ACR Seat Lowering Kit

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

I'm back in civilization now!

You can get a race seat that will retro into the ACR and the Race tech seat from the CC would work fine. The less cushion under you the lower obviously. The question is can you get a wide enough seat that will be comfortable and fit within the cabin. Most race seats are narrow and hard to get in and out, not a bad thing for a track car but... it will also not be adjustable fore and aft.

Hope this helps, MOST seats are too wide in the shoulder area to fit in the Viper, this is the biggest factor when purchasing a race only seat. FYI

Mark

"I guess this thread answers my question whether to trade in my '05 for the '08. I need 2in lowering kit at 6'3 for helmet clearance and overall comfort."

You've really got to wonder about these types of decisions. Most Viper owners, not all, tend to be above average size and height. It just doesn't make any sense to put things under the seat that will preclude a number of us from fitting in these cars. Put the damn things in the trunk, please! If there is an air bag issue, find a way not to invade seating space. The interiors in these cars are crowded enough already.

I have lowered the seats the full two inches in all three of my Vipers and still barely fit with a helmet on. At 6'4", 240, I'm not the biggest guy on the block either.

My response is the same as yours. I was planning to buy an 08 or 09 ACR. Unless someone comes up with an effective method of lowering the seat so that bigger guys can fit in these cars with a helmet on, I'll just buy and mod a 2006 coupe. I do fit in the new Z-06 pretty well with a helmet on and the seat in the OE position.

Question for Mark J, will a race seat (Cobra, Racetek, etc.) fit in the new ACR? If so, would that allow taller guys to fit in this car?

Any other ideas?

Dan

 

[rcl4668]

I'm back in civilization now!

You can get a race seat that will retro into the ACR and the Race tech seat from the CC would work fine. The less cushion under you the lower obviously. The question is can you get a wide enough seat that will be comfortable and fit within the cabin. Most race seats are narrow and hard to get in and out, not a bad thing for a track car but... it will also not be adjustable fore and aft.

Hope this helps, MOST seats are too wide in the shoulder area to fit in the Viper, this is the biggest factor when purchasing a race only seat. FYI

Mark

Mark --

Is it even possible to add a race/shell type seat to a 2008 Viper without interfering with the airbag system and causing an airbag warning light?

/Rich

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

Rich I'm sure it can be done but as has been stated the responsibility for it would be entirely on the owner if they choose this path. There are no guarantees the system will work until something happens unless you want to "test" it out. Then there are the insurance issues on top of that. I can see this being just fine for a track car but one on the street would be taking a risk in the end.

Mark --

Is it even possible to add a race/shell type seat to a 2008 Viper without interfering with the airbag system and causing an airbag warning light?

/Rich

 

[rcl4668]

Thanks for the quick reply Mark. Hope you and the family had a restful vacation.

/Rich

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

Thanks Rich,

No rest for the weary though, my poor wife is an absolute SUPER HERO though lugging and managing 6 big bags, 2 children and 1 car seat from airplane to airplane, rental to hotels, Disneyland to the high Sierras and home. I had to send her a HUGE Bouquet of flowers and roses yesterday just to make her smile again!

What a trooper and truly wonderful wife to have.

Thanks for the quick reply Mark. Hope you and the family had a restful vacation.

/Rich

 

[InjectTheVenom]

TWO children ?

Thanks Rich,

No rest for the weary though, my poor wife is an absolute SUPER HERO though lugging and managing 6 big bags, 2 children and 1 car seat from airplane to airplane, rental to hotels, Disneyland to the high Sierras and home. I had to send her a HUGE Bouquet of flowers and roses yesterday just to make her smile again!

What a trooper and truly wonderful wife to have.

 

[Grant]

Hope this helps, MOST seats are too wide in the shoulder area to fit in the Viper, this is the biggest factor when purchasing a race only seat. FYI

Any idea if a Sparco Evo 2 will fit? I've got one of those in my C5, and I love it. Its way more comfortable, even on long trips, than the stock seats. I haven't spent much time in Viper seats (yet) though.

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

The Sparcos as much as I love them and the Cobra seats are likely to wide at the top. If you take a measurement of the stock seat and shoulder height clearances then check the specs on the seat you want I think you will find it is about 2-3" to wide to fit.

