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Triumph TR6 - TR6 seats

I have a UK spec 1973 TR6,someone told me a while ago that Mazda MX5 seats would fit the TR, does anyone have any experience of this?
Bob

Bob

Become a member, there have been a few threads on this issue.

Apparently Mazda Miato & BMW 300 series (1980's) fit ok.

les
les

Bob,
If you do the switch let us know, I'm curious as the speakers in the headreast of the miata seats sound like a good idea. Although I'm not sure if I want to do the switch yet, I have considered the idea. My back might want it and would appreciate the change.
Abner
Abner

Easy fit you will not regret it. I paid $100.00 for two cloth seats from a junk yard. Leather is a lot more. I have not hooked up the speakers but very comfortable compaired to my restored to new condition original seats. You will find that the seat sliders really work if from a Miata.
Richard Porter

I did it. Got a pair of leather Miata seats (tan), could not find ones with headrest speakers though! Fairly easy, work great, look good. MAtt
matt

A couple of questions to any of you who have installed Miata seats:
1)Do you use the Tonneau cover? If so, how well does the seats fit under the cover?
2)What year model of the Miatas did you get your seats from?
benji

I do not use the tonneau cover b/c of roll bar and seats are higher than original. I am contemplating having top altered to fit roll bar and seats.
my seats were from a 95 miata. Good luck, just get some stainless good size bolts and plates/ washers. Matt
matt

I've seen several reports on installing Mazda seats and I'm very interested as I'm leary of recovering my originals what with the old foam and diaphrams. When you say the sliders work, what are you refering to? Do you change out the frames on the floor as well or do you adapt the seats to fit the Triumph mounts? I sure wish someone had taken pictures.
Joe Justice
Joe Justice

you switch out everything. Seats and frames. You must seal the holes in floor where original seats were and drill for the frames for the miata seats. AGAIN, USE PLATES on top and bottem of floorpan when attaching seats.Matt
matt

The swap is easy and plans are available for making new mounts which attatch to the base of the Mazda runners and then to the ORIGINAL captive nuts in the floor pan . An afternoons work will get you sorted . It is then easy to revert to the original seats if you ever wish to . The headrest speakers are great .
I am trying to find my pdf with the plan . when I get it I will let you have a copy if you wish.
Regards
Scott
s marshall

I now have the file , mail me if you want a copy .
s marshall

Scott,
Would you be so kind to email the pdf file? I think I'll do Miata Seats on my car.
Regards,
benji

Benji ,
Should be with you , big file so give it a minute. ( or 10 if you are not broadband )
s marshall

Scotty,
THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!
benji

Rick- Miata seat swap is a great idea for the new disk. Have info on all the different mounts and instructions.If you want me to tart logging this let me know by email.
Don
DON KELLY

ERR Rick, Before I get to much grief from you, that would be start and not tart
Don
DON KELLY

Hi , I received a couple of other mails from people wanting a copy of the file . Unfortunately my mail box has now been US for the last week .
If you mailed me and have not had a reply please resend to scottystr6@tiscali.co.uk and I will forward a file copy .
cheers Scott
s marshall

Hi Don,
I've tried to get ahold of Scott, but can't reach him. Can you send me a copy of this seat swap info.
Robert
RJ Jio

Hi,
I have just purchased a pair of leather MX5 seats for my TR6, if anyone has a copy of the file for the mounts could they send me a copy. I would be very grateful.
Thanks
Malcolm
Malcolm Wright

I just sent a copy to Malcolm (thought I should try to avoid him getting many copies of the 8Mb file!). Anyone else need one? Drop me an e-mail and I will be happy to pass it on.

Cheers
Alistair
Alistair

My thanks to Alistair, the seats should be with me next week. I'll let you know how the installation went.

