Seat suggestion

[Compo_Simmonite]

I'm working on a lightweight modern micorcar idea and need a seat.
EBay provided a mint Ford Puma seat for £5 but although being comfortable it's too heavy.
I'm disabled so need a seat with adjustable back and also not seriously "bucketed" as I'd have difficulty getting in & out.

Any suggestions for an easy to source secondhand, lightweight, seat ?

Thanks

Paul H

[FlossyThePig]

Have a chat with Bob at Ridgard Seats, he may be able to help.

[Compo_Simmonite]

Just been stripping the Puma seat down.
The seat bottom is held on to the base with 4 bolts and when detached is quite light.
Backrest isn't that heavy either which showed the base is where a lot of the weight is. Even a quick removal of the surplus brackets and runner reduced it significantly so it shows there is scope to lighten what I've already got

Paul H

[Steve_D]

Don't go throwing away the head rest as it is now a requirement for the IVA test.

Steve

[Compo_Simmonite]

Thanks - didn't know about headrest although I intended keeping it anyway.
Also VOSA have confirmed I will have to build to MSVA rules, not IVA as a three wheeler under 1000kg so there is a little more "tolerance".

Paul H

[Sam_68]

If you want something really lightweight and you're not too worried about IVA, then how about a Kart seat? Or Mould one yourself using two-part foam, like the racers used to do?

[Compo_Simmonite]

Problem with race / kart seats is they are too deep.
I'm disabled so need easy access (being able to slide in) and also an adjustable backrest as I have spine damage so have difficulty getting comfortable on fixed back seats as they are set at the wrong angle for me.

Paul H

[Sam_68]

Sorry, I should have read your orginal post more carefully, shouldn't I?

That makes it a bit more tricky. If you want something light weight and simple, old-fashioned miht be teh way to go, then. Have you tried looking at the adjustable seats out of Minis, Imps and Reliants?

[Compo_Simmonite]

Tidying up the other day I found a set of Land Rover seats that are too tatty to put back in my vehicle after its current (long !) restoration so decided they might as well be thown away.
After removing the covers and foam from the bases I realised that the bulk of the weight is in the frame hence looking at the Puma seat again.
The base is steel so I can use my Q Max cutters
http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/scripts/products.php?c... to add loads of additonal lightening holes.
The base is very susbtancial and plenty of scope for trimming off a load more weight without risking it's integrity.
Surprisingly the backrest isn't too heavy but I'm still going to remove the cover to see if I can reduce the steel content.
I did look at using a Midget seat - but it was almost as heavy as the Puma item. In the shed is a set of Volvo 1800S seats but again they are just too portly. On the other hand a spare Herald seat was consider for a few minutes until I remembered I had it because the one in my convertible was ripped !

The plan now is to see how much weigh I can shave off the Puma seat and if still not light enough then plan B is to use new Land Rover seats with, again, masses of holes made in the backrest and the base changing from chipboard to ply with Pirelli webbing.

Paul H

Edited by Compo_Simmonite on Friday 10th July 10:12