Seat options for a FIA??

[casaleenie]

Looking for a more comfortable seat for my Unique FIA. What would be some suggestions for replacement seats that offer a little more padding and support.... Would prefer not to have them extend above the cockpit but that would not be out of the question...
Thanks in advance... (it's a recent build within the past two years)

AL

[Aggressor]

Casaleenie:

I like the look of the unique seats so I'm pursuing the option of replacing the low density foam with "Tempur" material. I've made contact with the manufacturer to see if I can buy blocks of the material to shape for my seats. I met a man at a car show who used Tempur in his aircraft seats for comfort. Another option is to use high density foam like Mike Blasko and Tom Merlina (hope I did'nt butcher the spelling of their names)did in their Unique FIA's.
Also adding 1/2 to 3/4 inch spacing to the front of the seat helps a bit. When you raise the front of the seat you are not sitting "bolt upright" and some body weight gets distributed to the seatback.

-Aggressor

[Aggressor]

Casaleenie:

I like the look of the unique seats so I'm pursuing the option of replacing the low density foam with "Tempur" material. I've made contact with the manufacturer to see if I can buy blocks of the material to shape for my seats. I met a man at a car show who used Tempur in his aircraft seats for comfort. Another option is to use high density foam like Mike Blasko and Tom Merlina (hope I did'nt butcher the spelling of their names)did in their Unique FIA's.
Also adding 1/2 to 3/4 inch spacing to the front of the seat helps a bit. When you raise the front of the seat you are not sitting "bolt upright" and some body weight gets distributed to the seatback.

-Aggressor

[souzape]

Aggressor- if you get a response on the TEMPUR I hope you will post it...I would also be interested. PHIL SOUZA

[souzape]

Aggressor- if you get a response on the TEMPUR I hope you will post it...I would also be interested. PHIL SOUZA

[casaleenie]

agressor,
I saw a block of that at a mattress showroom the other day... Wonder if they'll let me take it for a test drive??? In thinking about it..I remember they sold pillows of the same material and they almost looked like seat cushions... I may look into that also... I'll let you know how I make out and what the cost is...

AL

[casaleenie]

agressor,
I saw a block of that at a mattress showroom the other day... Wonder if they'll let me take it for a test drive??? In thinking about it..I remember they sold pillows of the same material and they almost looked like seat cushions... I may look into that also... I'll let you know how I make out and what the cost is...

AL

[brfutbrian]

geary, is tempur the same stuff that Corbin uses in their motorcycle seats? that stuff is awesome. one of the things on my to do list is to call Corbin and see if i could get them to repad the bottom pads on my seats over the winter. later, brian.

[brfutbrian]

geary, is tempur the same stuff that Corbin uses in their motorcycle seats? that stuff is awesome. one of the things on my to do list is to call Corbin and see if i could get them to repad the bottom pads on my seats over the winter. later, brian.

[GeorgiaSnake]

How thick do you want the foam. I may be able to buy some directly from the factory. My wifes uncle owns a foam factory and he produces all types for the furniture and mattress markets. I'll find out what's available.

Randy

Unique 289 FIA
Southern Automotive 396
Team III 16's
Brilliant Silver

[GeorgiaSnake]

How thick do you want the foam. I may be able to buy some directly from the factory. My wifes uncle owns a foam factory and he produces all types for the furniture and mattress markets. I'll find out what's available.

Randy

Unique 289 FIA
Southern Automotive 396
Team III 16's
Brilliant Silver

[pseim]

Has anyone looked into seat heaters that would fit in those seats? For those sunny, wintry drives???

Paul

[pseim]

Has anyone looked into seat heaters that would fit in those seats? For those sunny, wintry drives???

Paul

[TurnpikeBoy]

<img src=images/icon_speech_yeah.gif border=0 width=29 height=15 alt=Insert Speech Icon: Yeah!>[:O]

Ga.Snake, if you can get it, lemme know, please!, and I'll add my order to the plate. Seats are the only part of this car that I don't like; after half an hour there's no doubt I'm sitting on plywood. Maybe good for hemorrhoids but nuthin else. [:P]

Yeehah

[TurnpikeBoy]

<img src=images/icon_speech_yeah.gif border=0 width=29 height=15 alt=Insert Speech Icon: Yeah!>[:O]

Ga.Snake, if you can get it, lemme know, please!, and I'll add my order to the plate. Seats are the only part of this car that I don't like; after half an hour there's no doubt I'm sitting on plywood. Maybe good for hemorrhoids but nuthin else. [:P]