Regards
Malcolm
Malcolm Wright

Yes. Please send a copy to me.
Cheers
Pete
Pete Russell

Alistair- Would you please send me a copy too!
Thanks
Rick
Rick

Pete, Rick - The file is on its way to you.
Malcolm - I have resent the file so hope you don't have a problem opening this time!
Any other takers?
Alistair

Alistair, got your file, and it reads ok. Thanks.
Cheers
Pete
Pete Russell

Has anyone made or have had the seat brackets made from this article? If so, Would they like to sell a set?
Thanks
Robert
RJ Jio

Alistair
Please send me a copy.
Cheers and thanks
Malcolm
M Macdonald

RJ,
There is an address in the article of a company in the UK which makes them. I am going to phone them tommorrow to see if they still do them. I'll keep you all informed of the installation when I fit them.

Regards

Malcolm
Malcolm Wright

Malcolm (from Ontario) - the file is being rejected by your e-mail account due to lack of storage space - do you have another address I could use?

Rick - the file is being returned as too big for your mail account. Do you have another address?

Erik, Mark - File should be in your inbox shortly.

Anyone who has asked for the file and not received it let me know - I am getting confused!

Cheers
Alistair
Alistair

Okay, now Erik's mail has been bounced back as too big. This is getting silly. Anyone want a gmail invite? There should be no problem with space or size then.
Alistair

Alistair
Is it on the WWW for anyone to download?
If so gives us a link please.
Would be nice to add to CDII Don...if you where talking to this Rick.
To many Ricks on this BBS.
Rick C
Rick Crawford

Rick

I have spent an hour or so trying to figure out how to put the file onto a website for download, but I have to admit defeat. A friend has promised to put the file up in a coupel of days, though, so I ill post the address here when he sends it to me.

Sorry to be such a computer retard!
Alistair
Alistair

Hello Alistair
I've deleated the 1987 email's ,so there should
be lot's of room now .
Thanks again
Malcolm
M Macdonald

I am still waiting for my friend to post the file for download, but I did find that you can read pretty much the same thing (including the bracket drawing) at www.amazon.com - find the Roger Williams book "How to Improve Triumph TR5, 250 and 6" and use the search inside function (search for Mazda) and you can read the relevant pages (134/5). Might be easier (and quicker) than waiting for the big file to arrive - it gets sent back to me as too big/not enough storage space at least half the time. I don't mind sending the file out - I am pretty new to the TR6, and so this is the only way I can contribute to the board at the moment!

Cheers
Alistair
Alistair

At last! I have worked out how to post the file online, so anyone who still needs a copy should now be able to see it fairly easily.

http://alistairhewitt.dreamhosters.com/TR6/N-WeatherEquipment&Trim.pdf

Cheers
Alistair
Alistair

Hi everyone,

I've got the seats and the brackets and many thanks to Alistair for all his efforts to get me the instructions. I will be fitting them this weekend I'll let you all know how it went.

Regards
Malcolm
Malcolm Wright

Hello, all...I've looked at this thread since I am also trying to find alternative seats for a TR6 - a '71 in this case. I, too, would appreciate the information on the Miata seats, although I am also looking at 98-2004 Mustang seats as an alternative. I have not seen the BMW 3-series ones to check them out, but I will.

I tried Alistair's link this evening but could not get a web page there. If anyone has the Miata modification info, I would appreciate it. Although, I have to admit, those seats are not the most comfortable for me on a long trip (possibly because I'm, well, a bit on the "pleasantly plump" side? Rather extensive side-bolsters for a fatty such as me.)

Please feel free to email me at jjmcclos@att.net.

In return, a hint for any yanks who might be looking for an alternative brake master cylinder on the TR6....I am successfully running a late '80's Chrysler LeBaron cylinder with only minor modifications to the bolt holes and a small freeze plug which has been fitted to the piston with JB-Weld to fill the gap. While it has not been used for any major racing, it is very usable for day-to-day driving. Given the number of TR6's vs Chrysler "K-car" derivatives, it is an economical way to go.

Thanks to all of you for this thread, and I look forward to any comments or assistance which you provide. Sorry if this is a bit wordy for the group, and I'll try to keep it down in the future.

