Z33 Seats into a S-chassis How-To/DIY

[babowc]

I will be explaining how to install the factory Z33 seats into a S-chassis car, as all S-chassis share the same seat mounting points. Specifically, I used my daily, S13.

DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES INCURRED BY FOLLOWING MY DIRECTIONS OR ANY HARM THAT MAY BE INFLICTED BY NOT FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS OR POST OR PRE INSTALL OF THE 350Z SEATS.


Now, for the write up.

You will need the following materials:

Angle grider.
Electric drill.
Plenty of bits with lube.
Welder.
Socket wrench with a 14mm and 10mm socket.
Flathead screw driver.
Hammer.
Tape measure.
An extra set of all four seat brackets from either S13 or S14. Seats with the brackets removed will not be useable! Go pick up a junk seat and take the brackets!

Inspection:

First, lay the two seats down on a table or some sort.
Take a good look at the bottom side of the two seats, you will recognize an immediate difference, where as the stock seat's brackets are much lower than the Z33 seats.
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7518/dscn1941th2.jpg
Z33 seat
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/2315/dscn1942ju8.jpg
S-Chassis seat.


#1- Taking the Stock brackets off..

Take the stock seat brackets off.
I do not have the during-process, but you will need to drill out the spot-welds on the brackets and the large rivit to remove the brackets.
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/9720/dscn1942yk1.jpg
Rivits shown in red.


#2- Taking the Z33 brackets off..

Again, same deal with as taking the stock brackets from your old seat off.
Unbolt the lateral bar that holds the two rails together first with a 10mm socket, than just drill out the spot welds and the rivits as shown:
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/7465/dscn1941kn0.jpg

*The red circles are the rivits, spot welds are very visible along the bracket.
The blue oval is the lateral bar that is needed to be removed*

To easily remove the brackets without damaging them after the rivit and the spot welds have been drilled/grinded out, use your flathead and tap it into the crevice where the bracket meets the rail. It will require some force!

***You do not need to drill out the Left (driver's side door) side rear bracket, but I have and had to add washers and a longer bolt to make the seat level.***

It'll take some time to get these all out and will be a messy process.
If you care about your old brackets, try to keep it clean, but I got fed up and took the angle grinder on everything and got them off, keep in mind however, these are not re-useable now!

During, in-step process and the aftermath:
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/6181/dscn1948dq2.jpg
right-rear bracket
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/4519/dscn1950uj6.jpg
right-front bracket
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/1476/dscn0006yn6.jpg
Trusty-ol' angle grinder!
http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/2079/dscn0008kz7.jpg
Teh-Carnage

#3- test fitting the S-chassis brackets on the Z33 seat.
I used duct-tape to mock-up the process and eventually welded them together.

I measured the distance between the stock S-chassis brackets and mocked it up on the Z33 seat accordingly. On the S-chassis rightside bracket, the distance between the center of two holes were around 41.75cm for the right side (closer to the tranny tunnel when installed) and 42.75cm for the left side (closer to the door when installed)
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/1231/dscn0024np0.jpg
right side
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/3199/dscn0025fn8.jpg
left side

Last step would be to weld these brackets onto the Z33's existing rail.
I didnt take any pictures during nor after the welds.
I used a Flux-core welder and it looked like shit, but who cares? its going under the seat! :)

After 30 minutes of welding, I cooled them off and installed it in the car.

As soon as I installed the seats, I realized I had made a mistake on the Driver's side Rear left side bracket.
I should've kept it!
As well as i should've test fitted it in the car!

Anyhow, heres the aftermath, I couldnt install the front left bracket correctly and just stuck a 2x8 under there and called it a day.
I know its very dangerous, but it'll work until I take the seats off again and re-do the left side brackets!

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9381/dscn0044xe6.jpg
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/563/dscn0055my1.jpg
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7421/dscn0048qb9.jpg
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/8948/dscn0049ac6.jpg
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/4341/dscn0050ue0.jpg
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/9296/dscn0051mh5.jpg
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/6088/dscn0052mr5.jpg
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/2127/dscn0054dn5.jpg

I'll post another how-to after I permanently fix the brackets on the left side!

