I'm going to need some new seats for my upcoming Ford Pinto project.Since the original seats are ugly as sin and I may have to add some sort of racing harness in the future,would it be a good idea to go with racing seats now?I really don't want to spend over $200 per seat.But,depending on the seat and it's quality,I might go over that a bit.
When this Pinto is complete,a roll cage will be installed and it will meet and cross behind the 2 front seats.So,this now makes the Pinto a two seater.Since I'm 6'1",this would probably be a good time to scoot the front seats back a bit so I have plenty of legroom between me and the pedals.But,when I buy the seat brackets to put them in the car,I'm going to get the ones which are adjustable.
So,I basically know that I'm going to get a set of racing seats.The only problem is,I don't know which are the best to get.I'm not going to drive this car on the street all of the time.It doesn't have to be the most comfortable racing seats on the market in other words.I like the looks of those seats from Summit.I thnk that they're like $75-$80 each.That's with the covers and everything.I might have to buy the brackets seperately though.
Anyway,thanks for your time and opinions.I'm having a hard time trying to decide where I want to go with this.
I wont really give my honest opinion on racing seats.
But the ultra cheap ones that come already covered, are just that, ULTRA CHEAP. The frames are cheaply made and the the covers are made out of the cheapest material available. I recovered a set of these pieces of crap once, and the seat covers were actually made out of headliner material. They were purchased from a large retailer like Summit, Jegs.
And be careful, if you are looking for a seat to support some impact of a crash, like actually function as a racing seat, most of these cheapo pieces of crap would crumble in a minor fender bender.
The biggest thing i hate about racing seats is when they are out of place. If the car doesnt look like it will ever be in a race, then they dont belong. The worst is seeing a show car or truck with a pair of racing buckets in them. The truck/import crowd are guilty of this. Basically, racing seats have their place. If they would look right in your car, then go for it. As they always say, you get what you pay for.
Thanks for the advice man.I thought that they were better built than that.I might just get me a set of Mustang GT seats or something now that I've heard about that.There has to be good racing seats out there,but that's going to be more than what I want to pay,I'm sure.
I have used many of Sparco's seats and driving suites and never been disappointed.
My only advice is if it is not a race car then make sure you get a seat that you can get in and out of. I put racing buckets in a Camaro daily driver and hated it! I could never get my fat butt out of them.:nono:
I got some Corbeau Forza II's for my car, never have really sat in them for any extended period of time, but they feel pretty good for as much as i've sat in them, they are wider than most "race" seats (up to a 44" waist i think)
for cheap you'll prolly need to go with some el-cheapo summit ones or something though. Tube frame seats are the next cheapest, and then fiberglass or carbon fiber backed.
If your doing autocrossing or anything hitting your head (or helmet) on a steel tube frame of a race seat might hurt the noggin, so the fiberglass/cf seats are better
i havn't had any experience with the all aluminum drag seats
and kristkustoms you'd hate how my car looks now.....everything looks out of place, i have a rollbar so the seats don't look that out of place....but nothing is up to the quality of the seats inside
Aluminum buckets are designed to be bolted to the roll bar as well as the floor. If you just bolt them to the floor they will fold up. The plastic ones will crack and break. I use RCI and Kirkeys. I prefer the RCI and they are 50 bucks cheaper.
I have '92 Trans Am seats in my El Camino. Any of the newer Camaro's and the equivilant Pontiac's have some nice seats that will hold your butt in some high speed cornering and still provide the support and rigidity for daily transportation. I think they look better than the full race seats. If you are really serios new Corvettes have a nice looking seat, but I have no idea how they fit. Also, the mid 90's Ford Exploder have a nice seat and could be had in leather. I like factory seats for fit and feel.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Hot Rod Forum
2.2M posts
175.7K members
Since 2001
A forum community dedicated to hot rod owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about restoration, builds, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!