if you want a picture tomorrow - sorry but I'm off to bed now.

Geoff

[Monty]

Matt,

Have a look at this thread lotuselancentral.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8986
Don`t know if it`s of any help to u but there`s some photo`s of the stock runners

[DeeAitch]

Hi Matt,
Great to see you are on the mend

I'm over 6 ft so have a prob with leg room. However in my case I find the limiting factor is the back rest. I can't get the seat fully back on the runners as the shoulder area rubs against the B pillar trim - would have been so easy for Lotus to get that right - and the hood frame knocks the 5hit out of the protector - I suspect yet another item added in haste late in the day.
Still love the car to bits tho'

[mikeydude]

Mrs Mikeydude is very tall and got annoyed at the squeaking noise from the seat rubbing against the piller when put right back, so she being a woman simply solved the problem!, no heavy mods, no engineering, she just put a bit of black felt on the piller where it rubs, and...no squeak....I still think she makes a better cup holder than engineer though!

[nitroman]

I saw the seat stops today. There are 2 SUPER heavy duty rivets attaching the rear-seat-slide on each side (just 1 on the fronts). If you remove the farther-forward of the 2-rears on each side your seat will slide back another 4 centimeters.

I'll take it by the machine-shop next week and 'ave 'im remove them. If strength is needed he can add a weld to make up for the loss.

[nitroman]

In no particular order:
1) Seat up & out.
2) Rivet to be removed so seat can slide to rearmost rivet. Weld will be made on track-bottom to make up for removed rivet.
3) Bad structural engineering, mine.

If you are a laid-back sorta humanoid this won't help much. However if you sit bolt-upright like moi, you'll gain enough leg room to make long-drives FAR more pleasant. I'm using shorter bolts & removing the aluminium spacers to gain head-room as well; all calculated to fit the cargo in the box.

[nitroman]

Rivet ground flush; leg-room not great, but much more comfortable... can actually keep legs stretched-out now. Amazing what you'll put up with when you think you have no choice.

Bolt size to use when height-spacers are removed is m10 x 1.5 pitch; 35mm long on the inside & 40mm long on the outside.

BTW I removed a rear speaker & both the F&R are shot. Ordered some new ones. If you still have OE speakers you no doubt need new ones too.