Ultima factory seats

[billy2k]

Hi all
iam in the process to building my ultima & still sourceing & buying parts.

i have read in a few differnt places that only the factory supplied seats, should be used.can anyone tell me why ? (iam 6ft tall & fairly wide)

i have seen some stunning new bucket seats that i really like & was going to have them reuphlostered like the seats in an Enzo. But I but dont want to buy them & get them done and they dont fit.

cheers
billy

[LuckyP]

billy2k said:

Hi all
iam in the process to building my ultima & still sourceing & buying parts.

i have read in a few differnt places that only the factory supplied seats, should be used.can anyone tell me why ? (iam 6ft tall & fairly wide)

i have seen some stunning new bucket seats that i really like & was going to have them reuphlostered like the seats in an Enzo. But I but dont want to buy them & get them done and they dont fit.

cheers
billy

The factory seats are pretty good for lard ar5es. I should know!!

[Steve_D]

The cockpit at elbow and shoulder height is quite roomy but below the sill it is quite tight so you would need to be very sure of the dimensions of your seat choice if you want to use non factory. Don't forget you will need to get your fist down between the seats to apply the handbrake.

Steve

[billy2k]

Steve_D said:

The cockpit at elbow and shoulder height is quite roomy but below the sill it is quite tight so you would need to be very sure of the dimensions of your seat choice if you want to use non factory. Don't forget you will need to get your fist down between the seats to apply the handbrake.

Steve

hi steve

thanks for informitive reply, could you possiably tell me what the width of the your seats are please (i assume that you have factory seats). so i can check against the width of the seats i like.

cheers
billy

[Steve_D]

billy2k said:

Steve_D said:

The cockpit at elbow and shoulder height is quite roomy but below the sill it is quite tight so you would need to be very sure of the dimensions of your seat choice if you want to use non factory. Don't forget you will need to get your fist down between the seats to apply the handbrake.

Steve

hi steve

thanks for informitive reply, could you possiably tell me what the width of the your seats are please (i assume that you have factory seats). so i can check against the width of the seats i like.

cheers
billy

480mm at the widest point which is right at the front. At this point they are only 30mm apart due to the drivers seat having to be closer to the middle to clear the gear shift rods.
A little further back (beside the handbrake lever)they are 460mm.

Steve

[billy2k]

Hi Steve

your the man

cheers
billy

[billy2k]

Steve
just out of intrest why doesnt the gear lever go in between the seats ?
cheers
billy

[Steve_D]

The gear linkage comes directly out of the back of the 'box so the rods have to come down the side of the engine. It just makes sense for it to come along the side of the cockpit.
The factory can do a centre rod shift but it is more complex and I suspect does not work as well. I believe it also requires a special sump to clear the rods which now have to hug the side of the engine. I don't think this arrangement can work if you have a dry sump system.
The Getrag 'box has a cable shift so that does get installed in the centre.

Steve

[andygtt]

Also you need to be careful as most other seats are too upright to fit in the cabin.... the ultima seat has a very sloped back and is made specifically to be at that abgle with you still facing forward, other seats may be comfortable when upright but become uncomforatable when angled to fit in the ultima.

What you really must do is put the seat you want in the car and sit in it before you buy... I went non factor seats and they worked out fine for me... but people who were taller (ie 6ft) just didn't fit at all.

[kylemrushall]

andygtt said:

Also you need to be careful as most other seats are too upright to fit in the cabin.... the ultima seat has a very sloped back and is made specifically to be at that abgle with you still facing forward, other seats may be comfortable when upright but become uncomforatable when angled to fit in the ultima.

What you really must do is put the seat you want in the car and sit in it before you buy... I went non factor seats and they worked out fine for me... but people who were taller (ie 6ft) just didn't fit at all.

i have non factory seats and to be honest they are crap, they are uncomfortable and my head is almost on the roof (6ft)

i have been looking at all the options but to be honest the factory seats are by far the best, but a lot pricey imo

[billy2k]

hi guys

thanks for the replys. now iam even less sure what to do, lol. I have only seen the ultima seats in pics & have never sat in one & the lack of recline was what worried me most. due to i have a knackered lower back & i normally adjust a seat backwakwards to get comfortable. the bucket seats i have seen recline, so i assumed that would solve the problem, but you guys seem to say that my height may be a problem if the seats are recliners anyway ???, if i undersatnd you correctly ?

does anyone own a car in London ? that i could have a sit in ?

cheers & thanks
billy

[shithotfast]

MunkeeMan said:

I'm at the seats stage now and not sure where to go... I've seen a pair of the factory one's in the flesh and wasn't overly impressed (okay, they were tatty and cloth, so that may have influenced my opinion somewhat).

I'm currently sniffing around THESE

PS - It's a Spyder, so I'm not constrained by height.

Edited by MunkeeMan on Monday 24th March 12:07

I went around these loops as well. Ended up with ultima seats because:
All others were two upright, also the seat runners sit "inside" the seat edges so the seat sits about a knats dong away from the floor. Otherwise what will happen is you will be a couple of inchs too high for the screen and your hair (what little was remaining in my case) will be removed. To test this - stick your head fully out of your car window at 120mph and see what happens.

[billy2k]

MunkeeMan said:

Not a problem... I have no hair (well, none on top of my head anyway!).

i got loads on mine, lol but i also got a roof (gtr) umm
billy