Yeehah

[Aggressor]

My contact at Tempur hasn't returned my call in a while so I will try again this afternoon. Will advise as soon as I hear anything. Casaleeie has a good thought on using the Tempur products that are available. The pillow and neck pillow look like they could be cut down and reshaped to replace the existing seat foam. -Aggressor

[Aggressor]

My contact at Tempur hasn't returned my call in a while so I will try again this afternoon. Will advise as soon as I hear anything. Casaleeie has a good thought on using the Tempur products that are available. The pillow and neck pillow look like they could be cut down and reshaped to replace the existing seat foam. -Aggressor

[casaleenie]

ANY NEWS REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING THE TEMPUR FOAM PRODUCT TO SOFTEN THE SEATS????<img src=images/icon_speech_yes.gif border=0 width=23 height=15 alt=Insert Speech Icon: Yes!><img src=images/icon_speech_no.gif border=0 width=17 height=15 alt=Insert Speech Icon: No>

AL

[casaleenie]

ANY NEWS REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING THE TEMPUR FOAM PRODUCT TO SOFTEN THE SEATS????<img src=images/icon_speech_yes.gif border=0 width=23 height=15 alt=Insert Speech Icon: Yes!><img src=images/icon_speech_no.gif border=0 width=17 height=15 alt=Insert Speech Icon: No>

AL

[GeorgiaSnake]

I struck out on the tempur foam. Have any of you guys found a solution - my ass hurts.

Randy

Unique 289 FIA
Southern Automotive 396
Team III 16's
Brilliant Silver

[GeorgiaSnake]

I struck out on the tempur foam. Have any of you guys found a solution - my ass hurts.

Randy

Unique 289 FIA
Southern Automotive 396
Team III 16's
Brilliant Silver

[WBofTN]

Hey guys: I am replacing the foam in my seat as we speak, Its easy - remove the staples in the back half
of the seat cushions, there is 2 sections of foam (front and rear)
only the rear needs to be replaced (cuz that where your
arzs is). Then take that rear section of foam to an uhpolstry shop or better yet a shop that does boat interior work and get them to cut 2pcs of high density
foam to match. I had mine cut a 1/2inch thicker than
what came in it.
Lookin at a/b $10 or $15 and 1hr of labor.
Also you may want to do away with those screws
in the bottom of you seats and use heavy duty velcro
to hold them in place.

'93 Unique 427/351W/4sp

[WBofTN]

Hey guys: I am replacing the foam in my seat as we speak, Its easy - remove the staples in the back half
of the seat cushions, there is 2 sections of foam (front and rear)
only the rear needs to be replaced (cuz that where your
arzs is). Then take that rear section of foam to an uhpolstry shop or better yet a shop that does boat interior work and get them to cut 2pcs of high density
foam to match. I had mine cut a 1/2inch thicker than
what came in it.
Lookin at a/b $10 or $15 and 1hr of labor.
Also you may want to do away with those screws
in the bottom of you seats and use heavy duty velcro
to hold them in place.

'93 Unique 427/351W/4sp

[Aggressor]

Sorry for the long delay in responding to the topic. Tempur won't do what I expected initially so I'm looking to go the high density foam route. Also my contacts at Tempur seem to have attitude problems dealing with small business.

- Aggressor

[Aggressor]

Sorry for the long delay in responding to the topic. Tempur won't do what I expected initially so I'm looking to go the high density foam route. Also my contacts at Tempur seem to have attitude problems dealing with small business.

- Aggressor

[GeorgiaSnake]

We could all pitch in and buy a tempur mattress then cut it up into little blocks. I need to do something, my butt kills me after about an hour in the seat.

WBofTN how much improvment did you realize ?

Randy

Unique 289 FIA
Southern Automotive 396
Team III 16's
Brilliant Silver

[GeorgiaSnake]

We could all pitch in and buy a tempur mattress then cut it up into little blocks. I need to do something, my butt kills me after about an hour in the seat.

WBofTN how much improvment did you realize ?