[OptionZero]

All that work...for how much more holding ability? Doesn't look like much.

[McRussellPants]

werd, Z33s are fatty sized times a billion.

[Irukandji]

werd, Z33s are fatty sized times a billion.

Americans are fat.

[Nikeboy355]

Perfect mod for the racecar driver going through the McDonald's drive thru...

[babowc]

:)
Or a daily?
LOL!, not everyone is racecar inspired!

It holds better than a s14 seat, I'd guess this is a good compromise between the stock s13 seats and an one-piece full bucket seat.

It's not for the fat people.. im 5'11 151 with 29 waist and this thing holds me just about right.

Leg room is virtually non-existent unlike the S14 seat.
I have long legs and nearly 1/3 of my thigh is unsupported by the seat.

Other than that.. I dont have any complaints to date..
I've tried a full bucket seat, but I dont want to drive around in it for a daily!

[McRussellPants]

Americans are fat.


excuse me sir, you can't park your minivan inside the S13. oh wait, you're just a fat kid, hey its just a fat kid.

[NemeGuero]

:)
Or a daily?
LOL!, not everyone is racecar inspired!



As is apparent by the looks of the rest of your car.


So you lost leg room and made your car gayer?

Awesome.

[s13gold]

im guessing you got those seats for cheap and your stock seats were worn to shit and thats why you decided to put those it...

am i correct???

[EchoOfSilence]

the leather z33 seats are really really nice, IMO.

[NemeGuero]

Coming from the guy that still eats his EX-GFs carpet..

[babowc]

I just got these for cheap so I put em in..
Im cleaning my car right now and been lazy enough to not put the stock stuff back in..
LOL why do I have to explain myself? :)

[drift freaq]

I would say....waste of time. Still the dopest and non hassle seat setup outside of racing buckets is the R32/33 GTR seats.

[FaLKoN240]

I just got these for cheap so I put em in..
Im cleaning my car right now and been lazy enough to not put the stock stuff back in..
LOL why do I have to explain myself? :)

Because you wasted a bunch of time putting a seat into your car that offers no REAL benefit.

[SkunX]

ok so it doesn't add support..is it at least more comfy?..lol

I can understand swapping them if the 33s feel better

[OptionZero]

who the hell drives a 240 because it rides well and feels good?

[statik]

Perfect mod for the racecar driver going through the McDonald's drive thru...

So you lost leg room and made your car gayer?

Because you wasted a bunch of time putting a seat into your car that offers no REAL benefit.

Yeah, you shouldn't have "wasted" your time by "making your car gay", you should've kept the stock incredibly awesome s13 seats or spent $800+ on racing seats. That's really the only way you can mod a 240sx. In conclusion, you suck at life.

Maybe I didn't get my point across, cut the guy some slack, so maybe these seats aren't the best upgrade, and they probably don't need another "how to" thread (search for '350z seat install' it was posted over a year ago). Is Zilvia getting to the point where a post is only acceptable based on the amount of reputation the poster has?

[OptionZero]

u can get s14 seats that bolt in fine and probably feel similar for dirt cheap

or u can get GT-R seats for somewhere between free and $800-$1000, and they'll *Actually* improving holding

or u can be not a girl and rock a bucket seat

[NemeGuero]

Yeah, you shouldn't have "wasted" your time by "making your car gay", you should've kept the stock incredibly awesome s13 seats or spent $800+ on racing seats. That's really the only way you can mod a 240sx. In conclusion, you suck at life.

Maybe I didn't get my point across, cut the guy some slack, so maybe these seats aren't the best upgrade, and they probably don't need another "how to" thread (search for '350z seat install' it was posted over a year ago). Is Zilvia getting to the point where a post is only acceptable based on the amount of reputation the poster has?


I spent less than $500 on a PAIR of seats that'll hold me 10X better than stock and look better..

