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MG MGA - Lowered seat squab

Hi All.
Has anybody out there cut down the foam seat squab in a Coupe to get a lower seat height. If so how much can you remove before losing all the cushioning effect. Thanks.
s page



Good day "S"--

I had a real issue with seating for our M G A Coupe' Re-build.
I had earlier seating experiences during 4 "T" Type re-builds.
The thin- narrow -uncomfortable --squat M G A seats-- are awfull--
The lower cushion is so thin-- one sits flat with outstretched legs-- No knee bend-- Far too tiring on long Australian drives---
Lots swap to MX 5 Seats instead. I used 2 Honda fully adjustable seats- with head rests---easily installed-- also, these seats have the socket for the seat belts built-in.
A friend has these seats fitted to his M G B Roadster, too.
No---not as a pureist---but a damned sight more comfortable---and safer too.
The car has a 13.5" steering wheel with E P S. Magic.
Enjoy your M G A.
I.W. Cowen.

S,
I don't think there is so much scope for reducing the thickness of the seat squab so much, (unless you don't mind a very uncomfortable seat). Your squab will flatten over time though.

I have been looking to do the same thing and I had heard that Bob West had some special alloy floor sections made that dropped the drivers side floor by 2 or 3 inches.

However, when I called him he told me that he had just sold the last one.

I would like to be able to do something like this though and any suggestions will be gratefully received.

Colyn

Colyn Firth

Hi Colyn

Doesn't Lotus/Caterham have something similar for their 7.

Barry
B Bridgens

I forgot about this discussion, from early in 2018 I think. Some practical answers in there.

https://mg-cars.org.uk/cgi-bin/or17?runprog=mgbbs&access=&mode=archiveth&subject=6&subjectar=6&thread=2018032708171811646

Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

S, I got my foams remade using the original Dunlopillo material which is much softer than the normal ones sold today. The company that has Dunlopillo is called From for Comfort in Leeds. They don't sell MGA seats as such but will make to your pattern. John
John Francis

Thanks all for your input. I might just have to put up with, but that means putting up with driving an A, so not all bad.
s page

Hi S Page,
Not sure if this will solve your problem. I have just fitted a Cobra Monaco seat (UK manufacture) to my coupe. It is long story, but results from CAMS requiring Log Book car drivers to use head restraint apparatus (HANS device) in speed events (also needs complying helmet, 6 point harness).
This seat is bolted direct to the floor (with reinforcing) and as far back as is possible (I am 1.82m and 82 kgs so just fit!). To get it as far back as possible it set at about 5-10 degrees to the right of the centre line because of the kink in the chassis rail at the rear.
I reckon it would be quite comfortable with a lap/sash seat belt - not so much with a six point harness!
Mike



Mike Ellsmore

MX5 and Honda seats might " have the socket for the seat belts built-in.", but I bet those cars also have floor pans that are engineered to take the impact loads in the event that the seat belts is ever required to do its job.

MGA and MGB were not designed that way.

I really wouldn't trust those T-Nuts in a sheet of plywood to restrain even my modest mass.

J N Gibson

John Francis, thanks for the link to foam for comfort, do you know if they have a template from your seats? It would be interesting to have some made but a challenge to provide templates from Australia.
thanks,
Mark
Mark Wellard

Aplogies,
the link I posted earlier just takes you back to the beginning of this thread.
You can find the thread I mentioned here,

http://www.mg-cars.info/mga-bbs/too-tall-2018032708171811646.htm

You can also search in the archives for "Too tall"

Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

Hi Mark
No I don't think they have the template from mine 2 years ago. Also I think I have disposed of my originals. Actually what I did as well was as giving them my originals (messed about with 20 years ago) was supply a standard RH base from a supplier which they copied and created the LH. Then later I returned the one to the supplier. So you could get a sample delivered in the UK perhaps.

Also I got Foam for Comfort to put a soft material in the centre section and a harder material on the two edges. This makes them more like a bucket but its only a very marginal difference. I think also that the foam in the well at the bottom of the seat is a slightly harder Dunlopillo. There's a photo and description in the link posted by Colyn.


PS I still haven't fitted my Derrington head to my car but I hope to have a go this spring. I can't decide whether the use 1 3/4" SUs or 1 1/2". I have a manifold for the 1 3/4". I was looking through all the old threads the other day and realised I hadn't properly thanked you for all the info you sent.
John Francis

John,
It would be interesting to compare the Moss molded bases with the Dunlopillo offering - I might ask them for some samples before pursuing Foam for Comfort.

I have H6 SUs on my car and if I was starting again, I would probably try H4s initially. If you have an 1800, then the H6s would be the starting point. Let me know if there's anything else you need. I look forward to hearing how your head goes.

Mark
Mark Wellard

Hi Colyn,

I am curious about your post about an alloy section that reduces the height by 2 or 3 inches.

Do you know anything else about them ? Material, thickness, diagram ..?

At 6ft 1" its a tight squeeze getting into the car because of the distance between the front of the seat and the steering wheel. I don't really want to compromise on the thickness of the seat material, at 49yrs old I need all the comfort I can get !

Anything I can (that I can reverse) would be really useful.

Thanks

Aleks
Aleks Stojanovic

Hi Aleks,
I just checked back on another of my earlier threads which asked about adjusting the brake push-rod lengths to gain a bit more legroom. (Which has worked really well, by the way, see link)

https://mg-cars.org.uk/cgi-bin/or17?runprog=mgbbs&access=&mode=archiveth&subject=6&subjectar=6&thread=2016021722002710579

I remember asking Bob West about the special drivers side floor pans that he had and I mistakenly thought it was fabricated from alloy, but apparently it was made in fibreglass.

I have never actually seen one of these floor pans because, when I asked him recently, he had just sold the last one.

Maybe Bob will have the dimensions we need, if I can get a good idea what I need to do I may well have a go at making a lowered drivers side floor-pan next winter.

Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

Hi Colyn,


Mmmm a fibregalss floor, between my backside and the tarmac with me hurtling along at Xmph....

I'm sure it would be fine but it doesn't get past my wet finger in the air test.

I'll have a think of constructing one out of alloy (possibly with couple small re-enforcing bars so it won't flex under pressure.

Another winter job to ponder...


Aleks
Aleks Stojanovic

This thread was discussed between 08/01/2020 and 10/01/2020

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