Kirkey Vintage Low Back Seat

[Tpawarrior]

I'm trying to research what is the model # and the best place to purchase the kirkey low back vintage seat for a tall guy - 6'3" 225 lbs?

[wareaglescott]

I am similar to your build at 6'3" about 215. I have the 16" high backs. It is a snug fit for sure. Looking how the seat sits I am confident the 17" version would fit and not sure about the 18". I'm not sure if that is helpful to you because I do not know the seat widths the low back comes in. I think they may be the same. If so you may want to consider the 17" width. (That is the inner measurement of the sitting area not the total width of the seat)
I believe all the ones FFR sells are the 16" size.

[CraigS]

https://www.kirkeyracing.com/category/Series41V/41v-series---vintage-class-bucket
The roadrace version is limited width wise because of the wings. The general the word has been that the 17 road race seat can be made to fit w/ a little work. So a 17" low back should be easy. In the page I linked click on the 17" and then click 'ShopDrawings' to get dimensions so you can play around w/ a tape measure. A recommendation for you. The lowback cover is only available in black vinyl. Go here and look at the tweed covers.
https://www.kirkeyracing.com/product/10/41700/SEAT-ALUMINUM-17-PRO-STREET-DRAG
Order a drag seat tweed cover and have a seamstress cut off the top to fit the low back. The tweed is immeasurably cooler in the summer especially if grey will work w/ your paint color.

[Duke]

I have the 17" (Part# 41700V), I'm 6'4", 225. See my build thread for details, but with 1.5" of side foam on the custom covers they fit me perfectly. If you are going with the stock covers, go 16".

[Gumball]

I have 17" lowback Kirkey seats that I modified slightly to remove some of the "severity" of the side bolsters. I'm 6' and 225 lbs and fit perfectly - the key is to get the padding right if you are not using the Kirkey covers. Kirkey was kind enough to sell me some of the extruded aluminum edge beading, so I was able to actually make the modifications look like they were there from the outset. Also, I had them covered by a local upholstery shop in full leather - fronts, sides, and backs - and included seat heaters and inflatable lumbar support for both driver and passenger. The mounts use Breeze's angled bases and then I made the backrest mounts myself to attach them to the chassis.

I bought mine from Speedway, which had the best price at the time.

Here are a couple links to threads I did on this forum about the modifications - the first shows the raw aluminum seats before and after and the second shows the covered seats in comparison to the stock FFR seats.

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?9637-Modified-Kirkey-Vintage-Buckets-(Low-Back)

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?11261-Kirkey-Vintage-Low-Back-Buckets-with-Custom-Leather-Covering

[Gumball]

For comparison.....


FFR standard vinyl roadster seat:

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/Stock_zps48a21bbc.jpg (http://s845.photobucket.com/user/CCRsAC/media/Stock_zps48a21bbc.jpg.html)

Modified Kirkey 17" low-back:

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/StockReplacement_zps12622993.jpg (http://s845.photobucket.com/user/CCRsAC/media/StockReplacement_zps12622993.jpg.html)

[Tpawarrior]

Wow they look great. I just ordered a set. Do you need the bottom and back braces or can you mount to the floor directly? I ordered them just in case

[Gumball]

You could mount them to the floor - they come undrilled, so it's up to you where and how you put the holes for mounting. However, you will likely find that you need more of an angle. In fact, the Breeze mounts weren't even enough for me, so I used some round tubing to span across the front two mounting bolts - about 1" in diameter - which gave me a perfect angle. The benefit of that was that the seat heater switch fit into the end of that tubing perfectly and the wire pigtail was long enough to reach out the other side, so it made for a perfect hidden mounting point for those switches.

For the rear mount, I used a pair of the Kirkey back mounts, but cut them really short and made brackets to fit them through the rear bulkhead so that they mount directly to the 2x3 tube that runs behind the cockpit. One of the links I posted above should show how I made those mounts.

[johnnybgoode]

Here's a thread I started on my Kirkey 41700V install. http://www.ffcars.com/forums/17-factory-five-roadsters/576577-kirkey-racing-417v-install.html
Scott

[gmagno]

Gumball you inspired me and I am grateful. I am 6' with a 33 inseam, 32" waist, wide shouldered, 218 lbs. Couldn't get comfortable in the FF seats, arm bent all the time and knees up. I bought the Kirkey 17 Vintage seats, wrapped in leather and copied you, don't be mad, it's a compliment. Now I cannot reach the pedals at the furthest back slider position, in fact I have to come forward 2 clicks. My arm is fully extended with my wrist, at palm centered on the steering wheel, and I have unusually long arms. LOVE IT!!

