does anyone know if 356 GT seats will fit in a pan based car? I've always hated the look of the 80s recaros in my envemo and wanted something more period correct. These GT seats look like speedster seats but a little bigger. 
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Measure their width and compare them to what's in there now.
never as comfortable IMHO
That's the thing. The recaros are really really comfortable.
I have tried speedster seats, roadster seats ...now recaro's and for me there is no comparison but then I have a tall torso..
I did 12 hour days in my recaros ...no pain, no sore spots ...great seats.
Only problem I had was having to do pit stops next time might use a texas catheter
Paul You could always get them redone with a different style centers... I did it on mine to take away the standard look... Ray
Check with Carey at Special Edition. He has an Envemo coupe that he splashed the body mold off of for their new coupe project. It is one of his personal cars but I don't know what kind of seats he has in it.
Got a picture of the different centers ray? My seats are similiar to the 911 sport seat. They probably can be tweaked to look even closer.
Lane if I remeber correctly I think he sold those seats.
sure ... here goes. I have seen this style on a few porsches as well it just adds a bit of break in all that leather. Some have used suede in the centre as well and even hounds tooth material... depending on the leather colour of course.
On the 356 b or C that Foose did he used read leather and cloth plaid center.
Ray
IIRC, when I was swapping out my 914 seats for something closer to original 356B coupe seats, I found that on my pan-based CMC the available width of the floor pan was something like 16-3/4"......That's it. The only seat I found that would fit was a 914 seat because the 914 pan is essentially a Beetle sedan pan.
Even worse, it tapers inward as you go farther back in the floor well because the rear corners are radiused, not square.
You gain a little more space left-to-right as you go up, meaning that you can taper the seat bases somewhat to make them fit (if necessary) without compromising the actual seat structure.
I believe (and this is just speculation) that the 356 GT seat might be a 17" or 18" wide base structure (Carey would know) and the bases might be a tad too wide for a CMC pan.
See I don't know about the pan on my car. I have to check with Carey. The VW Brasilia was slightly wider but it does tapper to the back. They say the floor pans are similiar to ghia.
I seem to recall someone using Miata seats.
Gordon is correct.
GT seats were a bit wider, but otherwise they are the same. John Willhoit carries them, as do Fibersteel (as pictured).
I'm pretty sure Carey will know (Carey knows A LOT about pretty much everything, I find!). If he doesn't, however, you could also call Russ at Fibersteel, as he has the GT seats there, and has had a number of speedster replicas there, so I'm sure if there is a fitment issue, he would also know.
Unless you're a bigger guy who demands GT seats because speedster seats are too snug on the sides, I'd stick with Speedster seats. Carey makes them, and can do them in many different materials. I have carbon fiber ones for my real 356 outlaw, and they are superb. WAY lighter than fiberglass, stronger, and no one will ever know once they are upholstered!
Paul, have them redone like Ray's. You already have seats that cost a grand and are adjustable. You can even loose the head rest for a more sporty look. Get your self some German square weave carpet while your refreshing the interior.
Paul, my headrest are great for long distance driving. Sorry Marty
Personally, now that I have Recaro's you would never get be back into the other style seats. Not that they are not more period correct but simply that at some point you have to consider the body you have and get some comfort, especially if you plan on driving the car for long trips. Remember I am a tall guy but with a tall torso so this is my solution. I found the pattern by looking at all sorts of P pictures of their seats.
If the 356 you own is an idol to worship in your garage and polish all day then you don't need a comfortable seat. I find it really surprising when I see a 6 y.o. car with 1000 miles. I wonder why it has not been enjoyed. I like what El Guapo says, DRIVE IT.... to the others I suggest you keep shining Just kidding. Ray
Marty Grzynkowicz posted:Paul, have them redone like Ray's. You already have seats that cost a grand and are adjustable. You can even loose the head rest for a more sporty look. Get your self some German square weave carpet while your refreshing the interior.
Marty. I'm leaning that way. What you don't like the original envemo brown shag carpet. Lol! Yes. square weave is in the future. I am contemplating a full comestic restoration. After 11 years and a lot of driving id like to have the paint redone and the interior.
Oh and I'm 6'2" so I get the need for comfort.
Have you seen the Chip Foose overhaulin of a 63 Porsche, white was the final colour he changed the rear window, the front signal lights were removed, the headlights were changed and the bumpers were nicely reduced in size anyway if your up to some changes it makes it a nice outlaw. Look it up. Ray
Wasn't the Foose link just posted again yesterday? Have a look.
Yeah, and every time I see that Foose 356 coupe, I wonder what it would look like with a split oval rear window, like the early VW's - Ups the cool factor, in my estimation.