Any idea if a SPARC Evo 2 will fit? I've got one of those in my C5, and I love it. Its way more comfortable, even on long trips, than the stock seats. I haven't spent much time in Viper seats (yet) though.

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

There has been a lot of mis information lately about the whole airbag issue. I did some digging and found these facts along the way for you to use in your decision making regarding seat lowering and air bag operation for both seats.

The position sensor DOES control the air bag by proximity to the steering wheel for force adjustment.

If the seat is lowered and the switch is not installed correctly the force of the airbag is unknown but it WILL still deploy if the conditions are met for it.

All this info is a mute point though because you will be totally liable for the failure should it be modified so buyer beware.

The passenger seats have a new system in the Viper that will correctly determine the weight of an occupant and adjust the airbag to on or off. It has some criteria to be met though as it is MUCH more advanced than any system has been before it.

Between 65 and 105 pounds the system will determine the need for the airbag at all. This will be based on a correctly seated person! This is true for all the levels of adjustment. You must sit in the seat correctly and distribute your weight evenly in the seat without leaning for/aft or side to side. Within seconds after starting the car the system will "lock in" your values. If this is not done correctly and the light is incorrect for your weight it is best to exit the running vehicle and wait 2-6 minutes before re entering the vehicle. at 2 minutes the corrected value is 80% and as the minutes increase to 6 minutes the corrected percentage gets closer to 100. The system also monitors and updates your weight and "position" in the vehicle every 2 minutes after that.

At 120+ pounds the airbag will still be monitored by the system but will be in the ON mode. It is still critical that your weight is evenly distributed though as it senses this every 2 minutes.

There is no sensors in the bolster areas so if you are a wide body like myself and there is a substantial portion of your weight there you may actually get a false reading if you are not as heavy as me per se.

Just a little info for you to share, and it is always good to know the facts when you are planning on any mods that can affect safety.

Take care,

Mark

 

[caseyse]

The position sensor DOES control the air bag by proximity to the steering wheel for force adjustment.

Mark, thank you very much for clearing the air on this.

My installation of Northwind Engineering's 2" kit on an '08 was pretty easy. No modifications outside the provided instructions were necessary.

It looked pretty apparent that the proximity sensor is a simple on/off switch triggered when moving the seat next to a fixed position metal plate. When using the 2-inch kit, I just zip-tied it to the metal frame of the seat to replicate the seat's full back position. I left the pressure sensor under the seat as-is. I'm 6.6" and the 2-inch kit is great.

 

[fireball]

Who carries this kit? I searched Northwind and just found some old posts. If you know the URL of someone who sells the kit I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

I have the 1" and 2" in stock all the time.

800-889-1893
402-677-2935 cell best way till Monday, I can do it all over the phone though.

Who carries this kit? I searched Northwind and just found some old posts. If you know the URL of someone who sells the kit I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[09 Venom]

I don't understand why the '08's are different. Where is all this stuff located on the 03-06 Vipers and why did DC feel the need to move it?

 

[rcl4668]

Who carries this kit? I searched Northwind and just found some old posts. If you know the URL of someone who sells the kit I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,
Greg

Northwind still makes their 2 inch kit as far as I am aware; the only issue is that there is some concern that this kit is not compatible with the 08s new airbag and related hardware.

Also, there is a stereo amp underneath the passenger seat that may also conflict with the install of the 2 inch kit.

Glad to hear at least one person has made the 2 inch kit work in their 08.

/Rich

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

There has been a lot of mis information lately about the whole airbag issue. I did some digging and found these facts along the way for you to use in your decision making regarding seat lowering and air bag operation for both seats.

The position sensor DOES control the air bag by proximity to the steering wheel for force adjustment.

If the seat is lowered and the switch is not installed correctly the force of the airbag is unknown but it WILL still deploy if the conditions are met for it.

All this info is a mute point though because you will be totally liable for the failure should it be modified so buyer beware.

The passenger seats have a new system in the Viper that will correctly determine the weight of an occupant and adjust the airbag to on or off. It has some criteria to be met though as it is MUCH more advanced than any system has been before it.

