Do Spider Seats Kill Your Back?

General chat about the car goes in here.
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Razooli
Posts: 176
Joined: Fri May 29, 2009 5:57 am
Your car is a: 1982 Fiat Spider 2000
Location: Newport Beach, CA

Re: Do Spider Seats Kill Your Back?

Post by Razooli »

OK, "out-of-the-box" time. During my search for an inflatable lumbar support, I happened up on this YouTube video - "inflatable Lumbar support to a Mercedes seat"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzfK6bQs ... ata_player

Basically, you stuff an old blood pressure cuff into your seat back and PRESTO - inflatable lumbar support!
As I just happened to have an old cuff lying about, I figured I'd give it a try.

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Thankfully, I didn't throw my back out leaning over while putting the thing in.
You can see how much the lumbar area of the drivers seat is pushed out vs.the passenger seat ... and it feels really good. Much better than the extra padding I had in there. I've got to drive to "The Best of France and Italy" car show this Sunday morning ... a little over an hour's trip, so that'll be a good test.
As for the seat bottom, I find it a lot more comfortable when I remember to take my wallet out of my back pocket. :D
Lynn Shuler
1982 Spider 2000
Remember, this hobby is supposed to be your therapy, not the reason you need therapy.
bobplyler
Patron 2022
Patron 2022
Posts: 823
Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2010 7:58 pm
Your car is a: 1979 spider 2000
Location: Charlotte, NC

Re: Do Spider Seats Kill Your Back?

Post by bobplyler »

They were pretty good when they were new. Especially compared to other seats at the time. 255000 miles have taken their toll.
1979 Fiat Spider (since new)
2005 Lincoln LS (the wife's car)
2003 Chevrolet Cavalier (daily driver)
1999 Honda Shadow VLX 600
1972 Grumman Traveller 5895L (long gone).
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RRoller123
Patron 2020
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Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Do Spider Seats Kill Your Back?

Post by RRoller123 »

Razooli that is awesome! What a great idea.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
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divace73
Posts: 1380
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:59 am
Your car is a: 1980 Fiat 124 Spider Silver
Location: Sydney, Australia

Re: Do Spider Seats Kill Your Back?

Post by divace73 »

lumber support is the key, in my race seat where the lumber foam had gone, I slipped in a cut up bit of foam from an old SAAB 9000 seat and shoved it in a T-shirt, crude but kept me comfortable for a long time, I have since put the original style seats back in but they too need the lumber support
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Here I also made new door cards to replace my blue interior
Cheers David
-=1980 silver Fiat 124 Spider=-
If you want to see pics of my car (and other random stuff) >>click here<< OR
see my >>You tube channel<<
dville

Re: Do Spider Seats Kill Your Back?

Post by dville »

When I bought my '79 it had new Mini-Cooper seats installed in it, that I don't really like. They are super comfortable, though. They sit up a bit high for me.
User avatar
Razooli
Posts: 176
Joined: Fri May 29, 2009 5:57 am
Your car is a: 1982 Fiat Spider 2000
Location: Newport Beach, CA

Re: Do Spider Seats Kill Your Back?

Post by Razooli »

Razooli wrote: I've got to drive to "The Best of France and Italy" car show this Sunday morning ... a little over an hour's trip, so that'll be a good test.
Well, my "blood-pressure cuff" lumbar support worked out quite well. The show was about 60 miles each way, straight freeway driving and the seat felt great all the way up. Coming home, my back was starting to ache from walking and standing so much at the show, but when I started to feel uncomfortable, I changed the inflation on the cuff and it helped a lot. Did that about 4 times on the way home. I guess I'll keep it until the rubber bladder gives out (the cuff is older than the car ... 1st year of practice ... 1976 :shock: ) then get the unit I saw on Amazon.

And I had too much fun playing "tag" with an old Alfa Romeo Giulietta racer all the way home down the 405. :D
Lynn Shuler
1982 Spider 2000
Remember, this hobby is supposed to be your therapy, not the reason you need therapy.
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