Possible Seat Project - Seeking Advice

[Elanlover]

Ok, for some time now I've been considering replacing the seats with something "better". I'm not fond of the racing type seats with the large shoulder bolsters that barely fit the car. But, there are few if any seats out there that can do the trick. A Porsche seat (911 SC for example) looks very similar to the Elan seat. And that got me thinking.........

If you're looking for something similar to the existing seats why not just rework the existing seats?

Its easy enough to get new skins - plenty of people can do that. My biggest concerns with the current seats are as follows:

1. Seat is too wide at the "seat". It rubs the centre console
2. Leg bolsters aren't large (high) enough to provide good lateral support
3. Waist bolsters could be a bit bigger as well
4. The foam cushions probably need replacing
5. The seat base is sagging a bit

There may be other "isues" that other people could comment on based on their experience. So, what I'm thinking for solutions to these issues are as follows:

1. & 2. What's the leg bolster shaped from? Is it a metal bar that gives it the shape? If so, could it be bent upwards a bit to provide better clearance to the centre console AND also give better support?
3. Same comment as above. Can they be bent inwards if made of metal bar/framing?
4. Replace the foam but with what? Is there a better foam out there that gives greta support? Not sure about the "tempur" type foams (memory foam) in a convertible that gets exposed to the heat and direct sunlight all the time.
5. Replace the base with an aluminum plate perhaps?

I've never taken the seat apart (had them out of course) so I'm not familiar with how they are made. Does anyone have pics of a bare frame or know how the seats are built? Any help/suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

[tweetdriver63]

Blair,

The seat cushions' bolsters are all foam. The side bolsters (on the seat backs) are mostly foam, but theres a metal frame that the foam goes over. You could probably bend that some to change how it feels, but I doubt it would make a huge difference. The outboard side of my driver's seat had a somewhat bent frame in the bolster, bent outward a bit, and it resulted in some loss of lateral support for my upper body. I straightened it when I had them apart to put on the new skins.

My advice, if you're not going to completely replace the seats, is take it to a trimmer. I took my car to a local trimmer yesterday to get a panel on the driver's seat replaced (new skin from kmckmc where the color rubbed off), and he also repaired the foam in that bolster, and reworked the seat cushion foam, along with repairing the diaphragm. It's an incredible difference. I get the feeling that he could make the seat have whatever look, feel, support I asked for.

It seems to me that the seat cushion doesn't need to provide much lateral support, because there's no room to slide either direction down there. All it needs to do is provide direct support to your rear end. The seat backs could certainly do a better job of lateral support, though. I'd bet money a decent trimmer shop could reowrk those lateral supports for you. The metal frames that support those cushions are just a piece of round metal, about 1/4 inch in diameter, bent in a sort of elongated triangle, with the ends welded to the seatback fram. You could probably remove those, and weld on new frames that provide more support, and have the trimmer custom modify the foam, and make custom skins. I'll bet that would start to get costly, though.

You may find that a good refurb job by a trim shop really improves the feel and the support of the original seats. I did.

[lotos]

If you're getting any work done, be sure to add in a seat heater (or maybe a new-fangled heater / cooler!).

If I were to replace the seats entirely, I'd find one with that feature, too.

[Elanlover]

Chris,

I was hoping that the "shape" of the side and leg bolsters was retained by a metal frame of sorts. I think you've confirmed that correct? If so ten I think bending them will help a bit. Its not going to make a huge differenc on the side bolsters but I'm hopeful it will have some impact. I find the support ok there and a little more would be enough for my liking. The leg bolsters are a different story though as I find them inadequate. I'm of the belief (hope?) that bending them upwards could have a significant effect. I'd have to believe that a standard, precut skin for the Elan would still fit it as bending the metal frame isn't changing the overall size of the seat, just the angles of the bolsters.

I'm going to try this on my own and not take it to a shop. I can't believe that this is a difficult job to do. The only concern I have is regarding the foam and replacing it. Does anyone know if Mel Broome's trim shop at Lotus can still supply it?

As for heating and cooling. I'm already on that one.:wink:

[esprit888]

Not going to help you but i have just come across these for sale, from the Honda S2000. A bit steep (Asking $700) but they will bring the interior back to this century (I am not offering anywhere near the 700!) and they look like they belong.

[lotos]

Another advantage of installing different seats is that sites like catskinz will have the pattern already to go for ya.

[max and andy]

They don't look as generous across the seat .For those of us with a more ample behind,They look good though.A little 911ish. Andy

[Elanlover]

Not going to help you but i have just come across these for sale, from the Honda S2000. A bit steep (Asking $700) but they will bring the interior back to this century (I am not offering anywhere near the 700!) and they look like they belong.

I've seen these but the shoulder bolsters are too wide. I've tried to find seats that have no shoulder bolsters at all like the stock seats. Seats with wider shoulder bolsters get very, very close to the door itself and can rub. The Porsche 911 seats could fit but this is where i came back to just modifying (slightly) the existing seats to improve the waist and leg bolsters then buy new skins. I mean, why buy used Porsche seats and new skins if i can do the same with the stock seats?

After many web searches I'm thinking this will be the best bet (if the mods are possible) and the cheapest too. Plus, we know they fit and the runners don't need to be heavily modified to suit a new seat.

[Doug]

Blair, you should be sure to sit in some of these seats to see if they "feel" as good as they look!
I think seat feel is a personal thing so you have to pick what you like.
Don't forget the Elan OE seats are near 50 pound anchors each too!
Don't know what other seats weigh, but I bet it'd be hard to find one heavier than our OE seat!

[Elanlover]

Blair, you should be sure to sit in some of these seats to see if they "feel" as good as they look!
I think seat feel is a personal thing so you have to pick what you like.
Don't forget the Elan OE seats are near 50 pound anchors each too!
Don't know what other seats weigh, but I bet it'd be hard to find one heavier than our OE seat!

I agree. Its hard to go by looks. I'd hate to drop a couple of grand on some nice seats only to have them feel crappy. Now, I have sat in the Porsche seat and its quite nice. But, its quite a bit like the Elan seat but with better bolstering. As for weight, I seem to recall Monty weighed his seats in at about 35 lbs. I think I dropped mine on the scale a couple of years ago and they were around that. Most seats I see out there are 30 - 50 lbs for leather clad ones. Those lovely Evora seats are almost 40 lbs I think.

[tweetdriver63]

I rode in a 2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse a couple of years ago, and I thought the seats in it were really nice.

Click.

They look like they would maybe fit, and have good support all around.

[Elanlover]

I rode in a 2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse a couple of years ago, and I thought the seats in it were really nice.

Click.

They look like they would maybe fit, and have good support all around.

Much smaller shoulder bolsters but still could be a problem. The shape of the Porsche seat(for example) is almost identical to the Elan seat and I'll bet that, even without shoulder bolsters, they offer excellent lateral support. There are few if any aftermarket leather seats in this style which is surprising to me when you think about all the cars out there that have this style. The Miata, Porsche Audi TT and others all have seats with no shoulder bolsters. I've yet to find a good leather recliner like that.

Cobra makes onethat looks like it would do the job but I can't say I like the styling. The Sparco Modena might work but they are expensive too say the least and still have a (small) shoulder bolster. I've yet to find the dimensions for this seat but anything over 19" in width at the shoulders is too much in my opinion. I don't want the car to look like a "tuner" car in any way. Everything I've done so far top the car can pass as stock including the fascia project (whihc is undergoing some modifications as we speak). So the seats need to look like they belong.

[Elanlover]

Tell me this RX-7 seat doesn't look a LOT like our Elan seat