Seat brace stock eliminator
 

Does factory seat have to be braced?

Re: Seat brace stock eliminator
 

Bobby,
My factory seats were never braced but they only had 1" of space between the horizontal bar to the roll bar and the seat back. I raced the car in 3 different divisions without a problem in that configuration. My Kirkey seats are braced as there is a 4" gap to the bar.

Tech may question it if you have a large gap. In the event of a seat failure, the harness is not going to keep you in the seat very secure.

Sean

Re: Seat brace stock eliminator
 

The rule book is vague in regards to stock seats ,it only directly mentions aftermarket aluminum or fiberglass seats requiring attachment to the crossbar, it does not specifically mention factory seats. See General Regulations section 6.2
Even the new COPO's come without the seat attached to the crossbar.
That being said , I have always attached the factory seats to the cross bar.
It is a simple thing to do and increases your personal safety.

Re: Seat brace stock eliminator
 

I still have the original bench seat in my car, how would I brace the seat back when I still have to move it back and forth to get in and out past the roll bar plus I have to be close to the dash so I can use the push buttons?

JimR

Re: Seat brace stock eliminator
 

I really don't see a problem here. For the prior mentioned easy fix to attach to factory seat backs...I aint buyin it. There is nothing in a factory seat back to attach to...brace yes, attach to nope. There is actually some metal in the seat backs of the older cars like our Camaro...attached to the seat by a clip up top and two trim screws at the bottom lol. You guys are going to keep on until aftermarket steel seats are required in all Stockers...won't that be treat.

Jim - I would just slam the bench seat back against the crossbar in tech and move it where you want when ready to race. If you really feel a need to brace the seat back just weld an adjustable brace to the crossbar that you can pin in position.

Re: Seat brace stock eliminator
 

On stock seats, I pull up the seat uphostery and if it's a bucket, weld either a tube or piece of 2"x1/8" flat stock across the back to the outer structure.
I weld tabs to this cross piece and slot the upholstery or the plastic back to let them protrude thru.....from there I either bolt it solid to a tab on the roll bar ,or if the car needs the seat to move , I use a tube with multiple holes in it between the bar and the seat.

The only bench seat I've done was on a '63 Dodge 330, there was sufficent seat frame at the top to weld a tab for attachment to the cage.
Again ,I only do this as an added safety measure to stock seats for my customers safety.
Maybe Travis or Dave Ley can weigh in on this ,as I read the rule , the requirement in Stock reads as it only applies to aftermarket seats.

Re: Seat brace stock eliminator
 

Jim, I'm suprised you have never broken a seat in your car .
Jerry Stein used to sit right up on the wheel to use the buttons ,and broke a lot of seat backs.

Re: Seat brace stock eliminator
 

Tom,

I've never broken one but I bent a few and the current one is bent back about two inches, if they would let me use a front seat from a 4 door I would put one in. Since it's a solid one piece seat it is stronger.

JimR

Re: Seat brace stock eliminator
 

I have the same question about using a full Bench seat from a 4 door. Common sense tells me if they allow aftermarket racing seats why couldn't we use those 4 Door bench seats? I am thinking bout doing that in the 65 Implala stocker I am building. Could i call it a "aftermarket bench seat" Reality is you probaly could, tech wouldn't care or not even notice.. Old wise man say's "it not cheating unless you get caught" in racing. Smokey Yunick

Will Lamprecht
65 Impala I/SA in progress.

Re: Seat brace stock eliminator
 

Bite your tongue for trying to inject ' common sense ' ---Trevor

Re: Seat brace stock eliminator
 

Common sense would dictate that since the aftermarket seat rule was implemented in the name of safety, it should apply to all cars and allow bench seat cars to be retrofitted with the safer individual seats.
You Bench seat guys need to lobby your representatives to question this issue to NHRA.
At the very least ,they should allow the wagon seats to be used, they are much stronger.

Re: Seat brace stock eliminator
 

Those of you that do not brace your seat to the cross bar either stock seat or not , i hate to see what happens to you if you ever god forbid back your car into the wall at 100mph + . This is a common sense rule ...

Re: Seat brace stock eliminator
 

Common sense and Drag Racers? Kinda like Jumbo Shrimp, it doesn't exist, lol. Seriously, I agree seat backs should be braced for safety.

Re: Seat brace stock eliminator
 

You mean common sense and NHRA? LOL

Re: Seat brace stock eliminator
 

Just having the seat back against the crossbar will suffice in most situations. As for a 100+ mph hit backwards...that is beyond the scope of any safety gear currently installed in the majority of Stock Eliminator vehicles. Any modifications to a factory type seat in that scenario will be akin to pissing in the wind.

Re: Seat brace stock eliminator
 

pm sent

Re: Seat brace stock eliminator
 

Well then , since your a expert in seat safety just don't do anything !

Re: Seat brace stock eliminator
 

Not an expert in anything Bob, but I understand bull**** just fine. It was only recently we were allowed aftermarket seats in Stockers after all these years...why do you suppose?

Tell you what...let's evaluate what you have in your car if you care to post it up. :rolleyes: