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Need info about Miata seats in Spridget

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Thanks Jim

Unfortunately the engineering rules here in Australia won't allow me to put any material between the bottom of the seat and the floor (unless it is original). So I have to work out other ways to attach so they are legal.

My idea of transferring the "slide connections" across to the Miata seats was so I could use the original MG floor attachment bars. I'm sure I will have many adventures trying to do this, so it would be good to know if anyone has gone down this track before

Just have to see how comfortable they are after this.

underneath2.jpg


Wazza
 
Gerard - that looks great. I cheated a bit with this picture as the seats are just sitting on the floor of the car. But it gives me a bit of an idea of how they will look.

The marks are on the lens, not on the seats.

Wazza

MX5seats.jpg
 
Warren, I see where you are going but even if you do move the tracks over, unlikely they will line up. You'll still need to drill new holes. You can attach the seats without raising the rear 1" like I did. I just found it more comfortable that way.
 
Warren, I see where you are going but even if you do move the tracks over, unlikely they will line up. You'll still need to drill new holes. You can attach the seats without raising the rear 1" like I did. I just found it more comfortable that way.

Rather than a stack of washers, I used a solid bar to raise the rear.I'm sure it is possible to use an adapter plate in fact Classic Motorsports when they put a set of Miata Seats into their Modern Midget Project used the original Spridget seat rais but simply used an adapter plate that the bolted to the original seat tracks and the Miata Seats bolted to the adapter plate. Something completely covered by the seat and unless you pulled the seat totally out of the car it would not be visible. Guessing the adapter plate was some home built engineering but it would not be complicated to construct. Just make sure it is done with rather stout materials.

From an engineering standpoint the Miata Seats would stand up far better in keeping the seat firmly in place in the event of a crash than the original Spridget Slidets. Especcially as I have used some substantial backing plates underneath the floorboards. But rules are rules, in the States we need to comply with lots and lots or regulations. Restrictions on seat use fortunately aren't one of them.
 
Hi there,
I'm a new member from Australia, and am currently restoring an MG Midget MkIII 1968. Car is currently with panel beater getting body work done. Motor is back from rebuilder and ready to go.
I have come into possesion of a pair of mazda MX5 (Miata) but without mountings, so I will either have to get hold of Mazda mountings and do as discussed here, or attempt to make a bracket to fit the Midget slides to the seat base then use the original holes in the floor.
(Tried loading pics, but still working that out...)

If Middie is still posting can he please post some pics or describe what ended up happening with his conversion.

Has anyone ever tried to use the Spridget slides etc with the MX5 seats? and if possible what they did to make it work?

Thanks muchly.

RodH
 
Rod,
Welcome to Sridgetland !!
Very near Bisbane is a shop owned by Mark Boldry. He is a real live guru of everything Sridget, in fact he owns GAN 101. The first Midget produced.
I don't know the name of his shop, but I'm sure most MG owners in the area will know of him
Phil
 
Thanks Phil,
I know Mark - he is a member of my local club.
I haven't had anyone locally who's been able to help with this question, which is why i've asked it on your forum.
Anyone i know has had Miata seats with the madza mountings still fitted. Mine don't.

I will be patient in the hope i don't have to "re-invent the wheel."

Rod H
 
Rod,

In Classic Motorsports Magazine they restored a "ratty" Spridget in a series of articles under title Project Modern Midget I believe. They used Miata Seats and constructed an adapter plate that allowed the Miata Seats to use the standard Spridget Seat Slides. There may be info there that you can use. In my case for Bugsy my '68 Sprite, I cut off the large locating pegs with an angle grinder and positioned the stock Miata Mounting hole to use the existing Front inboard Mounting location. The other 3 mounting holes needed to be redrilled and I used large washers as backing. I also raised the rear of the seats by 1" to make them more level using a piece of 1" steel bar stock. Others have used a stack of washers.

Be aware, the Mazda Seats are not the same on both sides. The mounting locations differ from one side to the other. I was able to align the Inboard Front Holes on both sides but any type of bracket you make will be different from one side to another.
 
I did mine real red neck style. I drilled holes in angle iron that match up to the original mounting holes... then welded those to the Miata tracks. :wink: Looks super ugly, but only the roaches can see it now.

Making an adaptor to connect the Mazda seats to the stock sliders should be a super easy affair. All you need is drill press, an angle grinder with a cut-off wheel, some bar stock and some patience.

A while back I polled the crowd for the market possibilities of making kit, but only one person expressed an interest, so I gave up on the notion.
 
Thanks again guys, for your helpful feedback.
Every bit of info is valuable.
Car is back home from panel beater Monday, so will be able to start playing with ideas gained here.
Rod H
 
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