It is quite common to get radical when mounting the driver's seat. We typically will cut out the stock seat mounts including the horizontal front stamped support and then cut out a big portion of the left side trans (right of the seat) trans tunnel. This is to allow for clearance of the right rear of the seat.

The issue for the RX-8 (I've found) is a tall driver's left side top of their helmet can get close to the intersection of the roof and top of the door (at least with a cage in it and my 6'1" goofy mug. For this reason we cut out the trans tunnel.

Seat's are a perplexing thing for those new to their first seat installs. Contrary to popular belief, they can be costly and do not just "bolt right in". They can but for wider and/or taller drivers this can become an issue. A tall driver in a Spec Miata as example will always have give and take issues for seat mounting. Many will end up mounting a thin aluminum Kirkey seat to the floor. For endurance racing a slider is needed and that adds more height to the requirement.

Again, this can be a simple process or require a plasma cutter or a hammer/persuader and a welder so don't be surprised if your import shop guy says your seat choice doesn't fit in the stock location or your install requires stock cutting and welding.

For all installs, safety first always and I suggest using a NASA or SCCA rule set for guidance.

Happy rotoring.

Eric

Eric: Thanks for taking the time to give experienced, knowledgeable posts.

Per the 2010 SCCA Rules: "The driver and front passenger seats may be replaced, with the following restrictions: The seating surface must be fully upholstered.
The top of the seat, or an attached headrest, may not be below the
center of the driver’s head. The seat, including mounting hardware,
must weigh at least 25 pounds and must be attached using the OE
body mounting holes/studs. Additional mounting points may be added."

I won't be able to do any cutting at all. The Forza seat weighs 19lbs and I'm guessing the mounting bracket would weigh at least 6lbs. If not I can always weld on some additional metal.

The regular seat is good up to a 36" waist which is what I usually wear. I have someone close by with a Miata that has one installed and offered for me to sit in it to make sure that I will fit properly. I might need to hit the gym and shave off a few winter pounds just to make sure:)

Pstone,

The bracket flip mod can get you almost an inch. The lower butt gets your shoulders closer to the wheel which means you can move the seat back a bit. This gets you a little more head-room too. Not sure if it is enough, but folks have been able to execute with the seat in the car. Check the end of this thread. I got better than an inch more head room from mine for the combination of changes, although seat only went down about 7/8".

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...wer+power+seat

Now, you will still have to deal with the slippery leather and a good track seat will help there.

If money is an issue, Tire Rack also sells TRMotorsports C3 for $90 less per wheel (on sale for less now). It's 4lbs heavier ea, 16lbs total. So you'll have to ask yourself how much 16lbs worth for you. I'm an above average driver at best compare to the fast guys on the forum, and I have a lot to gain before the last tenth matters, so that's what I'm getting next year. I do other sports where a set of 2 wheels cost upward of $4000, and hell would have to break loose before I get them. It actually makes car wheels looks cheap in comparison :)

Yea, those are a little heavier but still 2 or 3lbs lighter than stock. At the same time the $450 I could save with those wheels would almost pay for the tires. Thanks for pointing those out, I will keep them in mind this spring.

Ok i have a few questions. I def need some help... I just bought some Dspec Tokico shocks and S-Tein Springs. Has anyone heard of anyone going with this combo? First off i can adjust the fronts but how the hell do i adjust the rears? I have the extention cables but I did not install them. Is it easy to get to the top of the strut to hook them up?

The main reason I replaced my shocks and springs was because my front right strut went. It was sitting way high up! after having someone install them the car looks like it sits pretty well other then the fact that i notice, that same right side that was sitting way up still sits a half inch higher then the other side. Why am i getting this problem?

Another problem I am also having is that, the guy that did my installation messed up some where and now my abs dsc and TC are all off when i turn the car on. Is this something i can fix easy i am not really the great mechanic, but with the right advice I'd like to learn and get on it.

I am going to go back to the guy who did the installation to notify him of some stuff i need looked at but I kinda wanna know if its something easy i can fix.

2 more problems! now when i drive i can hear a clanking in my trunk. tell me i can fix this and its not just a bad set up of the dspec and s tein. the other thing that idk if it has anything to do with this is... when i drive it feels like i got a flat spot or suttin in my back right tire. its loud esspecially at high speeds. is it worn werid from driving it on that beat shock for acouple months? flat spots from sitting for a week? possibly a bent rim or maybe the steel wiring from the tire broke inside?

Idk but i need some help thanks to who ever helps me out i reallllly appreciate the knowledge. till then ill keep searching!!

How many more places are you going to post this question?

none i deleted my other one. sorry... my car needs help

Cables have to go on before you install the shock. I cannot imagine how to get to them with the shocks installed without cutting a hole in the fender.

See https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...1&postcount=89

And https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...4&postcount=93

Jim, first off, I'd be remiss if I didn't say that your last post makes you sound totally clueless. Sorry, but it's the truth. Didn't you research what you bought for your car? Why did YOU choose these items, were they just something you saw on a shelf and said "why not"? Then you (or someone) don't install them so they can be adjusted and you don't know why? Beyond that you should have 1st figured out the root cause of your 'supposed' problem with the one suspension that was "sitting up high" rather than replacing everything on the car related to it. I could go on but what would be the point? You apparently have no concept of troubleshooting, car repair, or suspension setup.

So now you are asking questions no one can reliably answer but you or the "guy that did my installation", or better yet, someone that really knows what they are doing. How would anyone here know the condition of your car, your install, tires or wheels and the resultant root causes of so many problems? Similar to shooting in the dark, no?

Suggest you start peering, poking, trying to find out what's going on yourself, and learning about your car, difficult as that may be at this late point. Certainly you likely won't be able to carry out what someone here might suggest to you if you haven't even given a stab at knowing what's there and its condition yourself.

In the end you'll prop need to take the car to a reputable shop and ask them to 'fix' the original problems plus the problems created with your 'install'.

Tough love.

Nah.... its bullshit cause I come on here all the time to search and get some ideas on why my car is sitting the way its sitting. Ya I'm some what clueless, I did replace my ignition coils not to long ago which may have made me feel somewhat proud. But I did not do this job and was just looking for some god damn advice from some REPUTABLE PEOPLE ON HERE. I swear everyone has such a stick up there you know what!

Obviously you know nothing about this either or else you would give me some sort of a an idea, of what could have gone wrong. THANK YOU MAZDA MANIAC FOR YOUR ADVICE. Unlike some of these no life, wife hating, coming on the forums site to take out there anger because only mechanics and perfect people with much knowledge of CARS in general should be on here. If you don't got anything good to say don't say it at all. This is my response to miserable angry people who look to pick a fight.

Ya i tried to go the cheap way an paid for it. I did it for a reason and now i could use some real help from guys who would like to help another guy in need of there knowledge. I'm not looking to be critisized!

04 Green thank you too its good to get an idea on wht the cables look like coming from out the back thanks!

"all the time"? 86 posts ? No bullshit...the straight honest truth. I said tough love ...and that's what you got. Make some sense, show you've got a clue...and you'll get treated differently. And grow up....I didn't call you any names. No one here is perfect... but if you read what you write...what do you expect? ..an attahboy? Done.

i wouldn't have been so easy on him :lol: