The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

I've been thinking about upgrading my seats for a while as the original ones destroy my back and don't really hold you in place when having a bit of fun.
I've read a lot of posts about which seats are good etc and have pics of them in the car however I was after a bit more of the details.
If you have changed your seats would be able to get some close up pics of how you did it? I'm thinking what fabrication you did, new brackets, modifications to the seat etc.
If you could get a picture or a drawing I'd be really grateful.

Thanks

Alex

Great write up on MGF seats here https://forum.triumphdolomite.co.uk/vie ... &start=480

Just scroll down a bit........

I’m fitting Fiat seats into mine which looks simple enough. But all will require a bit if headsratching, and fitting slightly differently each time, dependant on your seating position preferences.

I’m stumpy legged and long armed, so should have bought an Alfa!

Brilliant thanks Bish.

That's exactly what I was after

I'm trying to fit some different seats at the moment and at the moment I can't quite make it work. I was pleased though that the author had the same idea as me with double backing two sections of angle section. I'm trying fit RX8 seats but I think they may be ever so slightly too wide but I think they look good and the material also looks similar to original cord material

Love the Fiat seats though!

Just out of interest where abouts are you in Maidstone? I'm in Bearsted so could just be down the road from you!

RX8 seats sound cool! I’ll have to go off and have a look at those.

I’m over in the dark side of Maidstone to you. Barming to be precise.

I’m still scratching my head over the Fiat seats because I want them to be as low as possible so I need to mount them directly to the floor pan. There isn’t a lot I can remove from the Fiat brackets without destroying the seats. Looks like I can add a bracket to the rear two seat mounts and utilitize one of the fronts. Just means one extra hole in the floor pan per seat. Not ideal but ok with me.

That’s if I ever get around to it

Bish wrote: ↑Wed Mar 10, 2021 8:53 pm Great write up on MGF seats here https://forum.triumphdolomite.co.uk/vie ... &start=480

Just scroll down a bit........

I’m fitting Fiat seats into mine which looks simple enough. But all will require a bit if headsratching, and fitting slightly differently each time, dependant on your seating position preferences.

I’m stumpy legged and long armed, so should have bought an Alfa!

Just to add a comment or 2 on James' MGF seat install. Whilst it looks lovely and feels comfy initially, James soon discovered it wasn't as good a fit for him as he hoped. Rather than mess with it, he passed the seats on to me. I actually fitted them to the Carledo in the cowshed at Stoneliegh (easiest way to transport them in a Toledo!) and on the drive home I reached the same conclusion, the reach was too short for my (rather longer than James') frame and the angled up front mount was too high for proper comfort. So when I got them home again, I removed them and separated upper from lower runners and redrilled them parallel to the floor and staggered 3" further back. This gave me enough rearward adjustment for my 6' height and a much more comfy seating position, they stayed in the car like this for a few years till I got my racing seat sorted and refitted and they are now doing prototype duty in the Dolomega till I get my black MGZR seats sorted. Then they'll probably get dyed grey and used in my next project!

So overall, a good seat and a simple conversion, it just needed tweaking a bit!

Like the OP, standard Dolly seats absolutely CRUCIFY my spine, my long body/short leg combo means the backrest doesn't even reach my shoulder blades, side support is near non existent and lumber support completely lacking. I really don't know what to make of this awful seat design, i'm certainly not the only one who hates Dolomite seats. I used to run a 64 Volvo Amazon which (even then) had ergonomically designed seats, far superior to those in the Dolly. To this day and including many moderns, the Amazon seats are some of the best i've ever sat in, I could drive that car 400 miles without a break and get out fresh as a daisy, 50 miles on a Dolly seat and I can barely stand up and I HURT!

Steve

I’m going RX8 heated leather.

After lockdown is ended.

Here are a few pictures of the seats in the car, not fitted yet, just resting in place.
I really like the seat base as the black material matches the original cord material. I'm not 100% sure about the back of the seat - it feels a little bulky for a small car. I think I need to fit them to get used to them before I make a full decision! A bit chicken and egg! They are really supportive and comfortable and seem to really hold you in place.
I'm having a bit of a fight to get them in as the runners are quite a bit wider and very tight on the transmission tunnel. I want to do it with no cutting to the car so I can change back if I ever choose.

Do these comments just relate to front seats ?

When I get round to changing seats, I’ll want fronts and back to match...

RichardHyde wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 10:47 am Do these comments just relate to front seats ?

When I get round to changing seats, I’ll want fronts and back to match...

I’m thinking of using the RX8 rear seats as well.
But I need 3 seats the RX is only 2.
Good Upholstery/Trimmer may be needed.

RichardHyde wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 10:47 am Do these comments just relate to front seats ?

When I get round to changing seats, I’ll want fronts and back to match...

The ONLY full set that I know to fit a Dolomite is the (now very hard to source) early Rover 45 saloon seats. Later saloons and all hatches have a 60/40 split folding rear backrest which can't be squeezed down to fit as the non folding early saloon one can.

I have a black leather Rover 45 set here which I bought off ebay a few years ago. The guy swore they were saloon seats in several messages that went back and forth before I bought them, turned out they were from a later saloon and had the split backrest!

The front seats fit no problem, fitting is same as the MGF ones. If you want them to play with, you (or anyone else interested) can have the full set for £100 which is less than I paid, they are just taking up space here!

For the Dolomega, I've now gone with a pair of charcoal coloured half leather MGZR front seats teamed with stock (once) black Sprint rear seats to which headrests have been added. It's a good enough match for me, aside from sleeping there on the RBRR, it's unlikely i'll ever use the rear seat myself!

Steve