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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Fiero seats

Hello all you MGB lovers,
It has been awhile since I have been online, mainy sue to fighting a small little war in Iraq, but now I am home and want to play with my MGB V8/Chrome bumper conversion. I have noticed that a lot you guys uses either Fiero seats or Miata seats for your projects...why is that? I mean why specifically those two models of seats? I have seen many racing seats for "any sports car" advertised and am wondering if they would work. For example, although expensive, the Sparco Milano appears to be able to work. As well as other custom racing seats. Some other exmples are as follows. Please tell me if you think either would work (or if not why). Thanks.

Sorry guys, I can not seem to get the ebay links to this page so here are the ebay item numbers.

ebay item # 7934019624 and ebay item # 7932875745
Eric

Eric- Welcome back and kudos from one guy to you on your service. Both the Miata and Fiero are prettymuch the same size as the stocks with the added perk of headrest speakers. If you go Fiero, they stand about 1 inch higher, bringing eyelevel close to the winshield top bar. I have done both and love the changeout. Mr. Mike in Fla did the Fiero seats for me with an MG logo. I replaced both speaker sets as the stockers are just junk. I can listen to Creedence at 80 mph with top down, no distortion. If you wanna see, I have jpegs I could forward. Vic
vem myers

I put Fiero seats in my 69 roadster. Love them. I recovered them with MrMikes leather covers. Very easy to do. I wouldn't go back to my old seats for nothin'.
http://www.members.aol.com/goneguy/in-car.jpg
Dana Wilson

The general reason to change seats in thed first place is that the stock seats, even when rebuilt, give little support for spirited driving with no side bolsters and leave you sitting on, rather than in the seat.

For most of us, a pure racing seat is too restrictive & too hard to get in & out of due to the very high side bolsters.

Both the Miata & Fiero seats offer a reasonable compromise with easy in & out & good support. Both offer head rest speakers, at least in some models. The latest run of Miata seats have a slimmer head rest shape and will not accomodate speakers.

The seats are not a bolt in, but are not difficult to install using the slides that come with the seats. They have the advantage of being narrow enough to fit the MGB body, with the Miata seats being the best fit.I have used both the Fiero seats & the Miata seats, with leather Miatas in both my GT & Roadster. At this point in time, the Miata seats are more available & are generally in usable condition for around $200.00 in cloth, $500.00 up in leather. Fiero seats were last produced in 1988, so finding a set that does not need reupholstry is very difficult. Mr Mike does beautiful cover kits for the Fieros around $400.00 & up. I prefer the Miatas as you do not have to femove part of the side covers & position return springs, & the side bolsters are a bit lower & wear a lot better ( or show less wear).
Jim Stuart

Thanks guys, especially Jim, for giving me yoru thoughts. In particular, I was interested in not only your personal choice, which is always good to hear dor recommendations are always appreciated, but also for particular reason (Jim). I never thought about how high the side bolsters are on a race seat, but was concerned that width migh be an issue. This really helped out. However, if anyone has has any thoughts on the issue, I would love to her them. Thanks guys. By the Dana, your seats are very sharp looking and impressive.
Eric

I also am using Miatas in leather ($114 from wrecker) They are much more available from what I have found. And they fit right in and offer allot more support than the stock seats.

A few things I noticed about the race seats was lack of padding and lack of adjustability. Being 6'3" tall, I have to be able to engle the seat back just right to fit in my car with a top on it AND to not have my head up in the full winde coming over the windscreen.. And there is no way I want to take a long drive in a metal seat with 1/4" of foam padding on it..
Larry Embrey

What mods do you have to do to fit the seats in the B either Miata or Fiero.
John Miller

Here's the onfo regarding fitting Fiero seats
http://www.theautoist.com/fiero_seat_modifications.htm
Regards
Tony
Tony Bates

I build some brackets, supports, or whatever you want to call them, that conformed to the contours of the B's floor. That way I could put the seats just where I wanted them. Two per side, the sliders bolt to the supports, and the brackets bolt to the floor. Nobody else may want to go this way, but this raised the seats about 3/4", then they can slide further forward to accomodate my 5'8" legs without running into interference from the tunnel. Made from 3/16 by 1-1/2 strap iron, and 1-1/2" square tubing for little pedestals on the ends. Very proud of 'em, but they're a little heavy; if I had a big drillpress, I'd put some lightening holes in them. Aluminum would be better, but I wasn't set up to weld it. Time consuming, but what isn't on a conversion? Best, Joe
Joe Ullman

Joe...that's kinda what I was thinking of doing, but without the square tubing.....did you take any pics?....rick
rick ingram

John, I fit the fiero seats in my car by cutting the mounting tabs off the seat sliders where they mount to the floor and welding on new ones that actually fit the existing holes in the stock floorpans. Not a big task and its a great fit. I designed mine so that the rear bolts only have to be loosened and the seat rails slide under them, since there is limited access to those bollts. I can take some pics this weekend if anyone is interested.
Jeff Schlemmer

This thread was discussed between 13/11/2004 and 19/11/2004

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