Wider Driver's Seat

[smccoy]

Now that I have cooling in the shop, I am really getting back into my build!

In order to maximize cockpit space, I ordered Kirkey 17" 55 drag seats at the start of the project. I am 6'3" and weigh 205lb, but I have found that the seats are too narrow for my hip bones and therefore extremely uncomfortable. Additionally the antisub belt opening is too far back. I know I carry a lot of length from hip to knee, but these just won't work. Will the 18.5" version of this seat fit on the driver's side without losing too much additional legroom or are there any other seats I should look into?

Shawn

[rickster991]

I got it to fit in a Mark V, but there was a lot of cutting. Check out my build thread for pictures.

[rickster991]

Btw, what I have done in the past with Kirkey seats is widen them with a bottle jack. It’s worth a shot.

[michael everson]

I did an 18 for a customer. I had to put it in crooked and the outside rear seat belt mount was inside the seat frame. I cut a slot and dropped the seat over it. Used a button head bolt from the inside out and bolted the seat, mount and seatbelt together.

[CraigS]

Btw, what I have done in the past with Kirkey seats is widen them with a bottle jack. It’s worth a shot.

Me too except that, since I didn't have a bottle jack, I used a floor jack that I removed the front wheels from.

[smccoy]

Thanks everyone! Since I have the 17" seats on-hand, I will give the jack a try. I don't need much adjustment to fit and would rather not have to go crazy making a wider seat fit unless I really have to.

[Rdone585]

Whatever method you use to widen the seat, I'd recommend trying to spread out the contact point of the "press" on the aluminum to avoid tearing it. I have used a 2x4 or 4x4 that is slightly longer than the gap and using a mallet to force the metal piece to spread larger. I rounded the ends of the wood to not put all of the force in a single spot. The wood was to be long enough to be at about a 100 to 110-degree angle instead of a 90 to the metal. If you need it longer after initial spreading, add pieces of plywood the appropriate thickness to increase the spread.

[Blitzboy54]

I put in Cobra Monaco Pro seats. As wide a seat as will fit in these. I had the same problems with the Kirkey's they crushed my hips.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=168813&d=1656620713

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=168815&d=1656620713

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=168816&d=1656620713

[BEAR-AvHistory]

FWIW. Installed the seats at the recommendation of Blitzboy54. Am 5'10" 185lbs wear 36" waist pants. No issues with seat width for me or the car. Upper shoulder bolsters are above the top of the doors.

Have the passenger seat fixed to the rear & driver side on sliders. Have good fore/aft seat movement for entry & exit am 83 years old. Forward position is comfortable on the clutch & foot rest. Overall the seats are comfortable with no pressure points. Submarine belt opening starts 9.5" from the base of the seatback.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=216694&d=1753292829
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=216693&d=1753292633