New Seats For Big Guys?

[atwork]

There are a few threads on here discussing new seats, but I'm unsure as to any of the seats people have successfully swapped would be adequate for a guy my size.

I'm 6'6, 300lbs.

The stock Festiva seat's headrest only comes up to the base of my neck and the seat only goes back far enough to just barely keep my knees off the dashboard.

I've adjusted to it over the years, but I've recently come into enough money to create a permanent solution.

Can we create a definitive thread on this topic? If I'd like to be able to sit back in the seat 3 more inches, where do I get a frame? How do I mod one to fit? If I want to have a headrest that actually rests my head, where do I find it?

I'm a bit of a newbie with this, so a helping hand is really appreciated.

Thanks!

-Adam Twork

[BigWheel]

You're not alone Adam. I'm 6'6" and 285 so I get it. I love this little car because it's the only small car I can drive and it's fun besides that. Even so the seats are small for my size. I'm a novice mechanic so I'd like to see if there are some easy mods for bigger seats.

[Pu241]

Can we create a definitive thread on this topic?

Adam, yes, and you just did!
Welcome and have at it!

jgluts might have something to add to this!
He's kinda "short" too!
What do you say Joe?
What do you do to make driving comfortable?

[bravekozak]

longer rails

Why don't you go to the junkyard and find a seat with heavier, wider, longer rails.
All you need a a combination of cutting or fabricating brackets and then welding or rivetting at a tool shop. Then you can have the three inches you need. Check out the simple seat frames that Recaro offers. You can use that as a visual template to sketch your pattern.

[muscle_Car1]

Dunno ask ogrestiva to he's 6'8"

[Ogrestiva]

Adam! welcome to the site, and yes I feel your pain...literally. I have been trying to figure this out for myself, but since I am on a budget and have other things going wrong with my car I haven't had time to do much. I have heard of people swaping out different seats from different vehicles, but one problem that I can see with is that many seats are bigger and have more padding, so that can actually take away from the actual room you have. I have also heard about people removing their dashboards, not only to give more room, but also to reduce weight. When I figure out something I will let you know!

[the816skeet]

6'6'' /300lbs , you call yourself big ! i was that in 8th grade i am only 6'7'' and about 440 lbs , mine kinda pulls to the left but i just keep it hamered everywhere still getting about 40mpg , and thats all that matters to me ,but i am really not that uncomfortable in mine but i did move the shifter knob over to the right by using a couple plumbers 90* fittings just to get the shifter from under my knee , that was about it ,but the seat is reclined back a little also , other than that mine is factory locations , till i come across something else i just keep sliding in !!!!

[MONSOON]

Im in the process of mounting Taurus seats in Crusher. I had to cut out the rear brackets and the front one near the ebrake(general area). Then I will mount 2 x 2 steel tube for the rear and bolt front on top of the cross beam where original seat mounted.

[neanderpaul]

Not that it affects me (5'7") but there is a ton of space under the seat that could be accessed. Maybe there could be a way to move the seat down and back with some custom rails giving more head room to you guys as well.

[FB71]

I put a set of '97 Prelude seats in mine. They're more comfortable than the stockers, have adjustable headrests, the driver's side has an adjustable base tilt, and I streched the rails back further. Oh, and I'm 6'3" and 275.

[atwork]

I put a set of '97 Prelude seats in mine. They're more comfortable than the stockers, have adjustable headrests, the driver's side has an adjustable base tilt, and I streched the rails back further. Oh, and I'm 6'3" and 275.

Excellent tip!

Did you need new rails? fab existing?

[atwork]

Not that it affects me (5'7") but there is a ton of space under the seat that could be accessed. Maybe there could be a way to move the seat down and back with some custom rails giving more head room to you guys as well.

I find it fascinating, but I've never had an issue with headroom in any of the Festivas my family has owned.

Though I probably don't have the seat tilted in the "proper" angle. My teachers have always said I have horrible posture. :-p


The other great thing is big doors. How many other cars, full-size, compact, or otherwise, can you lay your elbow out the window comfortably? The door frame extends back behind the driver an unheard of distance. It's wonderful!

Plus, I've never needed to learn yoga to get in and out of the car.

Am I right, guys?

[BigWheel]

Spot on my friend. Head room has not been an issue in either of the Festy's I've owned nor leg room for that matter. In fact I have as much head room in the Festy as I do my Excursion (go figure). My only issue is the back of the seat. It simply doesn't fit my back and my head so I just need something taller. Are there suggestions on maybe replacing just the back of the seat still using the stock base?

[FB71]

Excellent tip!

Did you need new rails? fab existing?

I used the Prelude rails, but had to make mounts at all four corners. I just made sure the rails went back far enough for me to be comfy.

[Festiva_tunner]

have you ever thought of custom building a seat? I bought a book on custom interiors and it goes over how to make custom seats . . . now of coarse this platfrom is for Hot Rods but the work can be applied to our cars as well. I want to lower my seat and add more side support.