Wish this mod had been posted before I bought my car. Because of headroom issues, I resorted to buying a base mode (manual seat, no sunroof).

Damn, now I need to start looking for another car....

 

I've just completed this mod (with seat left in place). It went very quickly but In looking under the seat I don't see a sensor that I'd need to bang the seat pan to give clearance to? Attached picture from another thread. Can someone point out the area needing reshaping from this?

Thanks

 

I did this mod about 3 weeks ago. Easy to do with the seat left in place (no need to hammer anything).
Works great and the extra 1/2-1 inch headroom is nice.

 

If it worked, great! The sensor I was worried about was on the outside rail, and looked like it stopped the seat track from going too far. I could not get the seat back together without dimpling the seat pan.. However, I could not tell if it was needed if you did not take the seat apart.

Here is a picture. I seem to have forgotten how to embed it.


http://lh5.ggpht.com/_YotTAsOuMrI/TO...r%20_03796.JPG

Looks like this one is confirmed. Thanks. Glad it worked, and glad there is an easy way.

Mike

 

PILLOW?

 

Bump. Comments after living with this mod for awhile? Anyone with additional experience here?

 

By 'with seat left in place' do you mean without taking the seat out or without taking it off the track? I guess the to take out the seat I just need to take the bolts holding the track to the frame?

 

The seat was left installed and the mod was completed with out removing it. No problems to date and I appreciate the extra head/helmet room.

 

Nice! Sounds like it's about 2-3 hours of work?

 

Just did this mod, works great! Pix are fine, just would have helped if mention had been made that they need to be rotated one quarter turn counterclockwise. Other than that the write-up is perfect! Thanks so much for the great idea!

Picture of what it should look like:

Attachment 162727

Updated picture, with some notes, some were confused...

Attachment 162812

If it works, take better pictures than I did. I took the whole thing apart, then put it back together this way. I really think you can do it without taking it apart, just be careful around the sensor.[/QUOTE]

 

A gentle reminder: it's a very good idea to disconnect the battery before messing with anything related to the airbags ... poof!!

 

No need to get anywhere near any wires. Mod can totally be done while the seat is still in place. Took me about 20 minutes!

 

I combined all the updates here and edited the detailed post on the first page. Thanks everyone for the easy way.

 

Just Did... Well worth it for a 6"3 or 6'4 with shoes person.... Funny thing no one mentioned that OEM bolt is 12mm. And you need you seat raised all the way in order to flip the bracket... would of been a big saver lol, almost thought it was not going to work the i raised seat and BAM, bracket flips like a pro. helps for a closed ratcheting wrench. or just a open or closed wrench will work.
and the new ones you need are going to be 1/2" or 13mm. as for washers kinds depends on what type you choose i chose "fattys" (aka the fattest washer so you dont have to use many) only needed 4.

If you go to Lowes its on Isle 16 in the pull out doors mustard yellow labled MM 0.8-1.25 bolt/nut/washers

one stop shop. so it cost 1.78 per seat..... hell if you are short i'd do it just as kindness for passengers...
Thanks for Everything my head doesn't have to be tilted anymore...

 

I just completed mine, well worth the 1/2 hour of my time. I went with two M8-1.25 x 40 bolts and four nuts. Using the threads on the (now) lower seat pan, and the nuts to hold the bracket in place, I figure it gives me a little room for adjustments.

 

As long as there is a big washer under the pan, you are good to go. I cannot tell from the picture. If not, I am not sure the 3 little welds on the original threaded piece will hold in tension.

 

Hmm I have been thinking using a 40mm bolt as well. It seems there are some space left using 30. Have to be careful not to crush any wires tho.

 

I finally got around to doing this myself, after a few strong words at the foam I just couldn't seem to keep out of my way I got everything done. And yes a ratcheting wrench would have made this a lot easier, to bad I didn't have any.

Haven't gotten in the car yet to drive around to see how it feels (it started to rain just as I was finishing) but I think I tightened the nut on top of the bracket to tight for my taste so when the weather clears I'll drop the seat down a little more.

I give this DIY difficulty a 2 out of 10, because it's hard to see what you're doing unless you sorta put your head upside down in the floorboard.

 

lol i do remember putting my head upside down on the floorboard

 

Is the mod the same for the Series 2?

Anyone have a vid? I'm pretty bad when it comes to working these things out.

 

Just did this and had success with a 35mm bolt. Got around an even Inch of extra room.

If I had a few more washers might have been able to get another 1/8th...

 

Nice I'm 6'7" 280 lbs can't wait to drop that seat.. Am I the tallest owner? 04 gt winning blue 6speed. Mabe a new thread tallest rx8 owners. Lol

 

^^ wow

 

Ditto, I'm 6.4, but have never had an issue in my 8. Probly cause I've got standard seats and no sunroof (wonder if that gets me more space?) Anyways I'm usually riding with the seat quite tilted back (cause I want to). But If I do have it all they way straight up, then I do feel cramped. Might do this, bet it works on a standard seat as well.

 

After driving countless RX-8s of every configuration I learned that I could not live with the electric seat / sunroof combination (unless modified per this topic). Both the electric seat and the sunroof individually encroach on headroom, and the combined effect is significant enough that I would need to lean the seat back to an uncomfortable angle. That's why I ended up buying a Sport model without either feature.

Now, with the information in this topic, I could upgrade to a better equipped model. Tempting...