What now?

[babowc]

give me that kind of deal :)

[FaLKoN240]

I spent less than $500 on a PAIR of seats that'll hold me 10X better than stock and look better..

What now?

I got my seats for a decent price as well.

240SX owners are for the most part lazy. I read the list of stuff required to put the seats into my car. Then I looked at the pics of the seats.

They offer no thigh bolster support, and he said that the seats sit higher.

To me that is the ULTIMATE waste of time. Most people upgrade their car and get more comfortable seats, but this guy installed less comfortable seats with a hefty amount of work.

I don't care if PHLIP or ThatGuy did this mod. I would say, "It looks nice, but a complete waste of time." Rep has nothing to do with this.

[kandyflip445]

At least give the guy some credit on doing a nice write-up on how to install them. He gave good instructions with good pics and it seems well thought out as a write-up.

Maybe it's not what everyone else would do but ,as of late, the forum has been kinda stagnant on good write-ups and topics in general.

[GSXRJJordan]

I wouldn't rock the Z33 drivers seat, but I might do a passenger setup. Girls don't like buckets or stepping over roll cage side bars, and since I still pretend that girls ride in my car, I only rock a driver's side bucket. That being said, whenever you take someone who actually likes cars for a ride, they always eye the bucket and wish you had a second one. I'm always looking for an easy/cheap in-betweener, something that supports nicely, but doesn't require the bucket seat "let me get my legs in before I get my ass in" manuver.

Doesn't look like this is it. lol.

[FaLKoN240]

R32 or R33 bucket seats are what you're talking about pal.

[trey21096]

Not a bad writeup, but I agreed with everyone else, why go through all that when you can pick up a set of skyline recliners? Btw I'm fat, just not fat enough to require as much room as the Z33's. The skyline seats work just fine. Plus they have the oh so cool seatbelt slots.

[mrmephistopheles]

I spent less than $500 on a PAIR of seats that'll hold me 10X better than stock and look better..

What now?

Yeah, but you got hooked the F up, too. :D :kiss:

[gotta240]

Well, i guess i'm the ONLY one on here who liked the swap/write up...

Good job on the write-up and props for getting off your ass and doing something to your car.

[jbballa9876]

Why is everyone hating so hard on the z seats? I mean id rather have a 350 anyday then a 240 if thats what it is, plus the leathers are legit, you gotta be kidding me if you think you would rather have s14 seats than these

[blueshark123]

2 yr old thread bump ftl

[ranger240]

hey jb, putting 5 year old seats in a car doesnt make as much sense as putting in 20 year old seats... duhhh.. do it right the first time :wackit:

[jamg]

i got mine for a good deal, so i bought them.

but i havn't installed them yet lolz

[jbballa9876]

Ive had my leather 350 seats in for several months now and they are amazingggg. ill post pics one day here soon.

[Exclusive Nights]

wow... sweet thx this helps out alot because i wanted to do this

[5pecialist]

Looks good!

[FaLKoN240]

Ive had my leather 350 seats in for several months now and they are amazingggg. ill post pics one day here soon.

That's really great you brought back a thread that died over 2 years ago, to say you did this!

[BMWfanaticE46]

This is great, I'm trying to get into a 350 one of these days. This would be a good way to have a poor man's 350, lmao

[GabeS14]

I dont see the problem in bringing back a thread, as long is it is necessary, I myself have been looking for a thread on this, bringing it back to life allows for more input and maybe ome updadet info and shots, by the way for the idiots that said that the z33 seat is not as comfortable as the s14 seats..wtf lol at your faces..
one of the most comfortable factory seats in a sporty car with the best lower back suport Ive felt.

[!Zar!]

http://www.tech-styling.com/wp-content/lazy-boy-chair.jpg

[GabeS14]

http://www.tech-styling.com/wp-content/lazy-boy-chair.jpg

announcing the new direct OEM replacement seat for you S-chassis, now sold at any sharper image or bed bath and beyong store:

[redline racer510]

lol if i could go back in time i would not do this mod i would rather get me some brides or recaros.

