208i FHC Re-trim Finished

[v8s4me]

To conclude this thread here's proof that I finally got the project finished...













And just for good measure it passed its MOT on Saturday with just a couple of advisories.



I may well put the original seats back in once they have been refurbished but the MX ones are so comfortable.

[eesbad]

Looking good!

[tvrmk363]

V8s4me,
What seats are in the FHC?

[v8s4me]

MX5 at the moment.

[SebringGlenn]

• GOALS* just picked one up myself... far from this condition.

[RubbishFettler]

That looks great. I'm about to start work on my own and I'm really encouraged by seeing what you have achieved.

[billynobrakes]

That certainly looks very nice, I was going to buy it but a 1600M came up for sale and I bought that instead as I have been looking for one that needed a restoration for quite some time. Looking at what work has been done to the 280i FHC they will be getting a great car

[v8s4me]

Thanks for the compliments.

The seats are ready now...





I think I'm going to hold off fitting them for now though until I get some serious interest in buying it.

They are now extremely comfortable

[mk1fan]

Very nice Joe.

[Exploded]

v8s4me said:

MX5 at the moment.

Can I ask what you had to change to the MX5 seats to make them fit.
I have a pair myself but they are certainly not a direct fit, also they seem too high.
Great Interior you have made, congrats! I wish that was in mine.

[v8s4me]

You need to straighten out the rail at the front and and cut off the locating pin. One of the hols in the floor at the front will need enlarging and with luck you can dill a couple of holes in the rear of the rails to line up with the existing holes. Yes you will sit a little higher.

[Exploded]

v8s4me said:

You need to straighten out the rail at the front and and cut off the locating pin. One of the hols in the floor at the front will need enlarging and with luck you can dill a couple of holes in the rear of the rails to line up with the existing holes. Yes you will sit a little higher.

Thnx for the reply. Can you still get in and out easily? I put the seat in (not attached to the floor yet) and although I'm only 1m78 with that seat, my head hits the roof and I'm looking at the horizontal pillar of the window, instead of through the window.

[v8s4me]

No problems with head-room, visibility, or getting in and out apart from having to bend at the knee to get my leg under the steering wheel. My knuckles sometimes caught on my knees on tight turns but then you're not supposed to steer like that

Regarding the rear bolts, I found it easier to drill new holes in the floor and drop M8 bolts through the existing holes on the rails and use penny washers to locate the bolts and give a bit of "jiggle room" to help with dropping the bolts through the holes.



You can also use the existing holes in the front to the rails but you will have to enlarge the holes in the floor and use M10 bolts to get things to line up. One side, the passenger I think from memory, lines up better than the other.

[Grady]

When I fitted an older (1990's) MX (Miata) seat, I ran the longer mounting bolts through a 3/4" or 1" square tube at the rear (sandwiched between the seat bracket and the floor) to get the seat base a little more horizontal. IIRC - it also gave a bit more room under the steering wheel since the front of the seat was not aimed up. Grady

[Exploded]

Thnx for the good advice, guys. I'll give it a try next weekend.