Miata Seats Installed

Last fall I was able to pick up a pair of early (NB) Mazda Miata seats, including sliding rails.  There is a little wear on the side bolster, but the seats are in much better condition than the 42 year old Datsun seats.  They also hold me in much better and resemble a similar look to the original seats.  Make sure to check out how to add speakers to the miata seats --> LINK

My goal was to not modify the body of the Datsun any more than I needed to but still allow me to sit comfortably.  Most people agree that using slider rails with the Miata seats raise the seat up several inches, and as I'm 6'2" my head was touching the ceiling in all comfortable positions of the seat.  I did not want to remove the seat mount on the floor of the body as many people do, so I opted to fabricate my own seat mounts from some steel stock and bolt them directly to the body.  This does not allow for forward/backward movement of the seat, but as there is no need to move the seats, I thought this was an acceptable compromise.

I did go through several iterations of how to mount the seats including:
  1. Using OEM Datsun slider rails
  2. Using Miata slider rails
  3. Custom mounts without sliders

1. OEM Datsun Rails
This was by far the 'easiest' approach, although it does require several spacers to be inserted in the back of the Miata seats to allow for them to fit as well as to drill a hole in the Datsun seat rail.  A good write up can be found here:  http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/91742-miata-seats-installed-with-instructions

2. Using Miata slider rails
This is a better option as the rails bolt nicely to the Miata seats, the rails are much more robust than the Datsun (as they lock on both sides), although there is still the height challenge.

      

3. Custom mounts without sliders
This is the best option, in my opinion.  The seats are at the perfect height and the position is comfortable.  I purchased several steel bar stock (3/16") as well as some square tube.  After some quick measurements I was able to cut two risers for the back of the seat bracket (to prevent the 'bucket' effect common when putting new seats in a Datsun) and welded them on.  I probably could have used washers or some other method of lifting the back of the seats up, but I thought I should get some practice welding.  The one thing that I'm not happy I had to do, but it makes everything a lot simpler is that I cut holes in the floor pan to allow for a deepwell socket fit through in order to bolt on the rear mount.  As the seats don't slide, I wasn't able to fit my hand underneath to bolt the mounts down once the seat was placed.  I did get some body plugs to cover the holes to prevent water and fumes from entering the cabin after I painted the freshly drilled floor pan.

 

Test fit on the driver's side

First mounted the mounts to the bottom of the seat

Another view of the custom mounts

Its been a long winter!

Well spring is finally in the air, although the temperatures are still not as warm as we'd all like here in Chicago.  The Z has been in hibernation for the long winter, but it started right up and performed great.  Over the winter I did perform a couple of projects which I'll speak to in future blog posts including: New Seats, Front Wheel Bearings, and a redesigned Throttle Cable.  Still on deck for this spring/summer will be Rear Wheel Bearings, New Exhaust, and repairing minor rust damage from the undercarriage.