rear seat mod for mini tubs w/pictures

[Wile E]

I notched and mini tubbed last year, finally getting around to the interior. This mod is NOT necessary to fit your rear seat, with some minor tweaking to my upper seat frame, the seat would fit "OK". But since I'm having new custom seat covers made, I want the seat to be right. Also, I just like to make things harder than they need to be.
Here's how much room the mini tubs take:

Here's the section of seat frame I removed:

Then I removed some of the seat faom, formed and welded in some new 3/16" steel rod. I put some rubber hose around the rods where the foam that left is a little thinner than I like. Once they are re-covered I post the finished seats.

 

[JrJohnston]

Have the upholstery shop put some 1/2" foam back in where you took out the other. It will compress enough to still fit, and keep the bars from being felt if leaned against.

 

[454muscle]

Wow, nice work Wile E! Can't wait to see what the rear interior looks like when done. It's not that you made it "harder" , it's just that you're doing it "right" the first time.
What wheels/tires do you plan on fitting in those mini tubs?

 

[Wile E]

Wow, nice work Wile E! Can't wait to see what the rear interior looks like when done. It's not that you made it "harder" , it's just that you're doing it "right" the first time.
What wheels/tires do you plan on fitting in those mini tubs?

Not sure on the tires/wheels just yet( probally cannot afford them this year) I've rolled the lips and mocked up with a 10" wide rim with 5" to 5-1/2" backspacing. Boxed the factory upper and lower control arms,would love to go coil-overs, but it's not in the budget. By the way..NICE GP
Thanks JrJohnston for the 1/2"foam tip.

 

[FE3X CLONE]

Nice work.

Not sure what size wheel/tire you plan on running but with what you have done, you should be able to fit more than just a 10" rim.

I notched the frame on my '87 and then moved the tubs in just a little and could fit a 17x11" rim with 6" of back spacing and a 315/35R17 tire without issue. In fact 335/35R17 tires fit as well although are a bit tight.

This is all we moved my tubs in by:

Doing all that work you might as well use every inch of it that you can!

 

[Wile E]

hmmm...335/35R17, now that has me thinking....

 

[3XBrownCutty]

looks like an awesome car jsut from what i've seen so far! keep it up! 8)

 

[Bumpin1ohmSS]

Sweet! Cant wait to see it all done up. Nice work.

Elco Warren 8)
80zBabiezCC

 

[JrJohnston]

No problem Wile E, I have fixed a few seats like that after being mini tubbed.