How to get another 1.5" of headroom - F-Body Road Racing and Autocross Forums

Pictorial view. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Shot of the brackets side by side. You're looking from the front.
Passenger on the left, driver on the right.

I cut off the L-shaped risers.

And I hammered the front straps flat for another 1/4-1/2" there.
The driver's side had more lift in the front than the passenger side.

Then there were some "tabs" sticking out in the back, to either side.
When I dropped the back, those tabs were into the rounded part of the carpet by the console and the rocker panel.
So I cut them off, and at a 45 degree angle, for better clearance.

(IMG:http://www.mtfba.org/forum/images/uploads/MTFBA%20Member%20Albums/John_D./544.jpg)

This just shows how much height change we're talking about.
Tape measure is on the floor. It's right at 1.5" difference.
The main difference is at the rear of the seat. A little at the front.
I'm centered right over that rear section of the bracket when the seat is mounted.
The back of the seat is quite a bit behind it.

(IMG:http://www.mtfba.org/forum/images/uploads/MTFBA%20Member%20Albums/John_D./545.jpg)

This shows why those L-shaped risers were there...
The right side seat track is directly over that bottom right stud.
(you can see the small holes in the front and rear of the bracket, that are in line with that stud.)

So I'm going to drill a new hole in the right side of the bracket
and a corresponding hole into the rail that's under the carpet,
for a new hold-down bolt for that right rear corner.

You can see the lift in the front too. the tabs in the front of the bracket.
Those got hammered down flat as part of this mod.

(IMG:http://www.mtfba.org/forum/images/uploads/MTFBA%20Member%20Albums/John_D./546.jpg)

Here is a view of the factory floor pan and the raised rail that the bracket sits on.
The stud is going away, and I've marked where the hole will go in the rail, over to the right of the stud.

(IMG:http://www.mtfba.org/forum/images/uploads/MTFBA%20Member%20Albums/John_D./547.jpg)

The stud is cut off. The new hole is drilled.
And I needed a slot under the hole, so I could stick the new bolt through there...
And so I could get a wrench on it when tightening everything back down.

(IMG:http://www.mtfba.org/forum/images/uploads/MTFBA%20Member%20Albums/John_D./548.jpg)

I would probably have done the passenger side too, but the cat hump is in the way.
The right side would clear it, but the left side is obstructed all the way.
Even if I beat down that left side some, the front is right on it too.
So if the passenger is tall, they'll just have to slide the seat back further and/or recline the seat a little more.
I couldn't do that on the driver's side and still reach the steering wheel though... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(IMG:http://www.mtfba.org/forum/images/uploads/MTFBA%20Member%20Albums/John_D./549.jpg)

John_D. View Member Profile	Feb 27 2005, 05:26 PM Post #1
Engine and Tools Moderator Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,859 Joined: 23-December 03 From: Lebanon TN Member No.: 6	Pictorial view. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Shot of the brackets side by side. You're looking from the front. Passenger on the left, driver on the right. I cut off the L-shaped risers. And I hammered the front straps flat for another 1/4-1/2" there. The driver's side had more lift in the front than the passenger side. Then there were some "tabs" sticking out in the back, to either side. When I dropped the back, those tabs were into the rounded part of the carpet by the console and the rocker panel. So I cut them off, and at a 45 degree angle, for better clearance. (IMG:http://www.mtfba.org/forum/images/uploads/MTFBA%20Member%20Albums/John_D./544.jpg) This just shows how much height change we're talking about. Tape measure is on the floor. It's right at 1.5" difference. The main difference is at the rear of the seat. A little at the front. I'm centered right over that rear section of the bracket when the seat is mounted. The back of the seat is quite a bit behind it. (IMG:http://www.mtfba.org/forum/images/uploads/MTFBA%20Member%20Albums/John_D./545.jpg) This shows why those L-shaped risers were there... The right side seat track is directly over that bottom right stud. (you can see the small holes in the front and rear of the bracket, that are in line with that stud.) So I'm going to drill a new hole in the right side of the bracket and a corresponding hole into the rail that's under the carpet, for a new hold-down bolt for that right rear corner. You can see the lift in the front too. the tabs in the front of the bracket. Those got hammered down flat as part of this mod. (IMG:http://www.mtfba.org/forum/images/uploads/MTFBA%20Member%20Albums/John_D./546.jpg) Here is a view of the factory floor pan and the raised rail that the bracket sits on. The stud is going away, and I've marked where the hole will go in the rail, over to the right of the stud. (IMG:http://www.mtfba.org/forum/images/uploads/MTFBA%20Member%20Albums/John_D./547.jpg) The stud is cut off. The new hole is drilled. And I needed a slot under the hole, so I could stick the new bolt through there... And so I could get a wrench on it when tightening everything back down. (IMG:http://www.mtfba.org/forum/images/uploads/MTFBA%20Member%20Albums/John_D./548.jpg) I would probably have done the passenger side too, but the cat hump is in the way. The right side would clear it, but the left side is obstructed all the way. Even if I beat down that left side some, the front is right on it too. So if the passenger is tall, they'll just have to slide the seat back further and/or recline the seat a little more. I couldn't do that on the driver's side and still reach the steering wheel though... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:http://www.mtfba.org/forum/images/uploads/MTFBA%20Member%20Albums/John_D./549.jpg)