GUT or NOT to GUT?

[sac]

hey guys.
i am building a s14. i am trying to build it as light as possible but still retain the dd capabilities. ( p.s. a.c. heater, cd player etc..)
i will probably take it to the track often though. and am having a cage built. (i am helping. just never built one.)

the reason i am trying to determine whether or not to gut the car is because i am 6'2" and weigh 200lbs. i am pretty muscular (18 in arms, bench 335.. blah blah) so i think it would be a really tight fit in the s14 with the cage. I plan on doing removable door bars or just ones that can swing in and out so i can get in and out easier. I am also debating on getting a quick release steering wheel to help this. How low can i get the seats? Anyone bolt them directly to the floor? (maybe with a super low bracket?) i really dont care about sliding rails, as myself, and brothers will be the only ones driving the car. (they are same size as me)

Is there anyone out there thats taller, kinda bulky that has a s14 w/ full interior and a cage? if so how do ya fit in it..? Did ya modify the seat to sit lower? just a short wheel hub?
advice would be appreciated. I am not tryin to brag here. Just want advice. I dont really want to hack the dash or pannels. but cutting holes that look clean might be a option. Also some pics could help.

thanks in advance.

casey

[corriganjoshua]

I know people that are about your size that have no problem at all but...if its a dd ya might want to just look into buying a cheap truck..(still not sure what the bench has anything to do with it if your not bragging haha j/k)

[projectdrifter]

well from my experiance.
i am 5'9" 245 hefty not super muscular but tone. i have an autopower s14 cage and corbeau racing seats i fit decently. if your gonna track it regularly and want the weight out its not going to be a friendly daily driver.
decent coilovers
decent power probably 350whp range. decent legal cage.
yur gunna want as much weight out as possible
proably run a side mount seat good bolstering seat.odds have it a fixed bucket

buy a daily driver and have a weekend warrior. get a decent towing truck and call it a day. if you track it things will happen it will brake you will need to replace parts. u will need a daily driver. just nature of the beast.

[khilgers]

Quick release would help, if you end up gutting you can always cut out the hump, weld in some 18 gauge steel and mount your brackets to the floor. That will get you lower than Bride FG rails. Search around there is a ton on info here that will also help.

[Pank]

if you're going to DD it, leave the carpet in, you dont lose enough weight with removing carpet to make it worth it. just dont wear a hat while driving, or cut some metal out of the doors, esp if you're getting door bars with your cage.

[OPP]

cage and daily driver, if thats what you intend it to be, equals maybe not so safe on the street. unprotected head having a run in with a hard cage does not a good time make. but to each his own.

[SW20Racer]

lightweight battery

and start looking into fiberglass/carbon fiber doors/door skins you can swap on when you're at the track. (hell make your own out of fiberglass&lexan using junkyard doors for molds it would take 1 day to get the bulk of it done, and cost less than $200 for both doors)

i recently ripped out all the carpet and tar sheets out of the terc and replaced it with 1 coat of truck bed liner, it only weighed slightly less in the end, so no real weight loss there, but its more durable than carpet, and it makes me look hardcore...or ghetto...either way, i like it.

i dd the terc but i got rid of everything i dont need/want, and filled in all the holes left from the gutting so it still looks ok instead of looking like a looting victim. i've gotten rid of the entire stereo system, the ac, the airbag, and im going to be putting stock 1st gen miata wheels on and spacing them out a bit .

i also have an aluminunm bucket seat (kirkey racing style) i had made that weighs in at 10.5 lbs without upholstering

and no cage, just the usual bracing (the class im in doesnt require it)

[Pank]

what do you think about the aluminum shell seats? I was looking at those with the slipon/snap on covers for my crappy car

[DJButton]

I say gut it.
msglnth.

[2fast240]

I'm a 6'5 330lb football player. I am going to remove the headliner in my s14 to get more room. Gut the bitch, leave the front carpet though, just cut it behind the seats if you dont want ot sell it.

[SW20Racer]

what do you think about the aluminum shell seats? I was looking at those with the slipon/snap on covers for my crappy car

i love the seat myself, its the best way i've found to get exactly what you want.
im doing some foam cushioning on it(using a memory foam thing thats supposed to go on a bed) and taking it to an upholstery shop to have a tweed cover put on it. the snap on covers i checked out were all vinyl/pleather crap i didnt care for and they came in goofy fuckin colors so bleh. (unless you're referring to seat covers you get @ walmart for the stock seats, which are good for nothing in any form...)

