MGB seat conversions?

[mindseye]

Like to hear about any different seat installs other than fiero or miata....I been looking at my seats in a astro van I own and am thinking they would be a perfect fit with the folding arms removed, what have other guys done?....find the stock seats pretty uncomfortable on long cruises

[Bill Young]

John, I looked at a lot of seats for my Midget (seat size is nearly the same as a B) and found that most seats which might be narrow enough were too thick in the bottom cushion and would place your head through the top or nearly so. There are very few seats that are thin enough on the bottom to allow seat mounting and adjustment while not placing the driver too high. I wound up with some seats from a Nissan Pulsar which is a pretty small car to start with and had to cut almost 2" from the bottom foam and seat pan and bolt them solidly to the floor to even begin to get me down to around the original height. If you're under around 5'10" then you would have room for a thicker seat, but any taller than that and you need to be careful.

[Moderator]

I like seats with detachable headrests. IMHO, integral headrests usually look more modern than the rest of the car, and also a big consideration for me is how the seat works with dual shoulder harnesses. One of the good things about a stock MGB seat is that its single-column headrest mounting doesn't get in the way of shoulder straps.

So... last year I picked up a single BMW "E3" seat from a local junkyard for $15 just to see if I could make it work.

BMW's black leather upholstery is so very classy, and everything about the seat was highest quality. I cut and I cut. I removed the sliders and all the bottom bolster tilt, extension, and height adjustment features. I managed to get the seat to fit in my GT, even with my roll cage! Then I sat in it. As Bill said, the bottom bolster was too tall even with the foam bottoming out on the floorboard - and since the foam was bottoming out it wasn't  very comfortable anymore anyhow! It was especially frustrating, because the seat looked so handsome sitting in there.

[rficalora]

I checked Solstace / Sky seats.  They're narrow enough but the back is about 4" too tall -- taller than the windshield frame.

I know you're looking for options other than Miata & Fiero, but I'm going with my Miata seats & having them done with slots for a 4-pt harness by Mr. Mikes.

[mindseye]

Hmmmm....thnx, looks like it would be a hell of alot less frustrating just buying a new foam/diaphragm kit, the posts I have read on miata installs looks like the job from hell, but they are sure comfy

[Merv]

I for one happen to think that the stock 1980 MGB seats are quite good on long trips.

My wife & I did a weeklong 4500 mile route 66 run in 2008 and EVEN My wife commented on how good a traveling car the MG was.
Between British V8 and MG2009 this year, I put on 8,456 miles and I thought seats were very comfortable and I have a back and a butt that never hesitate to remind me if the seats are not comfortable.

I have had a lot of cars, over the years, but I really think that except for my C5 Corvette, My MG with stock seats is one of the most comfortable LONG distance vehicles that I have had.

I haven't really driven any distance with the Miata or Fiero seats, so maybe I am missing something.

Merv

[BlownMGB-V8]

I modified a set of leather Mercury Marauder swap meet seats and like them pretty well.
http://www.britishv8.org/MG/JimBlackwood.htm
bottom 1/4 of the page.

Jim

[Dave]

Some old pics...........A junkyard C4 seat sitting directly on the floor for test fitting compared to a Miata seat which is too tall in the cushion and too narrow for me. The C4 seat back rake adjuster is located under the front of the cushion. I find them very comfortable and low plus the head rests are lower than Miatas or Fieros. They are also very, very light.

[MGB-FV8]

HUMMMM!, David, I like that and I'd like to hear some more on the final fitting.  Is it in there with the seat tracks on?