Custom Sparco seat bracket

[holisticbeatz]

So I bought a Sparco Speed seat (formally known as the Sprint seat). Anyhow, I've been doing some research here on Zilvia discussing mounting issues. Everyone whom I have spoken to says that using the Sparco bracket for the S14 will make the seat sit higher than stock.

Does anyone here have any pics of a custom fabricated mount brackets? The Speed seat is not a side mount, so I'll have to custom make a top mount bracket. But I'm not sure how to go about it. I know how to weld and cut metal, but I sorta need a schematic of some sort. Any have any blue prints or anything I can go from in order to make a bracket?

Something like this but for a S14:
http://store1.yimg.com/I/soloracerdotcom_1806_1170672
http://www.chargespeed.com/english/seat%20rail/seat%20rail%20a.jpg

Another question; I want to use the factory holes for the seat if possible. But let's say I didn't and drill two new hole on the floor board to bolt the seat down. In case of an accident or whatever, would I still be safe? The seat will be secured to the car via new holes.

-Kenny

[KA24DESOneThree]

Well damn.

I have the EXACT same question and was JUST about to ask it. I'm buying a Sprint tonight and I've also heard the Sparco rails are crap.

I've heard that one can adapt the Bride rails to the Sparco seat and that will fix clearance problems.

[holisticbeatz]

Hey.. you're in So. Cal. Maybe we could help each other out. Got AIM? Mine is "paradigm kenny"

I think an easier way to approach this would be to buy a universal slider http://www.sparco-usa.com/pseats_acc.asp?id=359 and make the mounting bracket from there. I'm going to try and use the factory holes, but if necessary, I'll redrill 2 new holes in the back but retain the 2 front ones.

[drift into a curb]

http://cosmology.princeton.edu/~asad/seatrail/

Kenny, I have a Bride passenger seat rail for the brix if you need to take a look at it. Let me know.

James

[KA24DESOneThree]

Mine's SOneThreeCoupe. I might be on later tonight, depends on when I get my writing homework done.

[holisticbeatz]

James - I would like to check out that seat bracket, thanks bro! I'll give you a call sometime later this week. BTW, that link you posted, exactly what I'm looking for!

Another question: I plan on getting a 4-point harness, but I would still like to retain the stock seat belt for daily driving and comfort. How do you mount the female adapter for the OEM seat belt on the Sparco seat?

[justinhustle]

i have low rider sparco brackets...i can get em too if ya want

pm me and ill get ya pricing :)

[KA24DESOneThree]

What I've been able to glean so far from searches and whatnot:
"I just acquired a Cobra Imola 2 carbon kevlar seat from a friend it has itr (integra type-r) rails on it right now. What would be a good suggestion on what to mount it on? can i just take the itr rail off and mount it on the stock slider or should i buy something like a bride rail. If at all possible I would like to have it adjustable via slider. BTW this will be mounted in a S13

Randall

If it is a bucket seat it will either fit the Bride brackets or Sparco brackets. The stock brackets will not work and your seating position would not be very desireable. " From: http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB27&Number=67763429&Forum=UBB27&Words=Sparco&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=67763421&Search=true#Post67763429

Also, this thread: http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB27&Number=67733000&Forum=UBB27&Words=Sparco&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=1&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=67730961&Search=true#Post67733000

And this one: http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB27&Number=67660641&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1
From that one: "Bride seats are compatible with Sparco rails. Bride used Sparco as their template for designing their seat mounting points.

For a Sparco bucket seat, you need to use side-mount rails.

I bought some side-mount Bride-compatible seat rails from a shop in Japan. They are similar to the FG-type in that picture you posted, but they are called "Super Low" rails and probably sit a bit lower than the Bride rails because the holes are closer to the bottom. AFAIK Bride does not make a "Super Low" rail for the our USDM driver side, only for the JDM driver (right) side.

(Too bad that we can't have TRUE "Super Low" rails for our LHD drivers side because of the cat converter "hump"...)

Anyways, the holes in these rails lined up fine with Sparco Evo and Rev buckets. And since the holes are "lengthened" (for some extra adjustability) you don't have to worry about the hole-to-hole distance being exactly perfect. I highly doubt you will have to dremel anything. "

This thread tells all about where to get Bride rails: http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB27&Number=67475963&Forum=UBB27&Words=Sparco&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=5&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=67229412&Search=true#Post67475963

A lot of posts mention "various Japanese companies" making low rails.

