Hybrid seat- your thoughts please!

ProjectX · Feb 5, 2020

So I saw the thread on Mazda rx8 seats and thought they’d do nicely in the front of my old bus....BUT they weigh a ton and it’ll make it a mission to get to the battery compartment the next time I have a flat battery.
So I thought that I could graft the bucket back with the bottom original seat (I know there’s a name ‘squab’ for them but sounds weird to me)

Jerusalem it easy access this way with an attractive back section.

does anybody see sense in this?
Is it easily possible or legal!?!?

cheers

P

Bantam1 · Feb 5, 2020

ProjectX said:
So I saw the thread on Mazda rx8 seats and thought they’d do nicely in the front of my old bus....BUT they weigh a ton and it’ll make it a mission to get to the battery compartment the next time I have a flat battery.
So I thought that I could graft the bucket back with the bottom original seat (I know there’s a name ‘squab’ for them but sounds weird to me)

Jerusalem it easy access this way with an attractive back section.

does anybody see sense in this?
Is it easily possible or legal!?!?

cheers

P

Sounds a job to me. I suppose you could weld bits together but what a mare.
I thought about doing a seat exchange when I had my 110 but never got around to it.
What I did do was get new cushions fitted and what a difference that made. Far less hassle too.

ProjectX · Feb 5, 2020

New cushions are not needed - (aka squabs). The back part is needed and the rx8 backs look great inside a 110!

rob1miles · Feb 5, 2020

I find the std seats pretty good. They look uncomfortable but seem to work, I think its because they let you move about a bit. I have a more modern car with bucket type seats that look like they should be really comfortable but they are not, harder to get in and out and don't allow movement on a long journey..

meego · Feb 6, 2020

I have a set of RX8 seats I plan to fit this summer. My solution to the battery access problem is to fit an Anderson Connector on to the side of the seat box. I'll only need to take the seat out to change the battery, which wont be too often.

v8250 · Feb 8, 2020

I've just taken a look at my RX8 seats that I'm fitting next month...thinking could I modify a lift hinge to the seat base, it's do-able...but a lot of work when really a good quality battery only needs replacing once every 5 years or so, and undoing four nuts and bolts is no great shakes. Alternatively, I have seen some LR's with the door-side side panel cut out so it is possible to remove the battery with this mod. Only issue I see with this mod is the loss of structural integrity to the seat box...unless carefully reinforced. Personally, I'd stick with the four bolts out method once a demi-decade...

Si Click · Feb 8, 2020

Fit a battery isolator switch to the front of the seat base together with a well separated pair of remote terminals. Then you only have to remove the seat to change the battery.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Summit-R...724060&hash=item42115639f1:g:WxkAAOSw0e9UvOZQ

mick the builder · Feb 9, 2020

I've got rx8 seats fitted and if I push the seat completely forward, I can wiggle a battery in there. Only a sealed battery though as it has to go in end on. I tried loosening the 4 gold coloured screws that hold the base to the frame and taking the base out. Although this gives you good access, the runners are able to move back and forward at different speeds which in my case dislodged the white plastic guides with rollers. Pig of a job putting them back. In my case the seat is what gives structural integrity to the runners.
I did think of cutting a new battery box just behind the baulkhead into the rear upstand and lengthen the battery cables but I didn't in the end.

meego · Feb 10, 2020

mick the builder said:
I've got rx8 seats fitted and if I push the seat completely forward, I can wiggle a battery in there. Only a sealed battery though as it has to go in end on. I tried loosening the 4 gold coloured screws that hold the base to the frame and taking the base out. Although this gives you good access, the runners are able to move back and forward at different speeds which in my case dislodged the white plastic guides with rollers. Pig of a job putting them back. In my case the seat is what gives structural integrity to the runners.
I did think of cutting a new battery box just behind the baulkhead into the rear upstand and lengthen the battery cables but I didn't in the end.

I might have asked you this before @mick the builder, but I'll ask again anyway

Where your seats electric ? Mine are and I'm still wondering how I'm going to wire them up....and without setting off the airbags

Interceptorxj · Feb 10, 2020

I would not fit bucket seats in a Defender. I fitted bucket seats to my 90 once (Very nice black leather Recaros) .It made getting in and getting out horrendous and needles to say they weren't in long. I recovered my originals and put them back in and it was like heaven when they were back in. Expensive lesson learned, bucket seats + LR Defender = big NO,NO!

mick the builder · Feb 10, 2020

meego said:
I might have asked you this before @mick the builder, but I'll ask again anyway
Where your seats electric ? Mine are and I'm still wondering how I'm going to wire them up....and without setting off the airbags

As soon as I get home I'll pm you wiring instructions. I got mine off internet and the heated wires for the passenger seat were wrong. BANG! went the air bag. Do not wire the black and red. I've never experienced one going off before but it is loud and blew out the side of the seat. Fortunately most of the time its behind the b pillar so you dont see it.

meego · Feb 10, 2020

mick the builder said:
As soon as I get home I'll pm you wiring instructions. I got mine off internet and the heated wires for the passenger seat were wrong. BANG! went the air bag. Do not wire the black and red. I've never experienced one going off before but it is loud and blew out the side of the seat. Fortunately most of the time its behind the b pillar so you dont see it.

Perfect Mate, thanks.

Hybrid seat- your thoughts please!

ProjectX

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Bantam1

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ProjectX

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rob1miles

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meego

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v8250

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Si Click

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mick the builder

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meego

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Interceptorxj

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mick the builder

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meego

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