Between 65 and 105 pounds the system will determine the need for the airbag at all. This will be based on a correctly seated person! This is true for all the levels of adjustment. You must sit in the seat correctly and distribute your weight evenly in the seat without leaning for/aft or side to side. Within seconds after starting the car the system will "lock in" your values. If this is not done correctly and the light is incorrect for your weight it is best to exit the running vehicle and wait 2-6 minutes before re entering the vehicle. at 2 minutes the corrected value is 80% and as the minutes increase to 6 minutes the corrected percentage gets closer to 100. The system also monitors and updates your weight and "position" in the vehicle every 2 minutes after that.

At 120+ pounds the airbag will still be monitored by the system but will be in the ON mode. It is still critical that your weight is evenly distributed though as it senses this every 2 minutes.

There is no sensors in the bolster areas so if you are a wide body like myself and there is a substantial portion of your weight there you may actually get a false reading if you are not as heavy as me per se.

Just a little info for you to share, and it is always good to know the facts when you are planning on any mods that can affect safety.

Take care,

Mark

I don't understand why the '08's are different. Where is all this stuff located on the 03-06 Vipers and why did DC feel the need to move it?

It was new technology in the 08's ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[fireball]

I have the 1" and 2" in stock all the time.

800-889-1893
402-677-2935 cell best way till Monday, I can do it all over the phone though.

I'll call Monday - racing this weekend!
Thanks,
Greg

 

[caseyse]

I have the 1" and 2" in stock all the time.

I would like to shed my 18 Lbs. passenger seat track. Do you know the weight of your 1" passenger seat mounting hardware, preferably one without the added weight of an adjustable track?

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

There is a little weight reduction with the 1" kit but I doubt it would be worth the price to get it IMHO. I can get it for you though if that is really worth it to you. The 2" kit on the other hand gets rid of almost all the weight!

I would like to shed my 18 Lbs. passenger seat track. Do you know the weight of your 1" passenger seat mounting hardware, preferably one without the added weight of an adjustable track?

 

[caseyse]

There is a little weight reduction with the 1" kit but I doubt it would be worth the price to get it IMHO. I can get it for you though if that is really worth it to you. The 2" kit on the other hand gets rid of almost all the weight!

Please see if a 2-inch lowering kit is available for the passenger seat; I'll relocate the amp (and whatever else is stuffed under there) to the trunk. I really want to get rid of that 18 lbs. of weight. I'll give you a call Monday to order.

- Sean

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

I will double check with Northwind on Monday but I think it is only the 1" kit that is side specific. I'll talk to you Monday.

 

[rcl4668]

I will double check with Northwind on Monday but I think it is only the 1" kit that is side specific. I'll talk to you Monday.

This is pic of my Northwind 1 inch kit before install; the label suggests that this kit is in fact side specific.

/Rich

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

Northwind can "make" a passenger side 1" kit but generally does not stock the item. The release and track orientation is a bit different side to side. We had installed the one kit on both sides before but the actual operation was not the best.

 

[Viper X]

FYI,

Had to trim the sides of the Cobra seats to get them to fit into my GTS. Not terribly difficult to do.

Likely, you will have to trim the sides of most race seats to get them to fit into a Gen 3 or 3.5.

 

[Grant]

The Sparcos as much as I love them and the Cobra seats are likely to wide at the top. If you take a measurement of the stock seat and shoulder height clearances then check the specs on the seat you want I think you will find it is about 2-3" to wide to fit.

My Evo 2 in my 'vette is just under 24" across... I'm guessing thats significantly wider than stock Gen 4 seats?

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

The Viper seat at this point is only about 19" without much clearance there. So even at best you would have to trim a good 2.5" off of at least the outside support. This will make the cover fit loose and may still contact the door under side load potentially marring it up FYI.

My Evo 2 in my 'vette is just under 24" across... I'm guessing thats significantly wider than stock Gen 4 seats?

 

[Viper X]

FYI,

The 2-inch seat lowering kit is side specific also.

Dan

 

[ACRBruce]

FYI,

Had to trim the sides of the Cobra seats to get them to fit into my GTS. Not terribly difficult to do.

Likely, you will have to trim the sides of most race seats to get them to fit into a Gen 3 or 3.5.

Has anyone tried to use seat from a Lotus Exige? It has built-in pass throughs for the shoulder belts and narrow enough for the Viper?

You must be registered for see images attach