Does your snake have a lowered seat?

[tarfungo]

I'm considering lowering my RT snake seat. I'm 6'3" and while I feel comfortable driving in my stock setup, I'm wondering what I will gain and/or lose by lowering drive experience wise? (Aside from being lower in the seat! )

Any lowered seat drivers have any impressions to share? Is the drive better, the same or ? after lowering? Is it harder to judge parking and close distance objects? Also, is the 1" adjustable lowering kit enough or is the with the non-adjustable 2" kit the way to go?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Snakester]

The seat lowering was a HUGE improvement.

Before I had my eyes smack in the middle of the sun visor. I had to crouch down a bit, or lean the seatback to see well under the top of the windshield frame.

And because the view through the windshield was half filled with the hood, it was kinda awkward to see the road well.

Plus I had an uneasy feeling because the top of my head was slightly higher than the height of the windshield and sports cap (rollbar) on my R/T10.

But with the seat lowered, I could leave the seatback upright and actually look straight through the center of the windshield. And subsequently I could see a 3rd less hood, and a 3rd more road and sky now visible.

Plus I can now set a yardstick across from the windshield to the sports cap and my head fits easily below it, and I can easily fit inside with a helmet (for racing) with the hard top on, without being scrunched.

The only downside that I can see is that before (when the seat was higher) the bottom seat cushion better supported the underside of my legs, and now they are slightly above the front edge of the seat. But some of that can be adjusted with the pedal distance.

Along with K&N filters, smooth tubes, and high flow cats, seat lowering for people 6' tall and over can be a great choice with mostly all benefits, and little cost/effort or other downsides for the modification on Vipers.

-Dean.

 

[Nasty 10]

I'm just under 6' and put the 2" lowering kit on both seats. The best mod I have done to date on my car. I might be selling both kits, so if your interested PM or email me. Also I'm in the bay area

 

[tarfungo]

Snakester,

Thanks for your thoughts! What do you have? 1" or 2"?

 

[Detlef]

I am 6'2" and put in the 1" lowering kit so as to keep fore/aft adjustability on the seat since my wife drives the snake as well. Main reason fort he kit was to be able to drive with a helmet on for AX events. Secondary bonus was the ability to do heel/toe without needing to have the steering wheel all the way up.

 

[Andrew/USPWR]

I lowered mine 1'' for more helmet space and I did lower both seats so they always looked even.
Like Snakester, I noticed the pitch was lower in the front of the seats. So I bought longer bolts and added washers to lilt it back more. It give your legs the support. Other wise it feels like your going to slide out of the seat.

 

[Snakester]

Snakester,

Thanks for your thoughts! What do you have? 1" or 2"?

Glad to help. My mechanic modded the seat brackets, taking out almost 2".
Equivalent to the 2" Northwind kit.

 

[Flyng Low]

I'm 6'4" and have had the same positive experience with the 1" adjustable kit. Improved view through the windshield, better wind protection with the top off my 94 RT/10, and room for a helmit with the hardtop on. I painted the kit flat black before installing because I didn't like the chrome.

I have a short wife (5'4") and she likes the passenger seat where it is, so I have an extra, new in the box, 1" adjustable lowering kit that I bought planning to use it for the right seat but did not install. I'll sell it for 25% off retail to the first taker, and FedEx it to you on my account. Email me at [email protected] for fastest response.
Curt

 

[Lawrenzo]

I lowered mine 1'' for more helmet space and I did lower both seats so they always looked even.
Like Snakester, I noticed the pitch was lower in the front of the seats. So I bought longer bolts and added washers to lilt it back more. It give your legs the support. Other wise it feels like your going to slide out of the seat.

I lowered mine 2" and also propped up the front of the seat to give better thigh support- I would highly recomended it.

 

[Phil Lee 94 red RT]

I'm 6'5". I did the 2" kit from Northwinds. I needed the headroom because of the AP hardtop. I can't believe the difference the kit made. I feel normal driving now. Always felt like a bug was going to hit me in the forehead.

 

[Andrew/USPWR]

I like flying lows advise of painting them black first. I don't like the silver look either.

 

[Casey]

6'6" with a 2" kit. Will give you alot more room than you would imagine! Knee room, head room, better front view!

I don't need to adjust it, as NO ONE else is driving it! Well, except Jason Heffner, and I think he uses a booster seat when he is driving it!!

 

[unreelviper]

Hey Casey, we do have a lot in common. I'm also 6'6" and I also installed the 2" kit. It really makes for a more comfortable ride. It's funny seeing Jason Heffner in my drivers seat with the lowering kit installed . Oh well, he is the only guy driving it so who cares about moving the seat forward and back.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

If you change to aluminum racing seats, they have very little thickness and you can lower your butt 2" by simply mounting the aluminum seat on the OEM adjusting rails.

 

[SNKEBIT]

I just lowered the back of my seat by modifying the rear legs, keeps support under my thighs!!!!!!!!! Huge improvement!!!!!!

 

[JKVIPER]

I'm 6'2" and installed the 1" lowering kit. It worked out real well. Now I have plenty of head clearance and am no longer looking into the sun visor. Only down side is the kit lowers the front of the seat as well and there is now less thigh support.

I also installed the Roe Clutch Pedal lowering kit which really helped to provide more left leg room. My left knee can now clear the steering wheel while shifting.

 

[01sapphireGTS]

I have the 1" kit on my drivers seat. I'm 5' 9" tall so I probably didn't need it, but I like it. Now I need to get the pass side done so the seats are even when looking in.

 

[carguy07]

I want to do SNAKBIT's version. Slam the back to the floor but leave the front stock height. I just don't want to butcher my stock rails.

Anyone have GENI rails for sale?

Think Northwinds would do a version of this??

 

[Photog1]

I am 6'4" and I had Roanoke Motors install the adjustable lowering kit. It made a big difference not only with my head sticking out above the windshield on my RT10 but it helped with my leg room. I kept hitting the headlight switch with my knee and I had to drive with the tilt wheel all the way up. Since I am the only one that drives the Viper I almost wish I would of had the non-adjustable installed for the even more room.

 

[CO GTS]

I'm 6'5" and rather than spending the money on the seat lowering kit I put it towards Racing seats / harnesses. I fabricated a mounting kit that bolted these seats straight to the floor. Now I have more room than I will ever need and a great track setup.

 

[carguy07]

SNAKBIT do you have any pictures of your brackets? Did you have to cut and weld?

 

[SNKEBIT]

no pics. Yes, I cut and welded. Took about an hour and a half. You could do the 1" kit and put washers or a 1" tube under each rail in front and raise it back up for thigh support!!!