John.
John McCloskey

Hi everyone, thought it was about time I told you how the seat install went. I picked up a very good second hand pair of leather MX5 seats from ebay, the brackets were purchased from the address in the article. The fitting instructions in the article were invaluable. First I ground the old brackets off and cut off the front of the runners as described. I put the seats in the car and offered up the brackets and marked where to drill them to attach them to the seat I also attached the back ones as well. When you position them make sure they are in the correct seating position, best is to follow the fitting instructions by drilling the inside bolt nearest the tunnel first and securing it and then mark the rest from beneath the car. The drivers one was fine however When I put in the passenger one I could not get the seat far enough forward to put in the back bolts. I had to drill 2 complete new holes through the floor and the bracket. The finished product is fabulous far more comfortable with better support for your back and a slightly higher driving position. I am 1.85m tall and have more leg room. I can only state that iff anyone is thinking about putting these seats in go ahead and do it. I took the tr6 out last Saturday and covered about 50 miles a far better ride all round.

regards

Malcolm
Malcolm

Hi Malcom,

What about a picture ?
I would also be interested to understand the clearance between the back of the seats and the hood frame at schoulder level. I have moved my present seats about 4 inches backwards right against the rear fire wall.

regards,
Erik
Erik Creyghton

Erik,

Seat clearance is no problem, I have got the hood up and there is plenty of room. I will check for you to see what it would be like with the seats further back. I will happily send you a picture when I sort out the PC problems can't down load anything at the moment. Why can't PC's be as easy to fix as the TR6?????? reply on the email link and I will send a picture as soon as it is possible.

Malcolm
Malcolm Wright

I installed the Miata seats ($200 leather from planetmiata.com) and am very pleased with the results. They drew a lot of attention at our annual show. I used the Miata mounting holes with shortened 1/2 inch bolts and attached the slightly bent metal mount to the floor of my car wth 3/8 inch grade 5 bolts. e-mail me if you wish a picture.
Joe Justice
Joe Justice

Malcom,

I replied to your mail address, don't worry I will be patient so you can sort out your PC problems first.

My concern is related to the hood in down position. At present I have only 0,5 inch left between the frame and the seat.
I have the replica leather seats out of the Moss catalogue installed. My wife considers the lower spine support not sufficient. Is there an adjustment at the lower back-side of the MX5 seats or is it just the angle which can be adjusted.

Erik
Erik Creyghton

Hello all
I had the link which Alister generously put on the web. However, I saved it but not printed it, and now Ive lost the saved copy. Can anybody help me with a copy of the seat bracket plans?
Many thanks
Smeggie
Smeggie

Thank you for sending me the info on fitting the MX5 seats to my TR6. I now have 2 copies. I will pass these on if asked, at 8mb you might want to have broadband
Thanks again
Regards
Smeggie
Smeggie

Simon, if you could send me a copy of the instructions it would be great, thanks. MAtt
matt

Dear all
I have ordered 5 sets of seat brackets as per the drawings mentioned in the links above. So I will have 4 spare sets, if you would like one at £39.99 plus P&P please email me simonblackburn@ic24.net. I have seen these brackets for sale at £60 plus p&P. The post is £12.95 UK, £19.99 Europe and Im afraid £35 USA. They do weigh 4.5 kgs!
Any Qs please ask, and yes Im open to sensible offers as long as I cover costs
Regards
Smeggie
Smeggie

Simon, I too would like a copy of the instructions if you could. I have still been unable to access Alistair's link, and am really looking for a good alternative. I have not yet had a chance to check for BMW seats or if my observations on Mustang seats are accurate, and I am thinking that the Miata one's will be the way I go.
Thanks,
John.
John McCloskey

Can someone send me a copy of the pdf for the brackets? I tried the link to Alistair's web site and it's not working.
Thanks!
Mark
Mark Pruitt

Sorry folks, the web link doesn't work any more. I have the whole TR Register Technicalities CD (that's where the seat bracket article comes from) if anyone wants a copy.

By the way, check your inbox, Mark - with any luck you should have the file shortly.

Cheers
Alistair
Alistair

Thanks Alistair! I appreciate you sending the file to me.
Mark
Mark Pruitt

I posted the PDF file along with pictures of Simon's brackets on my web site if anyone needs them. The address is http://www.marks-tr6-garage.com/Miataseats.html

Mark
Mark Pruitt

This thread was discussed between 23/08/2005 and 28/01/2006

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