one thing im thinking about doing to help offset the weight of the foam/fabric is to use a hole saw to swiss cheese the back/side bolsters a little bit. nothing drastic to compromise to integrity of the seat, but i also i figure if i put the holes through the metal and the foam, but not the fabric, it will breathe alot better which will help because ill be spending about 6 hours in the seat at a time when i head down to biloxi

ive also removed the passenger seat/seat belts but left the rear bench in for the baby seat & hannah. she likes it better actually cuz she can get the car seat in&out easier (2 door) and she slides right in and rides gangsta in the back, she calls me her bippu chauffer.(then i mushroom stamp her on the forehead and tell her to go make me a grilled cheese sammich)

[sac]

well from my experiance.
i am 5'9" 245 hefty not super muscular but tone. i have an autopower s14 cage and corbeau racing seats i fit decently.
decent coilovers
decent power probably 350whp range. decent legal cage.
proably run a side mount seat good bolstering seat.odds have it a fixed bucket

get a decent towing truck and call it a day.

not to be a dick. but 6'2" is 5 inches taller. it makes a bit of difference. my hair touches the top of the car now as is. My knees touch steering wheel.
keep in mind.. i am going to put a small diameter wheel on. maybe push the seat further back, and try to drop it..
i have access to nismo coilovers.. and tein(anykind). nismo coils any good? never ran them.
i plan on putting 500+whp down. No i wont crank the boost that high on the track all the time. but should be really mean. The guy i am helping build the cage is the dude who certifies cages at the track here.. so legality isnt a problem. Fixed bucket is the idea.

I know people that are about your size that have no problem at all but...if its a dd ya might want to just look into buying a cheap truck
i have a dd capable truck. I just want a dd car. I like the feel of the car better.
Quick release would help, if you end up gutting you can always cut out the hump, weld in some 18 gauge steel and mount your brackets to the floor. That will get you lower than Bride FG rails.
wouldnt cutting out the hump compromise the overall strength of the chassis?
cage and daily driver, if thats what you intend it to be, equals maybe not so safe on the street. unprotected head having a run in with a hard cage does not a good time make.
i plan on using lots of foam padds.. :)
lightweight battery

and start looking into fiberglass/carbon fiber doors/door skins you can swap on when you're at the track. (hell make your own out of fiberglass&lexan using junkyard doors for molds it would take 1 day to get the bulk of it done, and cost less than $200 for both doors)

i also have an aluminunm bucket seat (kirkey racing style) i had made that weighs in at 10.5 lbs without upholstering
and no cage, just the usual bracing (the class im in doesnt require it)
I have a lightweight drycell battery. carbon doors are not as safe. I plan on taking the door bars out when it gets driven on the street.(for comfort reasons.) 2k for door skins no.. time to make my own.. no.
what do you think about the aluminum shell seats? I was looking at those with the slipon/snap on covers for my crappy car
i dont like the aluminum shell seats. I want to run the BRIDE low maxx seats. they are carbon kevlar.. the look gorgeous!!

i really am curious as if cutting out the "HUMP" will compromise the strength of the chassis. Anyone have any research on this?

[sac]

I'm a 6'5 330lb football player. I am going to remove the headliner in my s14 to get more room. Gut the bitch, leave the front carpet though, just cut it behind the seats if you dont want ot sell it.
i want the full interior. BASICALLY> i am looking for ways to keep the stock interior. maybe put in custom carpet after modifing the HUMP. still kinda thinkin if this would work. And moving the seat further back than the stock position.

[300hp owen]

leave it as stock/normal as possible until you make it a dedicated track beast.

in the meantime the best things you can do are this-
-lowest possible seat, like the ones from memoryfab or a momo start or some nicer sparco or recaro seats that have a rounded bottom so you can drop it down in between the floor beams.
-get a D-shaped steering wheel so you have extra clearance to get in and out

quick releases can be a pita for a DD, some really are shitty/sloppy.

[sac]

the quick release i was thinkin i think sparco makes.. the one with the key to lock the wheel in place, and lock someone from throwin their Q.R. wheel on. those are nice...

[projectdrifter]

not to be a dick. but 6'2" is 5 inches taller. it makes a bit of difference. my hair touches the top of the car now as is. My knees touch steering wheel.
keep in mind.. i am going to put a small diameter wheel on. maybe push the seat further back, and try to drop it..
i have access to nismo coilovers.. and tein(anykind). nismo coils any good? never ran them.
i plan on putting 500+whp down. No i wont crank the boost that high on the track all the time. but should be really mean. The guy i am helping build the cage is the dude who certifies cages at the track here.. so legality isnt a problem. Fixed bucket is the idea.

understandable. sorts why i said a fixed bucked low mount style seat. maybe a kerky(sp) removing the hump is a killer idea i have seen it done quite a few times and seen them mounted uber low.:bow:
i am fond of teins myself. rebuild able in the states turn around time is good and customer support is spot on from my experiences.
sound more like a track car than something u will daily. just my opinion not being an ass. my car went from street car(dd) to mostly track.. i could never see myself driving it on a regular basis. again its just my experience. i am getting older and comfort is becoming more of a key when i look at something i want to daily or even consider, when i was 18 a caged fixed bucket street beast was doable not anymore.

