Thanks for all of your comments!

Mister_two - Reduction of the lower seat cushion padding is what I have in mind. I would prefer installing a replacement cushion than attempting to hack up the one that I have. I suspect that after a padding trim job the cushion cover would no longer fit properly. NSX owners also routinely remove the lower seat padding to gain a few more inches of headroom. There is plenty of fore-aft adjustment for me, so I don't need to mess with the seatback. I actually sit 2-3 clicks foreward of the rearmost position.

Dented S2k (and I really hope that's not the case!) & s2ktaxi - Aftermarket seats would work, and the Recarros that you suggest are on my list, but I'd rather not spend that much money if I don't have to. I really like the stock seat, it's just a little too high for me.

Mingster - There is very little space between the metal bottom of the seat pan and the floor. I don't think that the fabrication of special rails would be worthwhile. They would work if you wanted to raise the seating position. If I can't get the adjustment I'm looking for with a replacement lower cushion, I'll want to replace the seat(s), so keep me in mind.

TimStevens - Exactly!

I hope that the masters at Townsend Leather, or if necessary, a local upholstry shop may be willing to undertake this project. I realize that it might mean going without a seat bottom for a few weeks, but maybe we can convince someone that is storing thier car for the winter to donate a part.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dented S2K:
[B]What about putting an entirely new type of seat in there?

 

Joshua:

You can count on my interest in a cleanly executed thinner cushion.

I would rather reuse the stock leather covers, but be able to install them on a pad that is 2" thinner.

I too don't want o cut up the stock pad since if an error is made, lumpiness could easily result.

A professional, Rick Quality solution is something I would definitely buy.

Dan.

 

Here's a final alternative: Gain weight, sink lower. Sorry, I couldn't resist it.

 

When I was at Townsend Leather on Monday I discussed replacing the leather covers that Honda sells for so much with ones made from Townsend's higher quality leather, but we did not discuss changing the configuration of the seat. This project will be slow moving, but I'll keep everyone posted as things develop.

 

Have the plastic surgeons invented height-reduction surgery yet?

 

"Bilateral femoral shortening for unaccepted tallness."
J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1992 May;74(3):406-8.
PMID: 1587889; UI: 92268174

Nordsletten L, Holm I, Steen H, Folleras G, Bjerkreim I.

University of Oslo Orthopaedic Hospital, Norway.

We performed bilateral femoral shortening operations on 15 skeletally mature patients (11 women and four men). Their mean height
pre-operatively was 193.5 cm and they were shortened by 5 to 9 cm. We used a subtrochanteric Z-osteotomy with an AO condylar plate in 11 patients, and mid-diaphyseal osteotomy with an intramedullary locking nail in four. After an average follow-up of 8.1 years, isokinetic muscle testing showed that muscle strength was reduced bilaterally in five patients. The strength ratio between hamstrings and
quadriceps muscles was normal in all those treated by subtrochanteric shortening; in those shortened at the mid-shaft the quadriceps was relatively weaker. The result was rated as excellent by 11 patients, very good by three, and good by one.


[This message has been edited by LATEOTT (edited November 16, 2000).]

 

Jeez, can't you read! As I stated before, femoral length is not at issue. When your team develops a procedure for vertebra removal (preferably just above the coccyx) and spinal cord fusion let me know.

Oh, by the way,

Is your paper ready for submission to JIR (Journal of Irreproducible Results)?

 

Joshua, I think trimming from the bottom, back section of the foam cushion is your best bet. Also, since the foam compresses when seated, you should check out your seating position in the car with the foam pad removed to make sure that trimming will be sufficient.

 

Thanks for the suggestion Randy. It would certainly be prudent to check out a lowered position first. After Turkey Day I'll remove the padding and cover again, then reinstall the seat with the bare pan to see how much padding would work. Maybe I'll just throw some closed cell foam pad on the pan and drive around a while ... but it will look awful.

I'm reluctant to start trimming my stock pad for two reasons. 1. I'd like to be able to undo the process if necessary, and 2. I doubt that the stock cover will fit properly with sufficient padding removed.