Interior/Exterior Rear Seat Delete Kit? Interested?
#28
IN and Out..OUT and IN????
Within hours of buying my MCS in Nov 03 I removed my back seat and built a platform durable enough to support my two German Shepherds. Well it worked great, car got lots of attention with the seat out ,but after buying a 05 Sport-Trac 4x4 for my Dogs ( yes for my Dogs) my MINI gets to be whole again! I have re-installed my back seats and will be keeping the car this way. The seats keep the car a bit more versitile in my eyes. Dogs love their new truck and my girlfriend loves my dog-hair-free JCW MCS. If you are going to remove the seats be sure to use space for storage under the platform. My two cents
#29
There is nothing more then I want to do is take out weight from the back so the CG will move further up towards the nose of the car. Oh the improvements in handling. .
While this seems to be a great idea and does lighten the car the balance of the car will be different. I would suggest to all that you need to consider what you are doing with car.
While this seems to be a great idea and does lighten the car the balance of the car will be different. I would suggest to all that you need to consider what you are doing with car.
#30
#31
Originally Posted by forevercornered
You know what I thought would be REALLY COOL? If the rear seat had a quick release setup, so you could easily take it out when you want. Almost like a mini van(hehe pun). Know that would be worth developing!
-Paul
#32
Curious.... if removing the upper section saves 30 lbs (which I have already done), what do you plan on that will weigh less than the bottom cushion of the seats?? The thing is already extremely light and I keep it in the use as a sound deadener. With its mounting hardware, I doubt that its more than 10 lbs... probably closer to 5.
#33
Originally Posted by stylin99
So is anyone interested?
#35
I am VERY interested except not right now. I would love to pull my rear seats imediately but it would pull me out of my current Autox class and into a much higher one. I'm willing to do that in the future, probably in a year or two when i get a pulley.
Just letting you know you'll have a customer in the future if you make it! Carbon Fiber or matching carpet would be very nice.
Someone else posted a really nice design they did with panels for access under the flat floor just recently.
EDIT: Hey look at that, just two threads down is the one i was talking about:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=41379
Very well done especially since it keeps a place to hook up a harness.
Just letting you know you'll have a customer in the future if you make it! Carbon Fiber or matching carpet would be very nice.
Someone else posted a really nice design they did with panels for access under the flat floor just recently.
EDIT: Hey look at that, just two threads down is the one i was talking about:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=41379
Very well done especially since it keeps a place to hook up a harness.
#37
Keep the suggestions coming. I've got to build a versatile kit that answers all of your needs in 1 or 2 different versions.
Having a "box" that sits over the rear seat holes is doable, but it also reduces the amount of storage space you have in the cabin. The indentations for the seat are not very deep so you're limited to small towels, a jacket, or a handful of small tools.
Carbon fiber is of course the lightest material to go with. But CF isn't cheap, and would jack the price up beyond a reasonable amount. ABS Plastic isn't cheap either (somewhat due to petroleum prices right now) but it's super durable, formable, and affordable for the amount being used.
Jcampos, you mentioned just leaving the bottom cushion in the car and having the seatback-only removed. You can indeed do this, but looking at the interior, it's unattractive and out of place, not to mention there is paint showing through. (Not bad if you have a black car, but is bold with yellow, red, blue, etc) I'm hoping to create something that flows with the interior more and still keeps the weight down.
Having a "box" that sits over the rear seat holes is doable, but it also reduces the amount of storage space you have in the cabin. The indentations for the seat are not very deep so you're limited to small towels, a jacket, or a handful of small tools.
Carbon fiber is of course the lightest material to go with. But CF isn't cheap, and would jack the price up beyond a reasonable amount. ABS Plastic isn't cheap either (somewhat due to petroleum prices right now) but it's super durable, formable, and affordable for the amount being used.
Jcampos, you mentioned just leaving the bottom cushion in the car and having the seatback-only removed. You can indeed do this, but looking at the interior, it's unattractive and out of place, not to mention there is paint showing through. (Not bad if you have a black car, but is bold with yellow, red, blue, etc) I'm hoping to create something that flows with the interior more and still keeps the weight down.
#39
Threaded inserts
I'm interested. Could you mold in a few threaded inserts (maybe 1/4x20 or the equivalent metric size) to help tie things down? Perhaps even a larger threaded insert on the passenger side to tie down a spare tire with a single bolt (if the plastic is strong enough for this).
#40
Originally Posted by stylin99
Keep the suggestions coming. I've got to build a versatile kit that answers all of your needs in 1 or 2 different versions.
Having a "box" that sits over the rear seat holes is doable, but it also reduces the amount of storage space you have in the cabin. The indentations for the seat are not very deep so you're limited to small towels, a jacket, or a handful of small tools.
Carbon fiber is of course the lightest material to go with. But CF isn't cheap, and would jack the price up beyond a reasonable amount. ABS Plastic isn't cheap either (somewhat due to petroleum prices right now) but it's super durable, formable, and affordable for the amount being used.
Jcampos, you mentioned just leaving the bottom cushion in the car and having the seatback-only removed. You can indeed do this, but looking at the interior, it's unattractive and out of place, not to mention there is paint showing through. (Not bad if you have a black car, but is bold with yellow, red, blue, etc) I'm hoping to create something that flows with the interior more and still keeps the weight down.
Having a "box" that sits over the rear seat holes is doable, but it also reduces the amount of storage space you have in the cabin. The indentations for the seat are not very deep so you're limited to small towels, a jacket, or a handful of small tools.
Carbon fiber is of course the lightest material to go with. But CF isn't cheap, and would jack the price up beyond a reasonable amount. ABS Plastic isn't cheap either (somewhat due to petroleum prices right now) but it's super durable, formable, and affordable for the amount being used.
Jcampos, you mentioned just leaving the bottom cushion in the car and having the seatback-only removed. You can indeed do this, but looking at the interior, it's unattractive and out of place, not to mention there is paint showing through. (Not bad if you have a black car, but is bold with yellow, red, blue, etc) I'm hoping to create something that flows with the interior more and still keeps the weight down.
#42
If it sits above the floor pan at all, four flush tiedowns would be a nice option. That way if your haulin a bunch of stuff to the dragon you do not have to worry about it flying around.
I am one of three people that use the back seats a good bit. But I like your idea and think if you can keep the price in check a number of people would take you up on the offer.
Good luck
John
I am one of three people that use the back seats a good bit. But I like your idea and think if you can keep the price in check a number of people would take you up on the offer.
Good luck
John
#44
The harness attachments have to be secured to something very strong (metal framework) so where do you guys normally attach your belt harnesses back there? Are you plugging them into the seat belt holders?
It would take some serious construction to build a tie down for a harness into this plastic kit. And of course liability issues come into play if it breaks. So I can cutout places for the harnesses to slip through (for connection the car's frame itself), or I can build in tie-down straps for securing cargo, but that's about it.
It would take some serious construction to build a tie down for a harness into this plastic kit. And of course liability issues come into play if it breaks. So I can cutout places for the harnesses to slip through (for connection the car's frame itself), or I can build in tie-down straps for securing cargo, but that's about it.
#47
Originally Posted by TXMinee
There is nothing more then I want to do is take out weight from the back so the CG will move further up towards the nose of the car. Oh the improvements in handling. .
While this seems to be a great idea and does lighten the car the balance of the car will be different. I would suggest to all that you need to consider what you are doing with car.
While this seems to be a great idea and does lighten the car the balance of the car will be different. I would suggest to all that you need to consider what you are doing with car.
#49