SmasherWebbs Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 Looking at what options i can have in the way of front seats in a defender. I do know SAAB 93 seats are a very close fit and can be made to fit but does anyone know of any others?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big.Mike Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 Defender seats are so unique, I've not seen any seat that really does it justice. I've not seen anything that comes close to the two part design. They are from such an early stage in automotive evolution, when series seats were first developed the "standard" for how a car seat should be wasn't developed. Defenders don't use car seats, they use Defender seats. Just my tuppence worth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 Defender seats [90/110] were based on the Cox design for the Leyland T45 range of trucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big.Mike Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 Defender seats [90/110] were based on the Cox design for the Leyland T45 range of trucks. Interesting. That might actually be a better source of seats. Truck/van seats invariable sit above the wheel arch, which is exactly what is needed for a Defender! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Nothing wrong with the Defender seats as long as they're looked after. If you do decide to change the seats. Remember the seats you'd like to fit will not be homologated for a Defender. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmasherWebbs Posted August 30, 2012 Author Share Posted August 30, 2012 I'm looking to fit something with a bit more lower back support and something to hold you in a bit more. I take it no one has tried to do this before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gruntus Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Hi Smasher, I fitted a pair of Audi A4 front seats, I did have to cut bits off and weld a frame to them, they look good but more importantly allow the seat to run back for more leg room Can post piccies if you want? Cheers G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcc1979ian Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Iv fitted corbeau forza sport and they are very comfy (even for me being a bigger boy), was gona fit a full bucket but that plan was thrown out the window after getting a lift to work in a bucketed nova 1 morning. If its comfort you want never ever fit a full bucket seat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmasherWebbs Posted August 30, 2012 Author Share Posted August 30, 2012 Please post photos gruntus would love to see how they look and how they fit. And bucket seats are a no no then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinv8 Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 I fitted MGZS seats, much more support and comfort but do lift you higher so no good for tall people but great for a short arse like me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi_110 Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 These are my '96 Saab 9000 seats... Soooo comfy, drivers has lumbar support adjustment, height adjustment and front edge adjustment for under your thighs. Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gruntus Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 These are my '96 Saab 9000 seats... Soooo comfy, drivers has lumbar support adjustment, height adjustment and front edge adjustment for under your thighs. Ray Ooooooooooohhh Sexy looking seats... How did you get them to fit? Did you make a small subframe for them? I really like the look of them though. very nice. G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmasherWebbs Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 really love the leather 9000 seats kiwi 110! A trip to the scrap yard this weekend for sure to see what i can find Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi_110 Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Here's the site where I got my info from. But he's gone to a lot more trouble than I did with his mounting, he made stiffeners which he put on top of the seat box. http://www.clarke.ca/post.cfm/saab-9000-seats-in-land-rover I just put the Saab rails straight on to the seat box. I have put large flat washers inside the seatbox though, which the rail bolts go though, because a couple of the rail bolts do end up too far from the folded or doubled areas of the alloy seat box. There would have been a bit of flex. After working out where the rails go and where you're going to drill, undo the horizontal bolts on each side of the seat-bases and remove the bases from the frames. Then you can work through the frames to do up nuts etc inside the seatbox. You can see the bolts I'm taking about in a couple of that guys pictures. You'll pretty much lose easy access to the battery box, so it would pay to run an isolation switch for your battery +ve, if you haven't already, and an Anderson Plug somewhere if you need to attach jumper leads. You would have to undo the bolts on each side of the seat base and remove it from the frame to get to the battery for maintenance etc. In the cab of the 110, I can't get as much rake on the seatback as I'd really like, because the top of the seatback hits the back of the cab. In a station wagon, you'd be sweet. Ray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big.Mike Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 I'm tempted to buy some of these seats and do an amalgam of both... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 It might just be that your original seats are worn out and a new set of Defender seats would be comfortable to you. Alternatively, Exmoor Trim do various options on seats based on Defender seats with more lumbar and bolster lateral support. You could also try a TDCI Defender seat, which is a real leap forward from the earlier seats, but will still bolt straight in and should cause no problem for the MoT or insurance as it is just a Defender seat... Importantly, all of these will have the correct geometry and will have removable seat bases to get at the tool box, batteries or fuel tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 or Exmoor Trim do new seat base & back foam cushions, use these & kep the existing covers, did the seat base cushions on my 110 about 3 years ago, made a great improvement, they are made from the correct moulded foam not the layer cheap foam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmasherWebbs Posted September 2, 2012 Author Share Posted September 2, 2012 Had a look in the scrap yard this weekend. Found a great set of electric volvo seats! worth a go fitting? Also see that paddocks do series 3 deluxe seats. Will they be a plain swap never stopped to look at them??? http://www.paddockspares.com/mrc6982h-deluxe-outer-seat-highback.html http://www.paddockspares.com/mrc6980-deluxe-outer-seat-base.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 I have lovely retrimmed seats....I had to change the drivers seat back and base foam. Both came from Exmoor trim. Lovely comfortable seats. Raising them by 25.4mm also helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sirocco Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 Exmoor retrimmed both of mine about 4 years ago. They were an awesome improvement at the time and still good to this day Went for the Outlast fabric and it is very hard wearing and comfortable. G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RILEY Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Hi mate have considered disco 2 seats ? requires some frame removal but the basics are there .found them really easy to fit and they are a really comfy seat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thingybox Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 In the 90's, some lorry seats had two handles/levers on the right hand side of the seat, just under the pad, for mechanical adjustment of the height and angle of the seat. The front handle tipped the seat back and the rear handle tipped the seat forward. You could, therefore, adjust the seat to any height you wanted, at any angle. For example, you would adjust the seat, using both handles, to raise the seat to the height that was most comfortable. If you preferred more support behind your knees, you'd raise the seat slightly at the front (tipping the seat slightly back but maintaining the height), using the front handle only. I've not seen them on artics for a few years now as they're all air assisted; however, DAF45's (7.5 tonners) currently have a similar design and I've seen them on 05, 55 and 06 vehicles. It might be worth visiting a commercial vehicle breakers yard... Incidentally, lorry seats also recline and, sometimes, there is a handle just below the front of the seat pad to adjust the pad forwards and backwards (useful if you have long legs and you want support underneath them). Some seats also have mechanical adjustment behind the shoulders, neck and head. IIRC, Isringhausen was the most common seat manufacturer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gruntus Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Hi Smasher, These are my seats below, they are Audi seats (I'm sure I got them out of an A4). I did have to hack around the original Audi undercarriage and weld a frame to the seat chassis so they could fit to the original LR seat runners. (not too difficult if you are the fettling kind ). These seats also have lumber adjustment, I have a bulkhead removal bar fitted so this gives plenty of leg room which was lucky for me as I fitted a removable steering wheel which brings the steering wheel an extra inch towards the driver. Have a squint below (remember to click the pics to see them in larger format): Hope this helps for ideas All the best. G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi_110 Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Nice one Gruntus. Looking at your rails, your old seats must've been like mine, the mid 80's two peice ones with the fixed backrest and the drop-in pad on the wood base? Ray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gruntus Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Nice one Gruntus. Looking at your rails, your old seats must've been like mine, the mid 80's two peice ones with the fixed backrest and the drop-in pad on the wood base? Ray. Hi Ray, Yes thats exactly the case, I made up the frames on the new seats so that they could dropped onto the rails and bolted in place. If needed I can unbolt them and put the old seats back in place. Cheers G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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