Width of the tubes that make up the chassis frame

[davidball]

I have the opportunity to buy two racing seats for my 1987 Caterham but they are 42 cm wide at the base. I am wondering if removing the inner side panels next to the existing seats will reveal enough space for new seats to fit.

[DaveK-S1]

David

You need 40cm wide seats for a S3 narrow chassis car, the tillet seats have the side moulding ridge removed to reduce them to 40cm.

Dave

[timrw81]

... or if you're on a budget, buy the inner part of the double layered seat (which is already 40cm). This is much more bendy so would need mounting to brackets behind the seat, or you could fill the cavity behind the seat with foam.

Tim

[davidball]

Yes . That is a good idea. These seats are such good value

http://www.fk-automotive.org.uk/websale7/ Article-No.: FKRSE010027

I might go ahead and buy them and modify them to fit.

[ArosaMike]

I think you'd be incredibly lucky if those fitted. They're proper tin top seats aren't they? Tilletts are literally rammed in to the chassis around the midrift level and they're incredibly tight for anyone even normal sized. You've probably only got about 42cm between the transmission tunnel and side of the chassis.

[davidball]

You are right. They are 52cm at the broadest part and the seat section tapers up from 42cm to 44cm. Pity they do not do a thinner version the grey/black matches my paint job.

[ArosaMike]

Could you maybe go for a retrim/restuff on you original seats? Caterham seats are incredibly simple compared to a modern car seat, so a trim company might do them for a price not too dissimilar to those buckets. I'm sure one of the road car Caterham people on here or Blatchat might have some recommendations as to where to go?

Otherwise....I guess it'd have to be full on Tillet's, but they're not cheap!

[timrw81]

I know of one company that makes seats of this width - J K Composites. They manufactured a composite seat for a kit car called a Raw Striker, which is just as narrow - if not narrower than - the Caterham. It's available in bare composite or with some added padding for comfort. Feels different from the Tillett when you sit in it but is supportive and many Strikers have them fitted. They're quite a bit less expensive than Tilletts too.

Tim

[timrw81]

Dimensions page here:

http://www.jkcomposites.com/7%27s-dimensions-page....

[davidball]

Thanks for all the help and suggestions everyone. I think I will take one of the seats apart and see if it can be trimmed down. Otherwise I will turn them in to office chairs.

[davidball]

Spent half a day taking one of the seats apart and found two metal frames inside. After a few hours cutting and grinding off the bits that would not fit I thought I was doing well. The botton (seat) part fitted so I set about hacking the backrest, paring it down as much as I could. I then took the bench seat out of the car and found that the central tunnel widens out at the sear of the cockpit so all my work was in vain. Retired to the house for a few trappiste biers and a sulk. Still I now have a unique office chair.