Thrush

iTrader: (1)

Wow, a car-related question from me!

Right, probably a long shot, but anyway : I'm getting really tired of the drivers seat in my Transit Connect van. At the end of the day when I get home my lower back aches, me knees ache, and the underside of my legs just above the knees (under-thigh?) ache. I'm pretty certain it is the driving position, and a knock on effect of the crappy seat position and build...

So I was wondering how I would go about putting a nice RST recaro in there - I do so miss the Recaro's from my old RST's!!!! Adjustable under-leg support, snug and tight, and much more comfy than the van seat....

But how would I go about fixing it to the runners in the van? I pressume custom fabrication would be needed, as I'd like to just be able to unbolt my van seat, and bolt in the Recaro, and still have it slide, and be at roughly the same height (a tiny bit lower would be cool), and be complete with runners etc so I can just bolt it into another van when I change over when the van goes back etc...

What sort of money am I looking at (not including the seat) and who would I see to get that kind of work done?

Thrush

iTrader: (1)

No?

-beefy-

iTrader: (6)

i may be wrong mate ,

but doesnt the focus rs seats blot straight in ?

im positive geoff at chorley st had them and they run the same floor pan as the focus,

beef

dojj

iTrader: (3)

what about exploding bits in the seats?

Twellsie

iTrader: (1)

im fairly sure it must be possible, a friend of mine has RST recaros in his VW T4 and also in the transit before that, now idea how though

Thrush

iTrader: (1)

Got no wiring going to the seat, so doubt it has airbags in it. Plus our vans are the bottomest shittest spec going, so I doubt it's got ANY other airbags other than the standard one in the steering wheel......

dojj

iTrader: (3)

seatbelt strap things, with the ppretensioners i think is what i wa son about

if you can leave them bolted to the new seats they shoujdl be ok yes?

dangerousbrian

would your work allow it? my boss went apeshit when i swapped the tape player for a cd..straight swap qith no wires cut and easy taken out....ive drove them connect vans since they came out and they are the most uncomfortable vans on the road..newer 1 are worse cause they removed the bottom adjuster...tight bastards!!!!

jacko

the recaro just needs to be mounted to the sub frame from the connect and refit it in the van job done

Thrush

iTrader: (1)

Bri - I will probably get moaned at, but I'd only tell her to fuck off - she don't have to sit in it all day, so whats her problem? TBH, the only thing I could get hassle for is legality/insurance - 1) cos it'd be classed as "modified" and 2) in the event of an accident, and either I, or someone else was driving, was injured the seat would probably be taken into question as it's not stock...

But fuck, it's so damn uncomfortable! And you're right about the lower adjuster - first thing I did when I first got those vans was drop the seat to the lowest height, push it all the way back (I'm 6'2" - I need leg room!!!) and tilt it back a little - now I have fixed height which stops it reclining as much and the increased height means my knees are nearly always a 90degree angle!!!!

Thrush

iTrader: (1)

Sounds easy don't it? Trouble is, I have no idea how to go about it! It'd be too good to be true that the bolt spacing would all just line up perfectly on the RST seat and the van runners/subframe

jacko

proberbly wont be that far out mate iv just got a connect and will be doing it me self

the recaro seat as we know it is exactly the same as loads of other cars appart from the sub frame ferrari 355 is the same

so all you need is take sub frame off the recaro and offer it upto the subframe from the connect seat then just have a go

RSricRS

iTrader: (2)

As beefy said above do focus rs seats not bolt straight in?

dojj

iTrader: (3)

the newer vans have front and rear height adjustment and are much more comfortable to sit in that the older versions

Thrush

iTrader: (1)

DOJJ, the first connects had height adjustable seats, then the changednti non adjustable... Dunno about any after the 57 plates tho

ryan81

anyone changed there seat was thinking off doing this today when sitting in my connect

Rich_bloor

i changed the drivers seat in my transit for a granny cosworth seat, best thing i ever did. Im on my phone at the mo, so i cant give u a fitting guif unthl later.

ryan81

yeah gives a post when u can

mercury grey minter

Am fitting COSWORTH LEATHER RECAROS in mine at the moment.A bit of a nightmare as the passenger seat has no runner so a lot of fabrication to get them to fit.
Here,s some pics.
Seats that are going in.

Need to use the base from passengr seat.

Cut the runners off a spare drivers seat.

Welded 2 pieces of angle iron to the base.

Mounted the runners to the angle iron.

Then just need to bolt on the recaro.

To be honest the passenger seat is the hardest as it,s a totoally different shape,pattern to the drivers.To mount the drivers seat i will only have to weld angle iron to the base and bolt on the recaro.

juddzey455

The 355 recaro is very different to the ford range, thay "look" the same but underneath there very different in how there built ie ajustable bolsters etc

Rich_bloor

I used the original subframe out of my van and the granny seat. to put the two together, i had a sheet of steel for each side and drilled holes for both the sub frame and the seat. They were in completley different places, but it didn't matter because they were both bolted to the sheet steel. Then just bolt the sub frame back into the floor. It still had the adjustment, thats all done by the sub frame. Also, i had all the lumbar support adjustment because that was all fitted to the seat.

That was the most comfortable ive ever been in a van. It was a sad day when i sold it for my vivaro

The only problem i can think of is if the seat belt anchor is fitted to the seat your taking out, not to the sub frame or floor. Luckally, mine was fitted to the floor

I hope this helps.

bazzal

i was thinking about doing the exact same thing in my connect.

After going from Mk up to Ag motorsport and back in it, i can totally sympathise with you thrush, fucking uncomfy seats, lol

let us all know how you get on with this mate.

ryan81

well only wanting to change my seat , have seat covers over them , plus my apprenice doesnt complain about the seat he sits on .....

ESCYSCOTT

iTrader: (1)

i've got 2 escort cosworth black hex recaros that i'm gonna put in my connect......eventually..lol

Lambchop

iTrader: (1)

Who cares? FRS seats are fucking awful

m4tt274

iTrader: (2)

anything is possible m8. i made my own mounts for my cobra's in the p100 using the slider from the sierra and s/s plates.

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

How old is this post.

jammerrs

i think they are realy ugly seats tbh

mozzy

i must be deformed as I find connect vans a pleasure to drive compared to the competition I am on my 3rd one now and do app 300 miles per night in it, suits me, I am 6ft4, but theni am deformed and ginger so my opinion does not count lol