Seats

General Chat with an emphasis on BMC Minis & Other iconic cars of the 1960's.
Post Reply
User avatar
whistler
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 840
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2016 5:02 pm
Location: Cardiff
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Seats

Post by whistler »

I'm really struggling to find some recliner seats to fit in my mk1 that will clear the rear bins.
Tried spi and MGTF but neither will go back far enough as the bins are in the way.
Anyone managed to find any?
Oneball
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 935
Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 12:33 pm
Location: Worcester
Has thanked: 11 times
Been thanked: 5 times

Re: Seats

Post by Oneball »

What’s wrong with a later Mini seat?
Polarsilver
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 2945
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2016 12:22 pm
Location: Silverstone not far away
Has thanked: 38 times
Been thanked: 55 times

Re: Seats

Post by Polarsilver »

Green Seat.jpg
Recliner was fitted to some Elf/ Hornet .. here is one that needs work & is available.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
whistler
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 840
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2016 5:02 pm
Location: Cardiff
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: Seats

Post by whistler »

Oneball wrote: Thu Nov 23, 2023 9:53 am What’s wrong with a later Mini seat?
Don't have one to try. What year are you talking about and do they go past the rear bin?
Catmint
998 Cooper
Posts: 728
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 7:31 am
Location: Vale of Mowbray
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 19 times
Contact:

Re: Seats

Post by Catmint »

whistler wrote: Thu Nov 23, 2023 11:07 am
Oneball wrote: Thu Nov 23, 2023 9:53 am What’s wrong with a later Mini seat?
Don't have one to try. What year are you talking about and do they go past the rear bin?
1990 went back a fair way - can't say wether they cleared the bin as had other things on my mind back then ;)
'S'-type
998 Cooper
Posts: 446
Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2013 9:59 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire
Has thanked: 39 times
Been thanked: 15 times

Re: Seats

Post by 'S'-type »

A old thread on this

https://mk1-forum.net/viewtopic.php?f=3 ... 55#p328155

What I have found is that the 80s factory recliners do just about clear the bins and go down as far as the back seat base. BUT they do chafe against the edge of the bins and to some extent have to be forced to go that far. More importantly they don't stay in that position as the ratchet travel limit is set to the point where the back of the seat just makes contact with the forward edge of the bin. Go any further and they spring back up go the last ratchet position when released. Total travel to this point is only about 30 degrees.
I guess it depends what you want them to recline that far for. I hope it's not for the same reason as Catmint when he was a lad. Probably for the best if you don't go any further. Especially not all the way.

Just had a thought. If you plan to mount the whole seat further back, you could probably recline the back far enough for comfortable (ish) driving but it would be a very tight fit against the bins as the seat is slightly wider towards the base.
User avatar
whistler
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 840
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2016 5:02 pm
Location: Cardiff
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: Seats

Post by whistler »

I'm going to do some measurements over the weekend after seeing the post from S type and the link topic.
'S'-type
998 Cooper
Posts: 446
Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2013 9:59 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire
Has thanked: 39 times
Been thanked: 15 times

Re: Seats

Post by 'S'-type »

Just had another thought. If you are going to the trouble of extended seat mount brackets (no biggie) you could maybe incorporate a small off-set towards the centre of the car where they go through the pivot point using short tubular washers/spacers. 5-10 mm might be enough. Or modify/fabricate a couple of suitable mounts. Obviously not much leeway either way.
User avatar
whistler
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 840
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2016 5:02 pm
Location: Cardiff
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: Seats

Post by whistler »

'S'-type wrote: Fri Nov 24, 2023 12:02 pm Just had another thought. If you are going to the trouble of extended seat mount brackets (no biggie) you could maybe incorporate a small off-set towards the centre of the car where they go through the pivot point using short tubular washers/spacers. 5-10 mm might be enough. Or modify/fabricate a couple of suitable mounts. Obviously not much leeway either way.
It's a possibility but have to consider the position of the rear seat legs in relation to the tunnel. Might have to put a dog leg in which I had to do when I fitted the MGTF seats to my wife's 84 convertible.
Post Reply