[lazysk8er2]

lol if i could go back in time i would not do this mod i would rather get me some brides or recaros.

please explain why?

[redline racer510]

Don't get me wrong they did feel pretty good, but personally I would rather buy a genuine set of used recaro's or bride's than to go through the trouble of drilling ,cutting, hammering rivets and welds out and properly welding in the new tabs or seat rails or what ever you want to call them. Maybe I'm just lazy lol but if you can get some one to convert them for you and do it for cheap you might have my vote.

[codyace]

Don't get me wrong they did feel pretty good, but personally I would rather buy a genuine set of used recaro's or bride's than to go through the trouble of drilling ,cutting, hammering rivets and welds out and properly welding in the new tabs or seat rails or what ever you want to call them. Maybe I'm just lazy lol but if you can get some one to convert them for you and do it for cheap you might have my vote.

It all depends on your 'standards'

I have an OMP RS in my car, and have daily driven it now for 5 or so months. After this weekends track day, I will be taking it back out in place of my OEM GTR seat. Was the OMP ok? Yea....but the GTR is simply better suited to daily

[Triperformance]

Thread jack alert but are the GTR seats a direct bolt in for s14's?

I agree, dont give the guy crap about his hard work! He was trying to be informative and I definitely noticed a over look about the orgional condition on his seats.......Maybe they needed replacing and he found what he liked.

[codyace]

Thread jack alert but are the GTR seats a direct bolt in for s14's?

I agree, dont give the guy crap about his hard work! He was trying to be informative and I definitely noticed a over look about the orgional condition on his seats.......Maybe they needed replacing and he found what he liked.

They are not direct bolt in...You'll need to modify the rear left mount (and rear right mount on passenger side) to make it work. I simply removed the rivets and that rear mount, and added my own (welded) to make it work.

[conrad_s13.5]

fuck you guys are harsh!......lol

if i had one layin' around, i'd give it a whirl.

......otherwise i'd prolly just save up and get a bucket

[babowc]

i've still yet to fix the bracket, but I now have a r33 GTR seat in my s13.. fits good.
I put the z33 seat in my S14 and I will tell you again that I would keep these seats over the s14 seats ANY day.

[cockerstar]

Personally, I think the z33 seats are a great seat for a daily. I like the way they look and they can be found for a decent price.

[!Zar!]

Im having the same problem. I currently have a blaziken and im at the water gym but i had a rough time with some gyms. The first, the seventh, and third, and the 5th with torchic. Cuz u will have serious troubles in 4 gyms if u get torchic because of its fighting type. So i would say either treecko or mudkip.

Oh.

OOPS.

I meant to say all that work for these seats is dumb.

GTR kiddies.

[redline racer510]

Oh, no doubt they are better, much better than the s14 seat they have better lower back support and they hold you in better than the s14 seat but in my own opinion the work that needs to be done in order to get them right just really isnt worth my time personally.To the sir that was questioning my standards, my standards are to do things the right way as close to oem as possible. please dont take offense to my first post.

[tapdeznutz]

bump for reading...back from the dead.

[IROYLE1]

bought these seats- read this thread- :picardfp:

[tapdeznutz]

Just did the 350z passenger seat into my s13 hatch. Fits great and feels great, at least for all future passengers :). Anyways, I only needed to remove the 2 rear mounts and with the help of another zilvia member(godrifttoday) today we welded on the oem s13 passenger mount brackets in their place. with a little grinding to finish the look and a little black spray paint it looks near oem. Fronts, we slotted the reinforcements on the 350z brackets and slotted the mounting holes so they would line up. In retrospect, I guess we could have used the s13 oem front mounting brackets as well but that would have meant for drilling and grinding. I also did not have to modify or do without the plastic trims, they are all still intact. FYI, i am trading up from s14 seats. I will be doing the drivers side as well once i locate one that i like. just wanted to share my actual experience, cheers.