A quick search of eBay brings up diddly-squat on Bride rails. Same with CraigsList.

[Sil Beer S13]

James - I would like to check out that seat bracket, thanks bro! I'll give you a call sometime later this week. BTW, that link you posted, exactly what I'm looking for!

Another question: I plan on getting a 4-point harness, but I would still like to retain the stock seat belt for daily driving and comfort. How do you mount the female adapter for the OEM seat belt on the Sparco seat?


Its would be on the sparco seat bracket. On there is a place to blot on the seat belt.

[justinhustle]

it mounts on the side rear bolt towards the center hump :)

[AKADriver]

Sidemount seats can use pretty much any sidemount rail, as long as the distance between holes front to back is ~11.5". some seats are very narrow or very wide and need special accomodations, but that's not common.

The rail Asad made (which is @#$% awesome, by the way) is a copy of the Bride bottom mount design.

If you buy new Bride bottom-mount rails and get the correct adapter plates to mount a Brix/Ergo II (all available from Tees USA) they should have the proper holes for a bottom-mount Sparco, also.

Sparco seats use the 345x271 bolt pattern.

[Johny5]

oh someone please find a solution, 1998 s14 here with sparco sprint and sparco bracket, need to lower bracket. haha.

[drftwerks]

I WAS GOING TO PUT MY SPRINT IN MY 240 , BUT ME AND MY FRIEND WERE GOING TO TEAR APART A STOCK BRAKET AND WELD UP SOME LOW ONES, THAT REALLY THE ONLY WAY TO GET A LOW BRAKET, THANKS NISSAN, LOL.

bRYON

[KA24DESOneThree]

HELP MY CAPS LOCK KEY IS STUCK ON... oh wait, no, no... all I had to do was put about two ounces of pressure on it. Nevermind.

I'm still wondering about adapting Bride rails... but they're sold out pretty much everywhere. All you fackers need to stop worrying about OMG JDM so I can jack your rails.

[justinhustle]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/jsteed/seatrail.jpg

is the one i can get ;)

[240eggsx]

...Bride rails... but they're sold out pretty much everywhere. All you fackers need to stop...

No fucking shit... I have a sparco pro2000 collecting dust because the bride rail I need "N046FG" is sold out everywhere. Sux having a seat just sitting in my closet! :bash: If anyone knows someone with a Bride super low side mount seat rail for S14 for sale / in stock I will :bowdown: to your cornholio.

[KA24DESOneThree]

Looks good, Justin. Send me a PM when you get a price... I'll probably buy it as soon as you tell me.

[holisticbeatz]

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/588000-588999/588405_5_full.jpg

From the looks of this, Max, the owner of this white zenki S14 used the regular seat bracket from Sparco and the seat sits higher than stock. It should be ok for short people. However, for those of us who own cars with sunroofs, we have about 2 inches or so less head room. Also, with a helmet on, head space would be very limited. There are a lot of factors to consider when installing a seat.

[KA24DESOneThree]

I was told by a couple guys that modifying the stock brackets would work. (Without welding.) Now that it's all apart and I'm running out of daylight, I see that they were wrong. If it was a side-mount, maybe.

[Shin_Kudo]

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/588000-588999/588405_5_full.jpg

From the looks of this, Max, the owner of this white zenki S14 used the regular seat bracket from Sparco and the seat sits higher than stock. It should be ok for short people. However, for those of us who own cars with sunroofs, we have about 2 inches or so less head room. Also, with a helmet on, head space would be very limited. There are a lot of factors to consider when installing a seat.

Haha, that's my car! Anyway, yes, the seat is slightly higher than stock. I don't have any problem normally, but it is a tight fit with a helmet, and I'm 5'9" or so. Any taller and you may have a problem, and sunroof owners can forget it.

One thing that you should remember is that the seat gets worn in. As you use it, it'll gradually shape to you and flatten down some, which will help with headroom, and also makes it just a bit more solid feeling, which helps with road feel.

[tsunami0ne]

Haha, that's my car! Anyway, yes, the seat is slightly higher than stock. I don't have any problem normally, but it is a tight fit with a helmet, and I'm 5'9" or so. Any taller and you may have a problem, and sunroof owners can forget it.

