Seat install questions

[Junbug]

I’m installing my seats now that I have the body on the chassis. I have the Breeze seat mounts. I assume there should NOT be carpet under the seat base as that would/could result in movement even minor? Seems you’d want the closest/tightest fit as possible between the seat base and the floor pan?
Just asking for some advice before installing the seat base.
Thanks,
-Bryan

[Wizbangdoodle]

That would make sense to me, however, I think the carpet is thin enough that it may not matter. If nothing else, you could cut a small bit out of the carpet, use a spacer/washer to mount directly to the floor.

[Mike.Bray]

I have the Breeze seat mounts and installed them over the carpet and Thermotec. Haven't even noticed it.

[JohnK]

I also installed the breeze bases over carpet and lizard skin. No problems at all. The seats are rock solid.

[rich grsc]

NO NO NO. If you have an accident the space caused be the carpet will allow the seat pan to act like a shear, move, and slice off the rivets

[Rebostar]

Ford bulit millions of cars with the seats mounted on top of the carpet. I dont think it is an issue.
Happy trails!

[BrewCityCobra]

I didn't use the Breeze seat mounts but did mount my sliders on the carpet, can't even tell, just tighten the bolts good and tight.

[Junbug]

I’m guess could clarify… if using the Breeze provided stainless steel rivets, has anyone mounted the seat pans on carpet. I’d lean toward what Rich said and error on the side of caution. I can just cut the carpet around the seat base rather than risk shearing the rivets in an accident?

[rich grsc]

So, last fall I was in a bad accident, lots of damage to the body and some to the frame. When I stripped everything to start the repairs I found the seat support was slightly bent, but the biggest thing was the floor mount. On of the studs that hold the seat is bent, several rivets pulled through the floor, and the front corner of the pan was slightly bent up. I will have to completely remove it make sure it is straight before putting it back it. I am 100% positive had there been a layer of carpet under it, it would have been way worse, as that would have allowed the pan to move because it would not have been direct contact with the floor. Why risk it when all you have to do it trim the carpet around the floor pan.

[Its Bruce]

I fastened my Breeze mounts directly to the chassis and carpeted over them (with sound deadening cut around them), cutting slices for the studs to stick through. It'd be better if they were 1/8" taller, but they still work well.

[JohnK]

Here's a photo of one of my Breeze seat pans riveted in place over the carpet. It's riveted in with 21 3/16" 18-8 SS rivets. Each rivet has a shear strength of nearly 1,000 lbs. 4 of those rivets are directly into the 4" frame tube, and most of the others are into the steel underpan. If you're in an accident that generates 21,000 lbs. of shear force, you're dead. The four bolts holding the seat base to the angled seat mount will likely shear before these 21 rivets shear.

Edit for those that will ask - All rivets that could be accessed from underneath where pulled from under the car to have a cleaner looking undercarriage. Those that went into the frame tubes or couldn't be reached/seen from underneath were pulled from above.

[egchewy79]

Personally, I cut out a window of the carpet and mounted the bases directly to the metal of the body. Seemed to be the better/more solid option at the time.

[boat737]

I used sliders, bolted on the carpet, thru to the 4" tube and the floor pan, with 5/16" bolts.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I've seen them done both ways but it's hard to argue with Rich's real world experience. I always knew he was a crash test dummy.

Jeff

[rich grsc]

And I have the scars to prove it

[Cutter 54]

And I have the scars to prove it

Sorry to hear about your crash, but glad you are here to talk about it.

DISCLAIMER: this is a slight "thread highjack". You can tell me to post it as a new subject. I won't cry.

While on the subject of safety, I am looking for advice on how to secure the 5th or 6th "submarine" belt on racing harnesses. I have not bought one yet but am convinced of their advantage over the FFR Simpson 4 points. Ed K.

[JJK]

unless things have changed recently, which I doubt, FRR supplies Simpson 5 pt harnesses, not 4

[john42]

I welded in a steal plate on the underneath of the car to the frame and bolted in the Kirkey mounts to that. Kirkey seats are bolted to the Kirkey mounts. Also using 6pt harness now. Maybe overkill for the street? Dunno, but that's what my local HPDE Club inspector wanted.

[BrewCityCobra]

So I did things a bit different than others. I created two 1/8" plates, bolted those to the frame at one location, and then bolted the sliders to the plates (and through the bottom as necessary). I think that should do the trick but reading Rich's comments I get to second guess myself juuussstt enough.

20240509_154117.jpg

baseplates.jpg

[Ray from Long Island]

Hi Guys,
When I did mine, I had the same question so I called Mark from Breeze and he told me no carpeting below his mounts.
So I did just as some others have done, used the bottom of the Breeze mount as a template, cut around it and mounted directly to the Aluminum.
Ray