PaulEnvemo posted:does anyone know if 356 GT seats will fit in a pan based car? I've always hated the look of the 80s recaros in my envemo and wanted something more period correct. These GT seats look like speedster seats but a little bigger.
The GT seat above is just wider with the same dimensions of a regular Speedster seat. They are comfortable, but I was swimming in them. They were to wide for me (6' 195lb size 36 pants). Unless your a really wide guy, I would stay with the Speedster seat so you don't move around when you take corners.
Also, if you get new seats made, add heaters to them. Really nothing betting than toasty seats in chilly times.
I have about 45k miles on my early-style Beck Speedster seats and have found them far more comfortable than expected, even on the annual Carlisle trip. The padding is a bit less supportive than it used to be, which should be an easy fix.
If you want to know what fits and what doesn't, I echo Anand's recommendation: call Russ at Fibersteel and talk to him. When I bought my seats from him a few years back, he had narrow, OE 356, and jumbo sizes for various needs. He'll be able to tell you about fitment.
FWIW, a speedster seat set up properly (for your body type) is WAY more comfortable than the "comfort" seats in VSs, and 100% OK for very, very long days, if that's what you are after.
Suggestion: Come to Carlisle where you can try out all sorts of different styles of seats in one place, and have a hell of a good time doing it. Just a thought.
Lane Anderson posted:Suggestion: Come to Carlisle where you can try out all sorts of different styles of seats in one place, and have a hell of a good time doing it. Just a thought.
I'm thinking about coming either the Friday or Saturday just for the day. How is the turn out Friday ?
Excellent as it is usually the best day, but much of it is not spent at the showfield as that's the day we have our main cruise event. After it's completed we usually wind up at the field for a while. Saturday is usually all at the showfield. Are you close enough to Carlisle to do a day trip?
I've done it years ago for the muscle car swap meet. It might be much in the cabrio. I have to see. Bdw Russ has some amazing seats on that site. Dig the plaid stuff. I really need to head down this year because I would like to talk to Carey about a refresh of this car. We met a few years back at his shop to discuss a twin grill roadster project. At the time he did not have envemo molds or a roadster.
crhemi (Bill) posted:
Yeah, a long-hood 911 with those seats just makes me weak in the knees. I'd LOVE somebody to splash a mold at some point and start popping them out.
Carey?
Stan...I think I know someone who makes sport seats for long hoods (a bit different than these). His name is Stefan (classiccarseats.com).
Carey and I own a 1968 911L together that is just about done...these seats would be SUPER cool...
Anand,
The seats are all that, but what I was really talking about was splashing a mold of the car. The world is ready for a glass longhood.
Stan, that is a BRILLIANT idea. I'd buy one! Especially if Carey built it...
arajani posted:Stan, that is a BRILLIANT idea. I'd buy one! Especially if Carey built it...
Yeah, me too. Think of the possibilities. It could be set up with a modern suspension and brakes, and the various cradles to accept multiple powerplants and transaxles. The rust-worm would be a complete non-issue, and you'd never be buying all of the stuff you just take out and store when building a "proper" outlaw 911 anyhow.
I'll take mine with a black mouse-fuzz interior (and those seats), a full cage, and a 3.2/6 with PMOs and all the goodies. Paint that dude Polar Silver, and never look back.
A nice, strong, 2000 lb outlaw is completely in the realm of possibility. With prices the way they are for anything air-cooled, it might even be worth taking a risk with Porsche AG's legal department.
Stan, Amen to that. I'd build the same car, some color. Wish you lived closer so we can go in on it together! That way I'd only get in half as much trouble with my wife!
Well, if you ever need a pool boy who doesn't really like cleaning pools, I'll move out and live in the gardener's shed.
I could be like your bald, old Magnum PI. I'll only need the glass 911 long-hood on days ending with "Y". 
You guys remember this one from the 80's. The panzer. Mounted on a VW pan.
Art: what you show are original 356 (B, I think) coupe seats, which are way more comfortable than BOb's second, and so-called "comfort", seat.
Bob's second seat is usually good for 3-4 hour stretches. ARt's 356 seats are good for all day.
Stan: you should find out where Cory's current seats came from. I got them from Micky Donatella (I think) and they went to Cory via Dr. Clock. Most comfortable seats I've ever had this side of real Recarros. Which brings up the point that, if you really want long range seats, a pair or Recarros is all you need.
My personal opinion is that Speedster seats, of any kind, are at the bottom of the comfort scale, and good for a little over an hour of comfortable drive time, 914 seats one step up (2 hours), "Roadster" style 356 seats a bit better (3 hours) and Recarros are the pinnicle (all day).
Gordon;
You are correct. The seats I posted are out of an Emory 356B Coupe.
Art