One thing that you should remember is that the seat gets worn in. As you use it, it'll gradually shape to you and flatten down some, which will help with headroom, and also makes it just a bit more solid feeling, which helps with road feel.

Yeah, at first when I put in the seat, it felt kind of high. A few days later, it started sitting at about stock height, however the seat didn't feel like it held me in as well as it did when i first got it.

[Shin_Kudo]

Yeah, I agree, it doesn't feel quite as good as it did when it was new.

[Johny5]

are you kidding? after having mine for about 5 months mine grabs me good. i'd rather have a buddy club seat personally, but the sprint does good for a wider seat base than the BC.

[tsunami0ne]

oops, forgot to mention that i'm skinny.

[Shin_Kudo]

Mine doesn't keep me as upright as it used to, it seems like it forces me into a sort of slouch. Maybe in a while it'll get better, once it starts to take a better shape and not just the compression evident now.

[KA24DESOneThree]

Justin, you have a PM about that low-profile bracket. I NEED it by the 15 at the latest. If it costs a little more to expedite, I'll do it.

[twong85]

Not to jack the thread or anything but does anyone know what sidemounts work with the buddy clubs? Apparently it fits the sparco but not the bride and I've been waiting a long time for the buddy club low rails to come, so are sparco side mounts high like their bottom mounts?

[justinhustle]

15th isnt possible unless sparco usa has in stock

im callin now

if you guys want, ill g/b em for ya

[vvtisupra]

im down depending on the price

[holisticbeatz]

Justin is askin $200 for the "JDM low-rider" bracket for the Sparco Torino. He still hasn't answered my PM about whether or not his special bracket would fit my Sparco Speed. $200 is a little too much in my opinion, I rather make my own bracket. Except I haven't had any time to sit down and actually think this through. Also it's been to hot to go outside and work on the car, CA is going through a little heatwave. Man! anything over 80+ is too hot...

[justinhustle]

ok

a. its like 98 a side, not 200 a side, just in case anyone was confused

b. i know 100% it fits sparco torino, if they use the same kind of mounting points, which im 90% sure they do, it will fit. dont have one to test it on. ill try n check part #'s

c. holisticbeatz i dont remember seeing yer pm, sorry! :)

[KA24DESOneThree]

a. I'll pay whatever, Justin... just get 'em to me by next Thursday. I have all this grip and nothing to hold me in place for my track day. :(

b. It fits. They're both bottom mount 10.6x13.5

[holisticbeatz]

Justin: For $98, I'll take it. This whole time I thought it was $200 per side. Also, could you please verify that the seat will fit my Sparco Speed. I haven't tried calling Sparco yet, but I will tomorrow.

KA24DESOneThree: Interesting that you need the seat bracket by next Thursday. Which event are you going to? I need my bracket by next Thursday too because I got an event go to. I'm heading up to Buttonwillow on Sept. 17th.

[KA24DESOneThree]

holisticbeatz, I'll see you there.

It's funny how we both bought Sparco Sprints at the same time and are attending the same track days. Next you're going to tell us that you're going to the Las Vegas Hankook event.

[holisticbeatz]

That Las Vegas Hankook event is tomorrow, right? Sept 10th Friday at the Las Vegas track. I heard it was only $35 for drifting. I was gunna go, but I already got the day off from work for Sept 17th.. I figured the Buttonwillow event would work out better for me, I'll have more time getting my car ready and Buttonwillow is closer to my house.

If you see a ghetto gold S14 up there that's all banged up, that'll probably be me.

[Mr. Badlose]

I've got a Cobra non-reclinable seat. It came with an EG Civic bottom-mount slider. My friend and I did a little fabrication work and it fits well. Sits lower than my S14 seat.

The cool thing is that the horizontal mount bolt holes on the EG sliders are the same distance apart as the 240sx bolt holes.

[KA24DESOneThree]

Justin... holisticbeatz and I are waiting. We seriously need those brackets.

[HyperTek]

do a group buy!!! im interested as i want a seat soon...

[KA24DESOneThree]

Group buy later. Logistics take time. hb and I don't have time.

