Seats

[Skyedriver]

I've had 3 Chimaera over the years, (and a wedge).
A 95, a 93 and currently a 96 model.
Was there a change in the seat design?
I've had the current car for coming up 2 years and I have still to find a comfortable seat setting. There seems to be no support to my lumbar region and padding across the shoulders making things worse.

I know it could be me getting older, my old Volvo seat isn't quite like the last old Volvo seat despite being same model and age but the current Chimaera gets me within a dozen mile or less and feeling discomfort is not helpful to safe motoring.

Cheers

[QBee]

Take the seats to a good trimmer and have them re-stuffed for Christmas?
I had a really good set of seats in my Chimaera, well padded and really comfortable, but they looked for all the world like they had been refurbed in the previous 15 years.
I too am well stricken in years and prefer Saab/Volvo seats for long journeys, so know where you are coming from, but my Chim seats were always very comfortable.
Their current owner remarked only last month how much better they are than his previous saggy set - I sold them to him when I bought Tuscan seats.

[N7GTX]

I found the saggy seats with wrinkly leather uncomfortable on journeys, more so than the other support higher up. So removed the seats, undid the 4 wire clips at the back then slid a piece of carpet between the leather seat bases and the foam padding underneath. A simple fix that made a difference for me at any rate.

[pb450]

^^^^This.
The 'piano wire' supports cut into the foam base. This trick prevents the saggy bum which results. With an unsaggy bum, your posture is immediately altered and hence your back and shoulders will likely feel the benefit. Works for me, anyway.

[Skyedriver]

Thanks guys
Hadn't thought about the base, it looks ok but maybe that's the problem

[Hedgehopper]

This was an interesting post that might help you............

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Skyedriver]

Thanks for that, seems like a job for a quiet weekend

[phazed]

You can't get away from the fact that the chim seats are unsupportive all round, a really cheap seat for these cars.

[Skyedriver]

Seat out, bit of carpet in, wire hadn't cut into the foam (much).
Was worried that I'd snap the studs/bolts after 20 years under the car but they'd been undone before.
Rear had been spaced and badly redone so pleased I pulled it apart.
Will let you know how my back is.
BTW agree, despite leather etc they are pretty poor seats, might think about replacement. Anyone got anything in dark blue?

Oh and the car hasn't been out the garage since before Christmas and it's still damp underneath - might be better not parking in the garage.

[phazed]

That's just because The temperature has just raised quite a bit.

The garage attached to the house is quite dry but my other one which was freezing cold is now dripping in condensation and normally dry.

[TV8]

The seats in the early chims look very similar to the later ones but are not as comfortable or as supportive. Not sure on what is different, but something is. I had an early and a late car at the same time for a while and noticed the difference. I have done the carpet mod and that improved things but they have never been as good as the early car

[Skyedriver]

phazed said:

That's just because The temperature has just raised quite a bit.

The garage attached to the house is quite dry but my other one which was freezing cold is now dripping in condensation and normally dry.

Garage is attached....
Doesn't leak, but bricks are a bit absorbent.

[Skyedriver]

TV8 said:

The seats in the early chims look very similar to the later ones but are not as comfortable or as supportive. Not sure on what is different, but something is. I had an early and a late car at the same time for a while and noticed the difference. I have done the carpet mod and that improved things but they have never been as good as the early car

Could be right, current car is a 96, previous were 95 and a 93

[QBee]

I thought my Chim seats (99) were pretty comfy, but not enough lateral support for my track day ambitions

[DastardlyDick]

To remove seats should I jack up via front crossmember and put on axle stands or do I need to put my jack on the side of the car somewhere? Also, can you swap the seats around to even out the wear or does the passenger seat not fit on the drivers side?

[phazed]

Jack the car up on the corners of the out rigours if they all in sound condition and place axle stands under the chassis with a bit of protection on the top of the axle stand.

I don't think you can swap the seats around .

[DastardlyDick]

To remove seats should I jack up via front crossmember and put on axle stands or do I need to put my jack on the side of the car somewhere? Also, can you swap the seats around to even out the wear or does the passenger seat not fit on the drivers side?

[ianwayne]

phazed said:

Jack the car up on the corners of the out rigours if they all in sound condition and place axle stands under the chassis with a bit of protection on the top of the axle stand.

I don't think you can swap the seats around .

You CAN swap the seats. I did it to even up the wear. The reclining adjuster lever ends up on the transmission tunnel side though, and impinges on the carpet. Mine aren't new so it wasn't a concern.

Also, I didn't jack the car up. If you lie on the floor, you can reach all the securing bolts form underneath.

However, you have to transfer 2 raised portions bolted onto the front of the drivers seat. This can be a bit fiddly. I doubt many people notice that the drivers seat is about 3cm higher than the passenger seat.

The very early Chimaera may need the seatbelt mounting swapping over if it is on the seat.

[DastardlyDick]

Thanks - I'll give it a go when the weather picks up a bit as my small single garage is too tight to do any work underneath the car which is a pain in the proverbial

[Skyedriver]

My garage is a smidge narrower than 9foot.
Ran the rear up a set of ramps and access up the side was ok.