Defender front seats

[LandyAndy]

Hi People
Front seats in a Defender.
Has anybody removed the console and shifted the seats inboard by around 2 inches????
I think the seating positon is too crowded,nice having a big centre console but comfort is more important!!!
Ideas please
Andrew

[KarlB]

A critical issue would be the centre seat belt mounting. If you need to move it as a consequence of moving the seat you probably need an engineers certificate, as technicaly you may have made the vehicle 'unroadworthy'.

Cheers
KarlB

[abaddonxi]

I thinking moving them that far in would move the outer seat rails over the top of the underseat boxes.

Which would give you all kinds of trouble - not so much on the driver's side, but making access to the battery very difficult.

[Bundalene]

I have moved the handbrake to a position between the front drivers seat and the console (quite common mod). This improves comfort for myself with more leg room.

It is a pretty simple job using a D1 or D2 handbrake.

Erich

[rick130]

Andy, get used to driving with the window down for more elbow room :D

In all seriousness 110's from the eighties had more room as the doors were thinner.
No winder mechanism inside the to take up valuable space. ;)
I've sometimes thought of going retro just to get a bit more space and the too cool Series type door handles rather than the plastic Austin or whatever they are ones we have to put up with now. :D

[87County]

Hi People
Front seats in a Defender.
Has anybody removed the console and shifted the seats inboard by around 2 inches????
.........

Yes, I have a home-made supplementry seat frame onto which the seat bolts as per usual. The frame uses the original seat mountings. It offsets the seat inboard 1" and up about 3/4" and makes a vast difference (for me anyway)

[cewilson]

:) I had to do the opposite - move them 2" outwards to fit a centre seat in. That's on a 93 Defender 200 tDi.

And Rick - I agree totally. I've smashed a few of them crap plastic door handles now - would prefer the older style anyday!

[rick130]

:) I had to do the opposite - move them 2" outwards to fit a centre seat in. That's on a 93 Defender 200 tDi.

And Rick - I agree totally. I've smashed a few of them crap plastic door handles now - would prefer the older style anyday!


I've also had three buttons break off.
Great anti-theft feature, you just need to carry a screwdriver around to push into the hole where the button used to be :D

I've only replaced the drivers door one so far. It's only an issue when I have a passenger and they can't work out how to get in :lol2:

[farmport]

I have shifted my seat across 30mm and 70mm back using 2 pieces of 50mm flatbar between the original sliders and the seat frame. I rotated the seatbelt mount 180degto clear the new seat position and also rotated the seatbelt clip 180deg on the mount to get the correct orientation. This should be engineered but I am satisfied that all is as strong or stronger than factory so that will do me. The seatbelt mount clears both the seat and the console.

Solving the handbrake issue is ridiculously easy. With the handle in the off position push it towards the transmission tunnel and it will bend about 30deg. It does not interfere with efficiency or cause undue wear. I have done it to 3 so far and my current defender has had the handbrake engaged and disengaged an average of twice a day for 8 years. Sounds crude but works very well.

[isuzurover]

In all seriousness 110's from the eighties had more room as the doors were thinner.
No winder mechanism inside the to take up valuable space. ;)

??? Only 1983 110s (which never came to OZ) and military perenties have sliding windows. My doors are just as thick as a later defender.

[Jeff]

I drove a TD5 Hardtop the other day, and was shocked to find it had more shoulder room. I went to brace myself for the Spit Bends by putting my shoulder against the door frame, and as it had no rear doors, I leaned quite a lot further than I would in the wagon before touching the side. I didn't realise I did this before. I also kept putting my left arm on where the console should have been only to find there wasn't one.

I remember reading years ago, the later Defenders had the seat moved in already from the earlier 110, I thought the steering wheel would be in the wrong spot if you moved the seat.

Jeff

:rocket:

[JamesH]

Nah, Andrew. Leave the money in your wallet, and your tools in the shed. Sure, it's a driving/ergonomic position that takes getting used to but once you do you can climb in and drive forever.

Same with the handbrake. never had the remotest inclination to move it. I'm 6'2" and admittedly fairly weedy but I find it as comfortable as a Penfolds Para Port in a club chair by a fire on a cold night. It's breezey and refreshing like the Doctor coming in mid arvo just as you knock the top of your first one at Geordie Bay . Best driving position on the road, by far.

[agrojnr]

Andy just builf a custom seat box (as I am) and mount the seats where you like

The WA laws states all mountings need to be 75mmx50mmx3mm plate so Im making my seat box from 3mm plate with captive nuts and my engineer says it will fly through

Adam

[miky]

The WA laws states all mountings need to be 75mmx50mmx3mm plate so Im making my seat box from 3mm plate with captive nuts and my engineer says it will fly through

Adam

Interesting. I have had my Puma 110 seats out a couple of times and I don't think the metal that the seat bolts are fastened to are anywhere near 3mm thick.

[agrojnr]

No there not but I am putting in aftermarket seats so it was just easyer to remake the whole thing so I don't have any problems.

Landrover use's braced thin ali which is fine if you use standard equipment.

But like andy my seats sit inward about 30mm

Adam

[isuzurover]

Interesting. I have had my Puma 110 seats out a couple of times and I don't think the metal that the seat bolts are fastened to are anywhere near 3mm thick.

At least on a series, the seat box is up to 3 layers of 1.2 mm aluminium in places. Series/110 seats also have at least twice the number of bolts that most other cars use to hold the seats on. So in other words the loads are distributed quite well.

Modification rules need to be generic and account for all vehicles. That is why they stipulate 75xXXx3 mm steel "washers" with rounded corners below each mount point. Most cars have a floor of 1 - 1.2 mm pressed steel, which is thickened where the seat mounts are. These washes are intended to act as the thickening, and spread the load, if you mount the seat in a different location.





The WA laws states all mountings need to be 75mmx50mmx3mm plate


When I fitted aftermarket seats to my IIA in QLD I was told 75x75x3 steel plates with rounded corners. Though I am sure there are differences from state-state. Are you making the seat box from ally or steel?

[agrojnr]

I will be making mine from steel so it will add about 100kg of weight but Im going to make it in sections.

Passenger and drivers side will both have conpartments under them for batterys etc

Adam

[isuzurover]

I will be making mine from steel so it will add about 100kg of weight but Im going to make it in sections.

Passenger and drivers side will both have conpartments under them for batterys etc

Adam

If you are doing that, maybe fit hatches to the front or side, so you don't need to remove the seat/base to get access?

Personally I would fit the batteries in only one, so you have room for tools etc in the 2nd?

[LandyAndy]

Nah, Andrew. Leave the money in your wallet, and your tools in the shed. Sure, it's a driving/ergonomic position that takes getting used to but once you do you can climb in and drive forever.

Same with the handbrake. never had the remotest inclination to move it. I'm 6'2" and admittedly fairly weedy but I find it as comfortable as a Penfolds Para Port in a club chair by a fire on a cold night. It's breezey and refreshing like the Doctor coming in mid arvo just as you knock the top of your first one at Geordie Bay . Best driving position on the road, by far.

Best I get my DEARLY BELOVED BLACKBETTY out of hospital and enjoy my Pimms in comfort James:p:p:p:p
We need to catch up again sometime!!!!
Andrew

[rick130]

??? Only 1983 110s (which never came to OZ) and military perenties have sliding windows. My doors are just as thick as a later defender.

Thanks Ben, been a long time since I've been in a mid eighties 110 so got my wires well and truly crossed there with the Perentie.