[Terd40sx]

awesome work dude

[tapdeznutz]

Just did the driver's side 350z seat with godrifttoday last nite, thanks again bro. Rear mods are the same as the passenger side. Meaning, use the s13 oem rear inside mount(near center console) and the 350z rear outer mount just needs to be relocated to line up with the hole location. The fronts however were a bit more challenging, we cut off the 350z front mount holes where they start to bend. On the front inside mount (near center console) after making that previous cut, we just drilled a new hole to existing mount and it bolted right up. On the front outside mount, after the previous cut, the mount bracket was spaced off the hole about 1" (only approx, we did not measure). What we did was wedge in a hollow rectangular piece of metal tubing that was again only approx, 1" deep to fill the gap/spacing by 1.5-2" tall. Drilled a hole through the wedge for the mounting hole and mocked it up and welded. It will all make sense when I post pictures up which might be tonight if time allows. Only other mod needed will be the plastic trim piece pocket hits the trunk release lever so you will have to Dremel the pocket off. Doing this at work, hope it makes sense.

My impression of s14 vs r32 gtr vs 350z is that the s14 is really comfortable but does not hold you in spirited cornering. The r32 vs 350z seats; the gtr sat much lower than the 350z, literally felt like you are sitting on the floor board. The 350z sits about 1/2" higher or so, not bad at all. The seat bottom on the 350z holds much better than the r32 seat. The side bolsters on the 350z seat also feels like it holds firmer vs the r32. I am a big(wide/fat) guy so maybe it may feel different to others. Now I do not know if that is because I am comparing a 7-8yr old 350z seat vs a 10-15 yr old R32 seat so you be the judge of that. But all in all I am very happen with the mod and seat and I will not be searching for another replacement seat for a long time.

[godrifttoday]

Just did the driver's side 350z seat with godrifttoday last nite, thanks again bro. Rear mods are the same as the passenger side. Meaning, use the s13 oem rear inside mount(near center console) and the 350z rear outer mount just needs to be relocated to line up with the hole location. The fronts however were a bit more challenging, we cut off the 350z front mount holes where they start to bend. On the front inside mount (near center console) after making that previous cut, we just drilled a new hole to existing mount and it bolted right up. On the front outside mount, after the previous cut, the mount bracket was spaced off the hole about 1" (only approx, we did not measure). What we did was wedge in a hollow rectangular piece of metal tubing that was again only approx, 1" deep to fill the gap/spacing by 1.5-2" tall. Drilled a hole through the wedge for the mounting hole and mocked it up and welded. It will all make sense when I post pictures up which might be tonight if time allows. Only other mod needed will be the plastic trim piece pocket hits the trunk release lever so you will have to Dremel the pocket off. Doing this at work, hope it makes sense.

My impression of s14 vs r32 gtr vs 350z is that the s14 is really comfortable but does not hold you in spirited cornering. The r32 vs 350z seats; the gtr sat much lower than the 350z, literally felt like you are sitting on the floor board. The 350z sits about 1/2" higher or so, not bad at all. The seat bottom on the 350z holds much better than the r32 seat. The side bolsters on the 350z seat also feels like it holds firmer vs the r32. I am a big(wide/fat) guy so maybe it may feel different to others. Now I do not know if that is because I am comparing a 7-8yr old 350z seat vs a 10-15 yr old R32 seat so you be the judge of that. But all in all I am very happen with the mod and seat and I will not be searching for another replacement seat for a long time.

Yayyyyyyyy we did it!

[BigKriss]

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b324/BarryHenning/2013_02_15_IMG_4250Small_zps0d8ea8e0.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/BarryHenning/media/2013_02_15_IMG_4250Small_zps0d8ea8e0.jpg.html)

[zxy]

is possible to upload new pictures. I want to make this conversion too yes I know the thread is old

[babowc]

I'll look for the pics, but it's not too difficult.
You'll definitely have to work the rear brackets, though!

[zxy]

Did you find pictures?