Chris's new build of an MX5 based car

[CTWV50]

This weekend I've managed to mark out my entire table, all modesty blocked out and decided to involve the children aged 4 and 7 by jacking up the mx5 on axle stands and removing all the wheels for cleaning, obviously I ended up finishing the job and my eldest decided he wanted the wheels painted gold, not my first choice for a red car but hey-ho!

[CTWV50]

Today I finished the house re-pointing (a nasty boring job) and other odd outstanding jobs. Don't want anything slowing me down once my steel arrives!!

Oh and found a dead half eaten rat in the garage! Now it's all clean and nice I guess they thought they'd have a bloody party! Literally! B'stard things!

[CTWV50]

One successfully 450mm narrowed mx5 seat. Once I'm happy with the recline angle, I'll remove the adjuster and use it as a template to make a 3mm plate bracket instead. Bit baggy on the base but hey it was free! Oh and it weighs only 9.5kg without all the extra brackets and gubbins.


DSC00002 by CTWV50, on Flickr

[skov]

Originally Posted by CTWV50

One successfully 450mm narrowed mx5 seat. Once I'm happy with the recline angle, I'll remove the adjuster and use it as a template to make a 3mm plate bracket instead. Bit baggy on the base but hey it was free! Oh and it weighs only 9.5kg without all the extra brackets and gubbins.

Nice one. I did consider doing that myself, but decided I couldn't be ar5ed

[CTWV50]

I had nothing better to do yesterday!

[Cyberbeej]

Originally Posted by CTWV50

One successfully 450mm narrowed mx5 seat. Once I'm happy with the recline angle, I'll remove the adjuster and use it as a template to make a 3mm plate bracket instead. Bit baggy on the base but hey it was free! Oh and it weighs only 9.5kg without all the extra brackets and gubbins.


DSC00002 by CTWV50, on Flickr

How did you narrow the seats? got any pics? i'm considering this route as every seat i try i dont find comfy, mothers mx5 seats are very comfy so considering buying some mx5 seats to modify.

[CTWV50]

Well once you have removed all the brackets and runners and separated the back from the base you need to peel back the seat cover removing lots of little retainers. Now the foam is exposed get hold of your mothers/wifes/girlfriends sharpest serrated knife from the kitchen and start cutting the foam bolsters to size. After that it's a case of getting the seat covers to fit again. I managed to get the misses to sew the back one so it fitted snuggly but for the base I just pulled it as tight as possible and re-fixed it to the base metal using the runners and drilling small holes to reuse some of the retainers in different locations. A good strong pair of needle nose pliers is a must. I'm not worried that it looks a little baggy around the edges of the base as no one will be able to see that once fitted to the car. I didn't take any images but will when I get round to the other seat one afternoon when I'm bored.

Hardest Part?!?

Getting the missus to do a bit of sewing!

[ginger nutter]

I have narrowed some corsa sport seats just need to get around to making some new covers for them, was a lot easier than i thought it was going to be and they were free

[minicountryman1961]

Originally Posted by CTWV50

Hardest Part?!?

Getting the missus to do a bit of sewing!

Friend of mine narrowed his MX5 seats, then had a shop redo the seat covers. It cost him $500 for the upholstery.

You owe your wife something nice! A fancy dinner perhaps?

[CTWV50]

Might try this!!! Useful how too!

http://automotive-concepts.blogspot....g-extreme.html

yes the wife deserves a treat, if she does the other one too mind!