Racing seats vs Stock seats

doglover44 · 07-17-2022, 05:16 PM

What are the pros and cons of each ?

Painter · 07-17-2022, 05:58 PM

I can think of two reasons. Properly mounted they are safer and feel safer. And they are lighter.

CMcAllister · 07-18-2022, 12:01 PM

Weight, weight and weight.

And safety.

Andy Friar · 07-18-2022, 02:09 PM

As someone who weighs 275#, putting in Kirkey seats on the floor vs the stock bench seat our car had, also had to lower the CG some. A side benefit and possibly not that much, but not a detriment either.

Tom Goldman · 07-19-2022, 04:11 PM

The weight reduction for 2 seats can be anywhere from 40 to 90 pounds depending on the seats.
The safety factor improvement is huge . just the reduction in mass in the event of an impact reduces the stress on the seat and seatbelt mountings.
The aluminum seat provides rigid protection for your back and torso and lateral support that a heavy , hinged factory seat cannot.

Todd Hoven · 07-19-2022, 09:25 PM

The only place where an aftermarket seat can be a negative is with a vertical crash. I fractured L1 in my back on a huge wheelstand when I had to abort or crash the car over the wall. my spine compressed when the K frame hit the racing surface and bottomed out the car. This is a rare circumstance, but it happened to me. I have a thick foam pad on the lower pan of the seat now. Hopefully I never have to use it .

They save weight and are safer everywhere else, and feel good to sit in. Lost 60 pounds in the middle of the Firebird when I converted over

CMcAllister · 07-20-2022, 09:13 PM

Factory seats typically sit the driver up high in the car. I generally make the new brackets to get the driver down in the car, Get the head/helmet down away from the roof and under the main hoop. Especially for guys 6'+.

Charles Stewart · 08-15-2022, 05:02 PM

Also be aware of your bracket height if you build a Gen 5 and maybe a Gen 6 Camaro.
Because, there’s a fine line between the bracket height, the very ordinary front quality vision and the roof, for a medium size racers.

427FE · 08-19-2022, 05:50 PM

The bench is so comfy

SSDiv6 · 08-20-2022, 02:06 PM

An Aluminum seat with a cover has limited protection in a crash.
Although they are more expensive, I recommend the use of an FIA approved seat like they are provided with the COPO, Cobra Jet and Drag Pak cars or, a poured seat.
I learned a lot about crashworthiness of seats while doing aircraft passenger seat certification during my time at Boeing and it was eye opening.
Unless you buy a high end sports car that has Recaro seats or similar, the OEM seats are limited as regards to protection.
It is a matter of much your health is worth.

07-17-2022, 05:16 PM	#1
doglover44 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New Carlisle OH Posts: 1,276 Likes: 3 Liked 404 Times in 183 Posts	Racing seats vs Stock seats What are the pros and cons of each ? __________________ Jake Biermann

07-17-2022, 05:58 PM	#2
Painter Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 227 Likes: 4 Liked 162 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Racing seats vs Stock seats I can think of two reasons. Properly mounted they are safer and feel safer. And they are lighter.

07-18-2022, 12:01 PM	#3
CMcAllister Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fulton County, PA Posts: 535 Likes: 9 Liked 748 Times in 208 Posts	Re: Racing seats vs Stock seats Weight, weight and weight. And safety.

07-18-2022, 02:09 PM	#4
Andy Friar Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Howell, MI Posts: 243 Likes: 677 Liked 220 Times in 72 Posts	Re: Racing seats vs Stock seats As someone who weighs 275#, putting in Kirkey seats on the floor vs the stock bench seat our car had, also had to lower the CG some. A side benefit and possibly not that much, but not a detriment either. __________________ Andy Friar

07-19-2022, 04:11 PM	#5
Tom Goldman VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Allentown,PA Posts: 2,438 Likes: 779 Liked 703 Times in 206 Posts	Re: Racing seats vs Stock seats The weight reduction for 2 seats can be anywhere from 40 to 90 pounds depending on the seats. The safety factor improvement is huge . just the reduction in mass in the event of an impact reduces the stress on the seat and seatbelt mountings. The aluminum seat provides rigid protection for your back and torso and lateral support that a heavy , hinged factory seat cannot. __________________ Tom Goldman 1500 SG , 1506 STK

07-19-2022, 09:25 PM	#6
Todd Hoven VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,330 Likes: 884 Liked 720 Times in 151 Posts	Re: Racing seats vs Stock seats The only place where an aftermarket seat can be a negative is with a vertical crash. I fractured L1 in my back on a huge wheelstand when I had to abort or crash the car over the wall. my spine compressed when the K frame hit the racing surface and bottomed out the car. This is a rare circumstance, but it happened to me. I have a thick foam pad on the lower pan of the seat now. Hopefully I never have to use it . They save weight and are safer everywhere else, and feel good to sit in. Lost 60 pounds in the middle of the Firebird when I converted over __________________ Todd Hoven 1035 Stock

07-20-2022, 09:13 PM	#7
CMcAllister Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fulton County, PA Posts: 535 Likes: 9 Liked 748 Times in 208 Posts	Re: Racing seats vs Stock seats Factory seats typically sit the driver up high in the car. I generally make the new brackets to get the driver down in the car, Get the head/helmet down away from the roof and under the main hoop. Especially for guys 6'+.

08-15-2022, 05:02 PM	#8
Charles Stewart Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Rivière-du-Loup, (QC) Canada Posts: 281 Likes: 1,167 Liked 499 Times in 148 Posts	Re: Racing seats vs Stock seats Also be aware of your bracket height if you build a Gen 5 and maybe a Gen 6 Camaro. Because, there’s a fine line between the bracket height, the very ordinary front quality vision and the roof, for a medium size racers.

08-19-2022, 05:50 PM	#9
427FE Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Monroe Twsp, NJ Posts: 178 Likes: 226 Liked 305 Times in 68 Posts	Re: Racing seats vs Stock seats The bench is so comfy Attached Thumbnails

08-20-2022, 02:06 PM	#10
SSDiv6 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 2,991 Likes: 693 Liked 1,457 Times in 543 Posts	Re: Racing seats vs Stock seats An Aluminum seat with a cover has limited protection in a crash. Although they are more expensive, I recommend the use of an FIA approved seat like they are provided with the COPO, Cobra Jet and Drag Pak cars or, a poured seat. I learned a lot about crashworthiness of seats while doing aircraft passenger seat certification during my time at Boeing and it was eye opening. Unless you buy a high end sports car that has Recaro seats or similar, the OEM seats are limited as regards to protection. It is a matter of much your health is worth. Last edited by SSDiv6; 08-21-2022 at 01:29 PM.