I had John Evans of Vintage Restoration The Woodlands, TX remove the FF roadster seats and breeze mounts. Purchased and mounted Corbeau 1" Tall Universal Seat Brackets on each side. https://corbeau.com/other/master-seat-brackets/1-tall-universal-seat-bracket.html. Modified the front with tabs to lift it slightly. The Kirkey seat frames were not modified like yours, everything was covered in stock format. Best part about this whole deal is.... NOW the wife can drive it. Thanks again Gumball.

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[CraigS]

Gmagno, those look great. I would suggest you look into headrests.

[GoDadGo]

Gentlemen,

I've got the Factory Five Big & Tall seats sitting on the Breeze mounts; however, I'd like to sit a tad lower when I go to the drag strip.
With that said, what do you all think about the Kirkey 55 Series shown below:

Kirkey 17" 55 Series:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/kir-55170

Kirkey 55 Series Cover:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/kir-5518511?seid=srese1&cm_mmc=pla-google-_-shopping-_-srese1-_-kirkey-racing&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjsuQ1Iyg4gIVA1cNCh02vwkjEAQYAiAB EgJ9Y_D_BwE

I'm still not 100% sold of the leather seats because of the lack of a head rest and the 55's frame looks like the vintage seat, but with the head rest poking up?

Steve

[mike223]

however, I'd like to sit a tad lower when I go to the drag strip.

With that said, what do you all think about the Kirkey 55 Series shown below:

I'm still not 100% sold of the leather seats because of the lack of a head rest and the 55's frame looks like the vintage seat, but with the head rest poking up?



Those are the seats (55 series) I'm running and I like them.

I agree - I think the vintage lowbacks are the same bottom frame as the 55 series.


I also agree with Gumball that cutting some of the excess "severity" of the side bolsters (both thigh + ribcage areas) could be helpful - seems to be near identical between the vintage + 55 series seats. Naturally that mod would require a little upholstery work additionally.

[gmagno]

GoDadGo, if it helps, the seat brackets I used along with 1.5" of seat bottom foam keeps my head 5" below the top of roll bar hoop.

[GoDadGo]

Gentlemen,

Thanks-O-Million For The Updates!

I think I'll pick up one seat just for Wednesday Nights at Gulfport Dragway.
I'm only 5'10", but would like to sit as low as possible when traversing the 1,320!

Steve

[SJDave]

I also went the lowback Kirkey Classic route after getting tired of sitting so high in the car. The 18" seats do fit, but you need to open up a slot on the door side to clear the frame tubing in front of the rear tire, if you want to use the full depth. Mine are mounted on Sparco sliders and I have to move up around 3" now get comfortable.
I fabbed some Nylon spacers that bolt to the bottom of the seat and attach to the sliders. If you want to go with sliders and want my bracket design, send me a PM.107323107324

I bought the roll bar mounted head rests off EBAY, modified the brackets since they didn't fit the width of my roll bars though, The parts are water jetted and very rough, so if you want them to look nice be prepared to spend 4 hours cleaning them up.107325

[mike223]

I also went the lowback Kirkey Classic route after getting tired of sitting so high in the car. The 18" seats do fit, but you need to open up a slot on the door side to clear the frame tubing in front of the rear tire, if you want to use the full depth. Mine are mounted on Sparco sliders and I have to move up around 3" now get comfortable.

I fabbed some Nylon spacers that bolt to the bottom of the seat and attach to the sliders. If you want to go with sliders and want my bracket design, send me a PM.

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A couple more thoughts.

Again, I used the series 55 seats, I think a 16" driver's side + 17" passenger.

The spacer pictured in the quote looks very similar to what I needed to get the front of the seat high enough (and seat back reclined) - I built mine out of aluminum (2 per seat) - the back of the seat could pretty much sit on the floor - I am well below (5+ inches below) the stock roll bar height at 5'8".

I mounted the series 55 seats slightly diagonally (pointing toward outboard front wheel, away from bellhousing) and also probably 1/2" to 3/4" top of seat toward inboard (outside edge of seat higher - to get away from the doors).