[SW20Racer]

for anyone who searches and comes across this thread http://www.rorty-design.com/files/Rorty%20Basic%20Aluminium%20Seat%20Pattern.pdf i followed this same basic design and have been making slight changes

[soreballz]

just a short wheel hub?


not to be a dick. but 6'2" is 5 inches taller. it makes a bit of difference. my hair touches the top of the car now as is. My knees touch steering wheel.
keep in mind.. i am going to put a small diameter wheel on. maybe push the seat further back, and try to drop it..

If you're that tall, and you want to put the seat further back, a short hub would not work out too well. Unless you like driving with your arms straightened out. lol

I'm 6' 3". I took out the headliner in my S13 for a bit more headroom, and I'll be eliminating the sunroof soon to gain that extra inch or so. If you have a sunroof, get rid of it.

As for the seating and wheel setup, I'd say run the Bride seat with an FG rail, mount it back enough that your legs are comfortable on the pedals, and do whatever you gotta do to get the steering wheel close enough to you that your arms are at close to a 90 degree angle while driving.
I'm gonna do that (but with a different seat), and I'll be using a Momo hub, full size quick release, 1inch adapter spacer, and a deep-ish Mooneyes wheel. That SHOULD help with comfort in a big way.

Anywho, good luck.

[89singlecamnoob]

for anyone who searches and comes across this thread http://www.rorty-design.com/files/Rorty%20Basic%20Aluminium%20Seat%20Pattern.pdf i followed this same basic design and have been making slight changes

i should be making a set of those within the next few weeks :rawk:...soon as i get the aluminum for it :/

[sac]

understandable. sorts why i said a fixed bucked low mount style seat. maybe a kerky(sp) removing the hump is a killer idea i have seen it done quite a few times and seen them mounted uber low.:bow:
i am fond of teins myself. rebuild able in the states turn around time is good and customer support is spot on from my experiences.
sound more like a track car than something u will daily. when i was 18 a caged fixed bucket street beast was doable not anymore.
well i am young. And like i said. IF i decide to go a different route than i want. (i want to keep full fact. interior. sunroof and all) And it becomes uncomfortable for me. I have another vehicle i can drive. (the one i am driving currently while progress is going with body/engine.)
If you're that tall, and you want to put the seat further back, a short hub would not work out too well. Unless you like driving with your arms straightened out. lol

I'm 6' 3". I took out the headliner in my S13 for a bit more headroom, and I'll be eliminating the sunroof soon to gain that extra inch or so. If you have a sunroof, get rid of it.

As for the seating and wheel setup, I'd say run the Bride seat with an FG rail, mount it back enough that your legs are comfortable on the pedals, and do whatever you gotta do to get the steering wheel close enough to you that your arms are at close to a 90 degree angle while driving.
I'm gonna do that (but with a different seat), and I'll be using a Momo hub, full size quick release, 1inch adapter spacer, and a deep-ish Mooneyes wheel. That SHOULD help with comfort in a big way.

Anywho, good luck.

good idea bringing the seat further back and lengthing the colum. I kinda have long monkey style length arms. But this idea helps. +1 4 U.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY PICS OF A S14 WITH THE HUMP REMOVED?

[sac]

maybe my post is being ignored now.. :(. tear..

screw it. i will just google. it.
i really havent heard of the hump removal process before. maybe they should try that with camels.. makes the ride better..;)

[EDacIouSX]

don't gut the car, it makes it way too loud for dd. remove spare tire and shit you don't need.

if you don't have a sunroof, super low brackets with a bucket seat will work well. i'm 6 feet and i'm like 187 pounds but that friggin sun roof in my s14 gets in the way. w/o sunroof its about 2 inches more clearance so bucket seat will do you prefectly fine.

[Rayne]

Leave the interior up until the time you are ready to make the car a full track only car.

Unless of course you do not mind explaining, to just about everyone, why your interior is gone when they do ask.

[steve shadows]

psft I can bench 335

...barely

haha :bite:

Just gut it.

dooooooooo it.

[canas]

if you weren't such a cock diesel beast this wouldn't be an issue. but g/l

[irax]

just as long as you don't have HUGE thigh muscles you should be fine

[sac]

just as long as you don't have HUGE thigh muscles you should be fine
I do have huge thigh muscles. My thigh's are 27in. around. maybe i should just cut me to fit in the car, either that or start smokin crack so my body eats up itself and i fit better.. ;) haha. Dont think i will be doing either. I listened to L.T. when he says...DONT SMOKE CRACK.