Made some Stainless longer seat rails for the Puma. $20 and 2 hours.

[spudboy]

I've been meaning to do something about the 'closeness' of the steering wheel and dash to my long legs for ages. Got a couple of free hours this afternoon and decided to knock up a prototype design for a seat extender, like the Mudd Rails from the UK.

I bought some stainless steel strap (25mm wide). 4m cost $22 and I only used less than half, so that was maybe $10 or $15. Each rail was 535mm long, so you need buy at least 1.2m. I had a few old HT Hex bolts and some SS washers to add to that from my box'o'stuff, so pretty cheap all up.

Drilled a few holes. Bent up a 'prop' and welded it to the strap:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/general-chat/38633d1314965315-made-some-stainless-longer-seat-rails-puma-20-2-hours-pumassseatrails-001.jpg

I left a bigger hole above the prop so I could get a 10mm socket through, to do up the back bolt:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/general-chat/38634d1314965339-made-some-stainless-longer-seat-rails-puma-20-2-hours-pumassseatrails-002.jpg

New rails fitted:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/general-chat/38635d1314965359-made-some-stainless-longer-seat-rails-puma-20-2-hours-pumassseatrails-003.jpg

Seat goes back Waaaaay further:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/general-chat/38636d1314965384-made-some-stainless-longer-seat-rails-puma-20-2-hours-pumassseatrails-004.jpg

The front bolts at the end of the seat rails go all the way through the seat-box, with a wide flat washer and a SS NyLock nut underneath.

Nice easy job for a sunny Friday afternoon. The obvious benefit is more leg-room, but surprisingly gear changes are much easier, and less clunking between the gears. Not sure why. Must be in a better position to control the clutch or something.

Cheers
David

[slug_burner]

Nice work.

[spudboy]

Have taken a closer look at things today, and the rails may in fact be a tad too long!

I made them 535mm, but maybe 500mm would have been sufficient. When the seat is all the way back it is actually a bit too far from the pedals/wheel and the seatbelt retractor lightly rubs on the outside runner at full extension. Not serious, but the next prototype will be a little shorter. I think I will put on a stop so it can't go back all the way.

Cheers
David

[pfillery]

I did a similar thing on a little suzuki sierra when I had one of them, worked a treat. Only thing I did find though is that as an actual modification that involved seating, technically it had to be mod plated/engineered because you altered the driving position. Not sure how strict they are in SA but it would pay to check it out before going too far.

[PAT303]

Have taken a closer look at things today, and the rails may in fact be a tad too long!

I made them 535mm, but maybe 500mm would have been sufficient. When the seat is all the way back it is actually a bit too far from the pedals/wheel and the seatbelt retractor lightly rubs on the outside runner at full extension. Not serious, but the next prototype will be a little shorter. I think I will put on a stop so it can't go back all the way.

Cheers
David

So you charge how much for a set;). Pat