[justinhustle]

ka24/holistic - good news is, if youre in so cal, we can skip the shipping :)

bad news is, i doubt theyre in stock. its a sparco japan not sparco usa part, ill know 100% tomorrow

as for group buy, 1 or 10, same price 98 bones, sorry =/ they no cut deals

[RBS14]

nevermind *******************

[NYCRB240sx]

i'll say this i had the same thing going on with my s13, i had fake nismo's i bought from ebay and had to get brackets. i got the sparcos and found the seat sitting higher. solution i have a guy who is just going to cut part of the bracket and weld it to the floor. i still have sliders on it but this seems like a good idea to me and im sure someone could weld it for you for like a few bucks

[KA24DESOneThree]

Justin... if shipping costs $50 to get 'em here from Japan by Wed/Thurs, so be it. I'm serious... I want this seat IN by Thursday.

NYC- All the places I trust around here are booked up. I don't trust amateurs with matters such as seat brackets.

What do you guys think about this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42612&item=7920738688&rd=1

It looks like it just might fit.

[KA24DESOneThree]

I'm having a friend's friend weld the stock mounting tabs onto some 1/4" steel stock, then we're marking where I want the seat, and putting that bad boy in. It'd be a hell of a lot better if someone, I dunno, maybe called Sparco and asked them what's up with the low seat rails?

[holisticbeatz]

Dear Justin,

You let us down!

Sincerely,
A guy with a fork in a world of soup

[drift into a curb]

Yo dawg! I got the import hookup cuzz I'mma import racer. I'll hook ya up.

[justinhustle]

Dear Justin,

You let us down!

Sincerely,
A guy with a fork in a world of soup


dear demanding public

im sorry that i let you down, getting shit from crappy ass sparco in japan is a pain in the ass. i will make it up to you guys with a sick price as soon as them fucks get back to me. i wont lie, i didnt put a ton of effort behind following up with them because im buying a house right now, and havent had the time honestly.

kindest regards,
justin

ps i have 4 sweet gb's planned for the months of sept/oct so dont get too pissed yet ;)

[KA24DESOneThree]

Justin-
I got my stuff all welded. Looks nasty; is tall. When Sparco Japan actually does get back to you, I'll still be in the market for a low-pro bracket, so yeah... I'll still buy from you. You shoulda told us you were buying a house; we probably woulda been like "Oh, cool... I'll get someone to weld me one or something. No biggie." (It turned out to be no biggie for me, not sure about HB.)

[justinhustle]

i mean honestly, it should affect how i help you guys.

i do car stuff as a side gig, not my main job...unlike most of the zilvia vendors

but however, when they get back to me, ill hook it up :)

[holisticbeatz]

Sorry about being an ass Justin. It's just, it totally bites not being about to use the Sparco seat for the track event I eagerly anticipated for weeks. Anyhow, I'm sure when you get word from Sparco Japan about the rail you'll give us the heads up.

Hopefully it'll be soon. If not, I think I'll just go ahead and try to fabricate one. I finally got a sample of a Bride low-profile bracket from a friend of mine. Upon inspection, the Bride rail doesn't fit the Sparco because the 4 bottom mounting points are spaced differently. However, that problem can easily corrected with the proper measurements on a different adapter plate.

The Bride rail utilizes the sliders as part of the bracket. So that cuts an inch or two off the seat height. The Sparco seat sits higher than stock because the slider mounts to the seat and then to another separate mounting bracket. So thats two different units stacked up on each other. However, Bride was smart enough to incorporate the slider and mounting bracket as one unit.

So the solution to this problem should be fairly simple. Purchase a slider unit from Sparco USA and mount it on the seat. From there, copy the bends, weld points and bends from the Bride bracket. Make the correct measurements for the copy bracket then weld it to the slider. Theres about 10 welds on the Bride bracket, give or take, I can't remember off-hand. Now, I just need to go down and pick up the correct type of steel. Having the correct bends and measurements will be critcal if the seat is going to be mounted correctly. Also, safety is an issue, so everything has to be strong and secure. I'll be posting some pictures and numbers later this week when I have time.


-Kenny

[drift into a curb]

Make me one for the driver please... ah come on... :rant2:

[KA24DESOneThree]

Justin, bump. Get those mofos to get back to you, or give me their number. I'll yell at them in broken Japanese with an American accent because I'm a whiteboy.