Foamectomy (Removing some seat foam)
Discussion
I was a bit reluctant to do this as I couldn't find any really good instructions or pictorials online. A week or so I decided to give it a go, and it's possibly one of the easiest, quite effective mods there are. It's not a 5 minute job, but it's not tedious IMO.. Take the time to do it, and it's quite enjoyable.
I did the base of the seat, but didn't do the seat back as I messed up one of the screws to seperate the two.. It turns out you can do the seat back without even taking the roof off. It makes a big difference now, I sit lower down in the seat and further back into the seat. There's finally some support from the seat bolsters too - and looking at the seat it's still tidy and doesn't really look much different.
For anyone who is thinking about doing it, I say go for it.. The seat back comes out in one piece, so it can easily be put back in. The foam removed from the seat base can easily be put back in.
I did the base of the seat, but didn't do the seat back as I messed up one of the screws to seperate the two.. It turns out you can do the seat back without even taking the roof off. It makes a big difference now, I sit lower down in the seat and further back into the seat. There's finally some support from the seat bolsters too - and looking at the seat it's still tidy and doesn't really look much different.
For anyone who is thinking about doing it, I say go for it.. The seat back comes out in one piece, so it can easily be put back in. The foam removed from the seat base can easily be put back in.
Great innit? It's a bit like getting a free Recaro!
One of the guys at our regular meets did mine.He took the entire seat out in about a minute and it was all done and back in about 10 mins later! (He's done a few now!) We also discovered the original bass shakers when the seat came apart!
One of the guys at our regular meets did mine.He took the entire seat out in about a minute and it was all done and back in about 10 mins later! (He's done a few now!) We also discovered the original bass shakers when the seat came apart!
Conor D said:
I was a bit reluctant to do this as I couldn't find any really good instructions or pictorials online. A week or so I decided to give it a go, and it's possibly one of the easiest, quite effective mods there are. It's not a 5 minute job, but it's not tedious IMO.. Take the time to do it, and it's quite enjoyable.
I don't suppose you could write a quick explanation how to do it? 
I spent the weekend looking at MX-5's to buy one (saw 6!) and was slightly put off by the seat in the (otherwise) best of the bunch. It was a '90 JDM model with the cloth trim, and had very spongey/springy seats that made for a very uncomfortable position for my lanky frame! I really want that car, but there's no way I could live with the seats as they are, even for the drive home! 
Would be much obliged if someone could let me know if it's possible for that model and how to do it, because if I can't it would really effect my decision on which one to buy..
Cool thanks! Also I just found this as well http://www.pistonheads.com/Gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... which is also pretty useful...
Altenatively I might just get some aftermarket seats - would most bucket seats fit easily or would I need some kind of subframe etc.? Do I need to worry about the actual seats being too big as well?
One more thing.... I might get a smaller steering wheel fitted to gain another inch or so of thigh space - neither cars I'm looking at have airbags so I'm guessing that would be a fairly simple job, right?
Altenatively I might just get some aftermarket seats - would most bucket seats fit easily or would I need some kind of subframe etc.? Do I need to worry about the actual seats being too big as well?
One more thing.... I might get a smaller steering wheel fitted to gain another inch or so of thigh space - neither cars I'm looking at have airbags so I'm guessing that would be a fairly simple job, right?
I just did this to my drivers seat. I searched for ages looking for some decent pictures or a guide, but I didnt find much either.
the main problem I had was where to cut the foam on the lower part of the seat, originaly I thought it would be much easier to cut a peice from the bottom of the seat, but when you acctually take the thing to bits the top is flat so I just cut a inch or so off there.
It took me a couple of hours, seat is at least as comfy as before just a bit lower and more supportive at the back. Worth doing in my opinion
the main problem I had was where to cut the foam on the lower part of the seat, originaly I thought it would be much easier to cut a peice from the bottom of the seat, but when you acctually take the thing to bits the top is flat so I just cut a inch or so off there.
It took me a couple of hours, seat is at least as comfy as before just a bit lower and more supportive at the back. Worth doing in my opinion
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