How to mount the kirkley seats?

[bcski175]

The kirkley seats that I received did not have any mounting hardware on the bottom. Or at least it didn't have the one shown in the manual. It did come with an instruction sheet that showed 2 side mounts for each seat but I didn't see these from factory 5 or on the parts inventory sheets. How should I mount these seats? Do I need to find and buy these side mounts or should they have come from factory 5?

Or maybe I'm missing something too.

Thanks!

[Chopper]

A lot of ways to skin the cat with this one. A lot is going to be driven by how tall you are, how much room you need, and how you prefer to sit (angle, distance for pedals, height). I have Kirkey drag seats in my car, very similar shape to the ones Factory Five sells except that they don't have wings for your head.

Kirkey sells mounting brackets, they have a few different styles. I think the ones I have are discontinued, but these are similar:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/kir-99214
You will have to decide the angle you want the seat at, and drill it to install these.

I'm 5'7", so I don't need a ton of room. I actually mounted the seats to the Kirkey brackets, and then fabbed a small steel frame to attach that to a pair of low profile sliders I got with another set of seats I decided not to use. I don't ever use the slider, but this probably adds around one inch in height.

If you're on the taller side, you may want to use these style brackets (or similar), and mount them directly for the floor. If you need the absolute most interior room you can get, you could also mount the Kirkey seat directly to the floor as the roadster seats would be mounted. I would recommend using pan head screws if you go that route. If you do mount directly to the floor and wish to use the 5th seat belt point (the center piece), mock this up so you can see where a bolt to hold it would be located in the floor. When you mount the seats pay attention to where the 2" steel tube is that runs just behind the steel seat support plate on the chassis. You can use this as a mount point as well as the plate, but if you do make sure to avoid the area where the rear lower control arms connect (if you have a solid axle).

You also could make your own mounting brackets or buy just about any brand. I just threw Kirkey's brackets when I ordered the seats as it was very easy and they have a little adjustable to them (different holes to mount the bolts in for fine tuning).

[Jeff Kleiner]

FFR doesn't include mounts for the Kirkeys. I've installed both the highback and lowback Kirkeys in a few roadsters and Coupes. The lower mounts that Chopper showed in the Summit link work well for either style. You'll need to install them so that the horizontal portion of the "L" goes under the seat, not out. If you are using the highbacks you also need a back mount to keep it stationary:

https://www.kirkeyracing.com/product/10/99211/REAR-SEAT-MOUNT-316-ALUMINUM-FOR-70-71-SERIES-SEAT

Everyone's preferences are different but I usually find that the most comfortable position, at least for me, is with the rear of the seat all the way down and the front raised a bit.

Be aware that you shouldn't attempt to mount the seats without the body dropped on the chassis, especially the highbacks. They're a tight fit and if you put them in without the body it's almost guaranteed that you.ll wind up with them in a position where they hit the body at the rear of the cockpit &/or the doors.

Good luck,
Jeff

[Blitzboy54]

I was a little bummed that the mounts were not part of the kit as I ordered Kirkey high backs as well. Originally installed the Kirkey seats but moved on to the Cobra's. They mount identically. I ended up tapping bolt mounts into the frame on 3 points and had to make an adaptor on the one that didn't line up over the frame. I ordered a more generic mount, this was due to price and I liked the red although I could have powder coated the Kirkey mounts. See pics


https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=166833&d=1652669552

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154741&d=1635120452

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154744&d=1635120481

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154742&d=1635120481

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154908&d=1635431238

[Scott L]

I bolted my Kirkey pro-drag seat to the floor using the breeze seat mounts and no tracks. I needed it to be as low and far back as possible. Very happy with how it worked out. At 6'3" This was the only way I fit.

[john42]

Blitzboy54, I too plan to switch from the Kirkeys to the Cobra seats you have. How in the heck do you get in there to bolt the seat to the mount rails? There's no space for my hands and wrench!

[cfriedman67]

I also bolted them straight to the floor. I added a 3/16 steel plate to the bottom of the floor and them bolted the seats to the 4 inch round tube and through the steel plate as well. I am 6'2" and also wanted to gain as much room as possible.

[David Hodgkins]

I had some custom u-shaped brackets made for my Kirkeys. They mount to both the 4" tube and the steel plate. Here are some pics to illustrate my process:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=43186&d=1435706980

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=43170&d=1435706957

Once I had one side mocked up I clamped the brackets together back to back and drilled out the other bracket to mirror the first:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=43174&d=1435706962

This pic shows the hole punch I used to expose the mounting holes once I had my matting in place:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=45944&d=1443187653

I used the same hole punch on the carpet:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=46181&d=1443715897

The brackets mounted. Notice the inner bolts are pre-installed. I don't feel the side bolts at all sitting in the seat:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=46190&d=1443715909

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=46186&d=1443715902

[Blitzboy54]

Blitzboy54, I too plan to switch from the Kirkeys to the Cobra seats you have. How in the heck do you get in there to bolt the seat to the mount rails? There's no space for my hands and wrench!

I bolted the mounts in first. I used metric hex bolts. I put the fronts in first then lower the seat back and I can just squeeze my hand in there to get the inner rear bolt started. Once all four are in I have to use a ratcheting box wrench. It's not as bad as you might think. If you need anymore pics let me know.

[john42]

Thank you! Blitz and Dave! Gave me exactly the idea I needed to remount my seats. Mine are currently mounted right to the floor into the 4" tubes. The previous owner was much taller then I. ( I think he was 6'4") I'm only 5'8". I just got some Kirkey seat mount brackets from a follow forum member and plan to remount them higher with some more tilt back to give me a more comfortable seating position.