Randy

Unique 289 FIA
Southern Automotive 396
Team III 16's
Brilliant Silver

[WBofTN]

Much better, The sore a$$ guage says 50% improvement. I still would
like to get my hands some better foam. I know a SPF guy who drove his
car for 5hrs strait and said he never even thought about his a$$.
I wish we could find out whats in their seat. It looks like the SPF
cars have 3 or 4 times the padding compared to a Unique.
WB

'93 Unique 427/351W/4sp

[WBofTN]

Much better, The sore a$$ guage says 50% improvement. I still would
like to get my hands some better foam. I know a SPF guy who drove his
car for 5hrs strait and said he never even thought about his a$$.
I wish we could find out whats in their seat. It looks like the SPF
cars have 3 or 4 times the padding compared to a Unique.
WB

'93 Unique 427/351W/4sp

[rdorman]

I am not so sure it is the foam so much as Superformance seats are tubular steel and the bottom is supported with webbing instead of wood. Any thoughts on this?

Richfield http://www.richfieldseating.co.uk/aboutus.htm make a tubular steel framed seat that might just fit the ticket. I know there are a couple of places in the UK to get them, don't know about domestic, price in leather is a very resionable 289 pounds.

I am also looking in the Corbeau Classic. Check the thread on CC.

Rick

[rdorman]

I am not so sure it is the foam so much as Superformance seats are tubular steel and the bottom is supported with webbing instead of wood. Any thoughts on this?

Richfield http://www.richfieldseating.co.uk/aboutus.htm make a tubular steel framed seat that might just fit the ticket. I know there are a couple of places in the UK to get them, don't know about domestic, price in leather is a very resionable 289 pounds.

I am also looking in the Corbeau Classic. Check the thread on CC.

Rick

[jknich]

You can try cutting up one of those cheap "Memory" foam mattress toppers, usually 2" thick. I plan on doing it over thse stock foam.

[traveler]

I love my Unique but the seats unfortunately are not comfortable . I took the seats out of my car and re made them . The foam that was in my seats were far to hard and after about 30 min I felt I had to get out of the car for a few min.

I replaced the foam using a bit softer foam material . Also , I reshaped the foam in the seat by sitting and reshaping until it felt very comfortable . Also , added lumbar support as I reshaped .

The last thing I did was cut a big hole in the ply board seat bottom and replace it with webbing . The worst part about the Unique seat is the rise at the end of the bottom Frt .part of the seat . It caused my legs to feel numb after only 30 min of driving . That is gone as well .

Now I can drive my car for hrs and never feel tired from the seats . I did this 4 years ago and it still is very comfortable today . Fits like an old glove .

[Mike Del]

HA HA You guys are funny. Suck it up, get in and drive! OK, I've got some extra density foam and I kicked back the seat angle about an inch. When you drive 10 hours a day for three days in a row, you build up an immunity to discomfort. The cement benches at the rest stops actually feel comfortable!! RIDE.

[traveler]

Hi Mike ,

All I got to say is , "why be uncomfortable if you dont have to be". Makes the ride so much better .:3g:

[Mike Del]

Hi Rick,

Just some sarcastic humor (?) on my part. :rolleyes:

There are some tube framed suspension seats available that are very comfortable. Tracy has a pair in his car, I believe. They are pricey though. I'll just grin and bear it. :D

[traveler]

With the original seats not sure I could grin long enough to drive as far as you when you come all the way to Alabama .My back
side just wouldn't hold out for that long a drive if I hadn't changed my seats .

I guess if you wanted to experience originality the best way to do it would be to keep the seats as they were , and as you say, " DRIVE ".

Was looking forward to warmer weather so I could get mine out and the day it got warmer I was on the road to China . Hasn't been above 20 % since I got here .

My wife keeps telling me how warn it is getting back home so I looked at the 10 day forcast for my home and as soon as I get home it is supposed to start raining for three days . Oh Well , It has been wet before .

[dmswann]

I used to do some long distance motorcycle rides. I purchased a "butt buffer" (gel pad) that fit the big seat on my Harley which is not much smaller than the UNIQUE seat cushions. Maybe a "Butt Buffer" is the answer!

[Slither]

The last thing I did was cut a big hole in the ply board seat bottom and replace it with webbing .

I've had this idea for quite some time now, and planned to do the same thing... sounds like it works. Glad to hear it[thumb]. Do you have any photos of how big the hole was? How much wood did you leave around the edge?

[traveler]

Hi Paul ,

The web in the bottom of the seats has worked well for me . I dont have pictures right now and am in China . Will be back home in a few weeks and will try to post some pictures then .

[Slither]

Will be back home in a few weeks and will try to post some pictures then .



Thanks Rick, I'll look forward to seeing what you did...