| Author | Message | ||
     Clifford Donley Yet to post message Username: flatus Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2009 |
Greetings from South Carolina! I'm a new owner of a 1984 Spirit. She's a fine old girl with few miles and a pleasant disposition. There is one difficulty, though--a lack of legroom for this 6ft-3in, 265-pound driver. I did search back through 900 days and haven't seen the topic discussed. That makes me think that I may have missed an obvious solution beyond toggling the seat motors. So, I ask for help from anyone who has experienced and overcome the same difficulty. | ||
| Jeffrey McCarthy Prolific User Username: jefmac2003 Post Number: 176 Registered: 5-2007 |
Clifford - there is a set of seat rails produced by the factory precisely to overcome this problem for the taller driver. These are screwed onto the 4 seat support pillars and set the driver's seat back about 2 or 3 inches. However, this moves the seat motor anchor screws as well (the holes should already be in the car floor) which seems to require a small bit of carpet trimming. I bought a set because I have the opposite problem to you and intended to reverse them to move my seat forward. This was because the floor based dip switch on my Shadow was just a smidgeon too hard to reach comfortably. I've decided to do the gear lever relay modification discussed elsewhere on this forum instead. I will look up the part number for you if I can find it on the rails. It would then be a matter of checking if they are applicable to the Spirit as well. You are more than welcome to them for a modest sum if these turn out to be what you need and they're not available to you somewhere closer to home. | ||
| Jeffrey McCarthy Prolific User Username: jefmac2003 Post Number: 177 Registered: 5-2007 |
Here are some photos of the said parts. The label on the back says 'MOUNTING BAR 91281 ADV.NOTE - 167487047128' There are 2 smaller bars in the set as well which go under the seat motor - I assume they have a different part number. As you can see they are just heavy steel square bar cut to an appropriate length with countersunk screw holes   I assume ADV.NOTE refers to an advisory note somewhere about fitting them which probably, amongst other things, advises about the carpet trimming. Cheers, and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. Jeff | ||
| Clifford Donley New User Username: flatus Post Number: 3 Registered: 12-2009 |
Thanks so much for your reply, Jeffrey. I will indeed be pleased to take them off your hands if they are mechanically compatible. Thanks, again! | ||
| Jeffrey McCarthy Prolific User Username: jefmac2003 Post Number: 178 Registered: 5-2007 |
Clifford - if you remove the driver's seat cushion (tilt the back as far as possible if you haven't done it before) you will see that the seat rails rest on 4 metal pillars - I think; I've never actually been up close and personal with a Spirit - I'm just guessing they're not too different from a Shadow. The seat rails are screwed in with 4 screws that go through the rails and the pillars into a square nut under the (hollow) pillar. On a Shadow these screws are 131/4 inches apart, i.e. from front to rear - as are the holes in the rails pictured above. This might be an easier way to check than spending time researching if this part number also applies to Spirits as well as Shadows. Unless anybody out there has come across this fitting before and knows off the top of their head? | ||
| Clifford Donley New User Username: flatus Post Number: 4 Registered: 12-2009 |
Thanks, Jeff. I'll be out of town most of tomorrow, but will check it when I get back. The measurements will help greatly. I'll be in touch shortly | ||
| Clifford Donley New User Username: flatus Post Number: 5 Registered: 12-2009 |
Jeff, I just removed the seat cushion and looked through things trying to see if they are the same as on the Shadow; I simply can't tell without disassembling things. I did look in the parts book but couldn't find any listing on mounting bars. I did find an illustration of how my seat looks: http://rrtechnical.info/sz/tsd6167/8089_4/IMAGES/S/S51.pdf Does that appear to be the same as yours? Interesting thought went through my mind as I removed the seat cushion--I had an irresistible urge to search for loose pocket change. There was none. | ||
| Jeffrey McCarthy Prolific User Username: jefmac2003 Post Number: 179 Registered: 5-2007 |
Clifford - the diagrams indicate that the seat is quite different to the Shadow. However, I'd suggest you keep researching parts as there probably is a set of aftermarket rails for the Spirit. Failing that there are no doubt any number of workshops that could make you a custom set. Perhaps if you sent out a few emails to various RR specialists, in the UK especially, you'd eventually find someone who has dealt with this issue before. Try some of these links for starters. http://www.rollsroyceforums.com/forums/links.html#IndSales Cheers, and Good Luck. Jeff | ||
| Clifford Donley New User Username: flatus Post Number: 6 Registered: 12-2009 |
Thanks very much, Jeff, for your help and advice. I'll do as you suggest. Have a good Christmas, Cliff |
