lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

Tim,

I used Honda CRV seats in my ES. But I think it resulted in less headroom than the stock seats, but then you can recline them back a few notches to regain what you've lost in seat height. Also, there is nothing special about the CRV seats, almost any small car seat would probably work as you'll have to narrow them anyway. The seat pan is stamped sheet metal and was the most difficult to narrow. I cut out a 2" strip right down the center line and TIG welded the two halves back together. I used the 2" strip as a doubler and made spot welds down both sides of the seam. You'll also have to cut down the seat springs to account for the narrower seat pan.

The seat back was easier to narrow as it is a tube frame design. I cut 2" from the bottom tube, and then on the upper tube cut 1" on each side of the headrest mount. I used a smaller tube to slip inside the joints and TIG welded it back together. If it sounds like there is a lot of welding involved in doing this, you're right.

The CRV seats have lots of heavy adjustment mechanisms that I removed, but you'll need to do some more welding for new mounting brackets. I used some aftermarket slides which gave me an extra 2" of seat travel.

Once welded, I painted everything and took them to the upholstery shop, along with the old cushions and had them narrow the cushions and reupholster everything.

I am very happy with the end result. And yes, they are very comfortable. One added bonus is that the seats both recline which makes it possible to work under the panel without removing the seats.

Mark S.

On Wed, Oct 29, 2008 at 7:09 PM, <zoelt@sio.midco.net> wrote:

I'd like to know more about the CRX seat application as well.
I need more head room (5'11") and reclining would be awesome.
Thanks,
Tim
N524JG

-----Original Message-----
From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of
Jeffrey Liegner, MD
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 6:44 PM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] Re: ES/IV seats (Honda CRX Seats)

I assume the seats went to a good home.

How did you modify the CRX seats? How were they narrowed? And what
about the floor bolts to the main spar, how was this different?

Jeff

>
>Jeffrey,
>I'd strongly recommend doing something like the Honda seats. I
>can't imagine doing without a reclining system. I recline the seat
>to get in our out and then adjust after I'm in. I'm not agile
>enough to get in without reclining. And the seat adjusting rails
>are a nicer design - take up less vertical space and have nice nylon
>slides for easy movement. The bucket is dropped in the middle to be
>almost flush with the bottom of the slides, giving an extra
>half-inch of headroom. And the headrest is adjustable.
>
>
> >
> > >Jeffrey,
> > >I used a pair of Honda CRX seats. Had to narrow them, but otherwise
> > >they worked well, including the rails. The reclining seatback is
> > >priceless.
> > >Gary
>
> > >>
> > >> >I've got a pair of the original IV or ES seats that should go to a
> > >> >good home. Otherwise they are dumpster-bound.
> > >> >Gary Casey
> > >>
> >

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