Replacing the seats in a Chmaera
Discussion
Having trawled through quite a few threads that discuss this topic I haven't actually come across any examples of people installing third party seats in Chims. Anyone out there done this? Anyone got any advice?
Main reason for doing this is to get the passenger more comfortable as the lack of lower back support is causing the g/f considerable discomfort.
Bonus would be to get driver's bum lower in the car, and sat further back. But driver's seat needs to be able to move forwards for when g/f is driving.
So requirement boils down to a lower profile seat with better back support.
Any idea?
Main reason for doing this is to get the passenger more comfortable as the lack of lower back support is causing the g/f considerable discomfort.
Bonus would be to get driver's bum lower in the car, and sat further back. But driver's seat needs to be able to move forwards for when g/f is driving.
So requirement boils down to a lower profile seat with better back support.
Any idea?
I'm reliably informed that Cerbera seats fit the Chimaera. Or is it Tuscan seats? Or both? Someone will be able to confirm that.
You could source them from a breakers as I believe they are extremely expensive if bought new from the factory.
Zertec do some lovely looking seats, but are fairly expensive and delivery dates are often erratic due to Clive being off in Singapore most of the time.
Some makes of race seat fit, but you have to be watch the width, especially if the seat has shoulder wings.
Edit: Sorry - I see you have looked through previous threads, so the above is probably just a rehash of what you already know. Oops.
>> Edited by JonRB on Friday 23 April 10:54
You could source them from a breakers as I believe they are extremely expensive if bought new from the factory.
Zertec do some lovely looking seats, but are fairly expensive and delivery dates are often erratic due to Clive being off in Singapore most of the time.
Some makes of race seat fit, but you have to be watch the width, especially if the seat has shoulder wings.
Edit: Sorry - I see you have looked through previous threads, so the above is probably just a rehash of what you already know. Oops.
>> Edited by JonRB on Friday 23 April 10:54
It is indeed an excellent summary of the all the other threads. T'other thing which seemed to come out was that the Cerbera seats raise the driver's position, which is not ideal as I want to get my head a bit lower so that my head will no longer protect the roll bar in the event of a crash.
Don't know whether or not this'll be any help but what about altering the angle at which the seat bottom is at? My chim's drivers seat is comfy & the passengers a little flat allowing the bum to slip forward. Consequently the person's back slides away from the seat back. Looking underneath the seat I found the drivers had been raised at the front giving a much more comfortable and secure feeling position. Intend to do the other one when there is time. Are they all like this sir?
Your solution will be of interest!
Cheers
Mike
Your solution will be of interest!
Cheers
Mike
Pigpen --- that's a pretty bloody good idea. Now that you mention it, the angle of dangle of the passenger seat did look flatter.
I'll still pursue the idea of new seats in order to get my head below the roll bar, but putting some spacers under the front of the passenger seat might well stop my earache in the meantime.
I'll still pursue the idea of new seats in order to get my head below the roll bar, but putting some spacers under the front of the passenger seat might well stop my earache in the meantime.
Some one call my name!!!!!
Yep the Tuscan seats fit the Chimaera very well. With the seat cushion in the driver will sit a bit higher than in the Chim seats and is far better for the lady of the house to drive the car with now.
Take the cushion out and hey, low down and well seated in for those spirited drives we all like so much and on the track it cannot be beat.
Get a set of Tuscan seats in they are the business.
Colin L
Yep the Tuscan seats fit the Chimaera very well. With the seat cushion in the driver will sit a bit higher than in the Chim seats and is far better for the lady of the house to drive the car with now.
Take the cushion out and hey, low down and well seated in for those spirited drives we all like so much and on the track it cannot be beat.
Get a set of Tuscan seats in they are the business.
Colin L
Further to Pigpen's idea, having stuck my head under the driver's seat this w/end its pretty obvious why the drivers seat is more steeply raked in my car. The runner under the driver's seat is bolted at the front of the seat to a spacer (a piece of square section steel tube) and this spacer is then bolted through the floor. The spacer is about 3cm tall. The passenger's seat's runner is just bolted straight through the floor without the spacer and is thus quite a bit lower at the front. Couple of bolts and a couple of spacers seems like a good first start.
They must be all like that sir!
Must get around to doing mine when I get home (on the rig but Chim comes out to play next week!) - wonder if the spacers are a standard item from the stores at Blackpool. Either way they'll be easy to knock up.
Let us know how you get on ATG
cheers
Mike
Must get around to doing mine when I get home (on the rig but Chim comes out to play next week!) - wonder if the spacers are a standard item from the stores at Blackpool. Either way they'll be easy to knock up.
Let us know how you get on ATG
cheers
Mike
Finally got a chance to sort this out. Made some spacers out of a section of square steel tube and got some longer M8 bolts. Front of seat is now a couple of centimetres higher, and the back is a little lower as a few of the washers were removed. Seat is now a bit more comfortable according to the g/f, but I'm still going to look around for some (affordable) better seats.
Also going to sling the battery in the boot. G/f is now insured to drive the car, so I get relegated to the passenger seat. I'm 6'4". It isn't a pretty picture. She can't see the nearside wing mirror coz my knees are in the way. Got to make more space in the footwell.
Also going to sling the battery in the boot. G/f is now insured to drive the car, so I get relegated to the passenger seat. I'm 6'4". It isn't a pretty picture. She can't see the nearside wing mirror coz my knees are in the way. Got to make more space in the footwell.
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