BRZ / FRS Seats in a 3rd Gen Nova

[Tiny]

Hi Guys,
It's been a while since I've started a thread relating to my 1974 Chevy Nova but here we go.

For context, I am 6'6 265 38 waist and was looking for ways to get more headroom and some leg room in my Nova - some of the research you can see in this forum.

Since my last post, I've looked at and picked up a set of Subaru BRZ / Scion (Toyota) FRS front seats.

Why? simple, the seats are manual - no power option and the driver seat has a function to bring them up or down in height. Also, unlike seats from German Brands - like BMW or VW etc the seat track themselves are a bit more narrow, which also helps for my project.

If any of you have used these please feel free to comment below. I would love to hear about your experience.

In this case, I will be following up with pictures, measurements and mount fabrication.

[btmatt]

installed in 1st gen Camaro. we relocated the existing brackets to keep install height low.

I am similar build and fit fine

[Tiny]

installed in 1st gen Camaro. we relocated the existing brackets to keep install height low.

I am similar build and fit fine

Your post actually made me look these seats up - Albeit the floor in your car is different than mine as my car was a bench seat car without the seat brace that is in the Camaro.

As for the seats, I picked them up locally to me for $200 so it was a no lose move. Here are some pics of how they were when I brought them home before they were cleaned.



The pair, driver seat and passenger seat.

[btmatt]

looking good

[Tiny]

looking good

Thanks man, appreciate it, but just following your lead.

Did you end up using factory seatbelts?

[btmatt]

so far, Yes. Eventually we will install Morris Classic or harnesses

[Tiny]

Obviously the seats I have were in need of a good cleaning.
So, before I got set to place these in the car and make some mounts I did just that.

It started with a solid vacuum job


That was before I pulled out the Maguire's for a good application for cleaner - it smelled great but also glad I did this outside.


Once the seat was saturated, I brought out the trusty drill brush and went to town on the seat to get as much scrubbing action as possible.


You can see the results once I started wiping things down


Final results while it was drying


I am pretty happy with how clean they got here. Once the seat is fully mounted and the brackets are made, I am going to clean them again and add a good wet - vac so that they are detail level clean.

[Tiny]

So now it's time to try and get these seats fitted with me in them.
Initially I placed them in the car without the seat belts and was very very happy and excited with the potential of these. Lots of head and leg room. I had mounted them originally using the bench seat outside bolts and a lead with the front bolt as an anchor point for the project.
The rear seat mount holes were not aligned, so that would need to be adjusted.
As this is to be a driver and not a track car, I though that I should mount the original seat belts back into place in the car so that I can continue to test fit the seats and make the appropriate brackets.

So here is the problem. With the seatbelts mounted in place I had to move the seat forward so the the rear mount hole lined up and was the anchor for the project.
here are some pictures for reference,




As you can see, this way, the seat is pushed right to the floor mounted seat belt retractor. However, it also cuts out the extra leg room I feel I needed.
Is there anyone here that has had the same issue? How did you work around it?

[btmatt]

I believe that Morris Classics has a bracket with their belts that could be used for "inspiration" to relocate the retractors

are those FRS/BRZ belts and retractors?

[Mr Nick]

If your trim and reshape the plastic around the seat and also the plastic portion of the seat belt assembly do you have enough room?

As mentioned, consider using the Morris belts. I've had them in my Cutlass for years and I'm a huge fan.

[Tiny]

I believe that Morris Classics has a bracket with their belts that could be used for "inspiration" to relocate the retractors

are those FRS/BRZ belts and retractors?

those are actually the factory nova seatbelts and retractors

Ill have to take a look at those brackets for said inspiration.

- - - Updated - - -

If your trim and reshape the plastic around the seat and also the plastic portion of the seat belt assembly do you have enough room?

As mentioned, consider using the Morris belts. I've had them in my Cutlass for years and I'm a huge fan.

Ive thought about that, but the worry is that the plastic cover is actually attached to the retractor, so I am concerned about weakening that assembly.