The 'E' Type Forum

Hi Everyone

I fitted MX5 seats a few years back and the resultant seating position has always seemed too high. My eye line is level with the top of the windscreen. The top of my head is in between the hood frame bars when it's up and there is literally no headroom at all. For once my baldness is an advantage-no idea what I'd do if I was sporting a Trump hair construct.
I've now got the seats out and am trying to figure out how I can lower the seating position. I know that at six feet tall I'm a tad larger than Norman Dewis but I don't think that's the real problem.
My original idea was to remove the S1 runners and bolt the seats directly to the floor. Unfortunately the runners rear fixings are already directly bolted to the seat so little or no reduction in height would be achieved by this. The fronts each have a large and small spacer fitted to allow the front of the seat to clear the box section in the floor. Even if it's possible to remove one of these spacers, all that would result is slightly more room between my thighs and the steering wheel. The seating position is dictated by the height of the rear of the squab.
Any ideas?

Cheers

Alan

Alan,
Google “MX5 seat foamectomy”. This involves cutting 2”of foam off the base of the central section of the seat cushion foam pad. You then sink that little bit lower in the seat - doing this made a big difference for me with my MX5 seats. I am also 6’ and now find my eyeline is comfortably below the top of the screen.

It’s easy to do - I used a bread knife, others recommend an electric carving knife. It’s reversible as long as you don’t butcher the foam too much - the removed slice can be glued back on. I was worried about making the foam under my thighs too shallow but it hasn’t been an issue.