OK, so today I got my recaros, they are the red ones that brhill was selling. Let's start this off by saying that they DO NOT FIT. He had them set up so the GTB tracks would bolt right on and go into the car. Spider tracks (aside from being power) are different, they are narrower and the seats sit lower too. I will also need to fab a bracket to hold the seat belt rewinder, not a big deal (yet needs to be STRONG) I have decided to just bite the bullet and make them fit, after many years of making custom seats of all kinds go into all kinds of cars, I figure I can make short work of this project that some would probably call "impossible" (heh, impossible is where I get started). I will post some pics (BTW does anyone know why my photobucket links do not work here anymore?) So far I have started by cutting the lower seat frame which I will modify to sit lower and also fit the spider tracks, and I have cut the lower seat "bucket" to allow the lowered tracks to fit. Tomorrow I will make the required adapter brackets and see how it goes. I would like to think that it may be possible to use GTB or GTS manual tracks also, but I would need someone to measure the bolt pattern on the floor to see if the spider/non spider is the same on the floor.
Hi Guys, does anyone know what model of Recaro carbon seat the ones used in the 355 are based upon ? Thanks
Anxious to see how this turns out. I've been interested in doing something like this but the unique qualities of the spider seats has kept me from giving it a shot. Here's to a great seat install!
Are you asking about the standard 355 seat, or the Sport 355 seat? Or are you asking about the seats purchased by Gus355 which are the modern Recaro Sportster CS. The standard 355 seat is similar to the old Recaro Type C. I have never seen the Sport 355 seat in person, so I cannot comment on what that might be based on.
OK guys, I got the pass. side done - it works like a charm. This was pretty major surgery to the seat itself, but nothing on the car or original tracks was modded. The new seat sits at the exact same height as the original seat although cannot go as far back (about 1.5") I am seriously considering setting the seat pots to 4.4K and leaving it since these seats do not even need to move to clear the roof (as long as they are not reclined too much) I was concentrating on doing the job so I did not take pics of the first one - I made two of every bracket so when I do the second seat it'll be easy and I will shoot pics. http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z450/angus5/IMG_4442.jpg
Sorry .... the sport 355 seat which is a carbon bucket. I assume it is based on a Recaro shell ? bit like you I have only seen in the flesh a couple of times and didnt really take much notice, thinking used Recaros painted Rosso then recovered in crema hide would look good ........... and a lot cheaper than $10,000 on ebay
The seat in a Spider has the seat belt attached to it so it is much stronger than a Berlinetta seat. Do these Recaros have the seat belt attached to them in a similar way?
No they don't and they are NOt SAFE in a spider period. Been thru this whole thing 12 years ago. I've got an almost brand new set of carbon fiber(Sparco) seats from a 360CS and the only way I can make them safe enough to use in a spider is to mount the seat belts(top section) to the chassis via a roll bar.
The bracket that I have made for the seatbelt is easily twice as strong as the factory one, it is made with 1/4" steel plate and bolted to the floor and the seat itself by 3 bolts.
OK, I'll make myself a little more clear on this. A standard seat from any after market supplier is NOT SAFE in a 355spider....I don't care if you make the bottom attachment plate 1" thick. For those non-believers please tear apart a factory 355spider seat back and you will see why they weigh so much and how they are designed to keep the seat back from collapsing....when the seat back collapses with a one belt design that anchors the waste and shoulders you are goin to suffer more than you can imagine and possibly die in a car that you didn't design properly. Any more questions?
