Freelander 1 Fitting Aftermarket Seats - SRS etc

I need to fit an aftermarket driver's seat to my Freelander 1 Facelift 2004. I have chosen a Cobra Classic RS. But this really good YouTube guide shows the potential problems:-



It would be no picnic. The main problem is that the floor area is not flat as it includes part of the transmission tunnel. The factory frame has an approximately 50mm stagger to cope with this. I'm not saying that a bracket/adapter could not be fabricated but it could be tricky.

The second issue is the SRS system - very well explained in the video. Seat replacement requires this to be disconnecting permanently which would obviously be a safety issue. And then trying to persuade your insurers that it was a good idea would be virtually impossible - because it isn't!.

So I would propose fitting the new seat to the existing base/runner.
The least worse option. Really just modifying ( pretty radically admittedly) the existing seat.

Any better ideas?

Many thanks,

Clive

Moosekeeper said:

I need to fit an aftermarket driver's seat to my Freelander 1 Facelift 2004. I have chosen a Cobra Classic RS. But this really good YouTube guide shows the potential problems:-



It would be no picnic. The main problem is that the floor area is not flat as it includes part of the transmission tunnel. The factory frame has an approximately 50mm stagger to cope with this. I'm not saying that a bracket/adapter could not be fabricated but it could be tricky.

The second issue is the SRS system - very well explained in the video. Seat replacement requires this to be disconnecting permanently which would obviously be a safety issue. And then trying to persuade your insurers that it was a good idea would be virtually impossible - because it isn't!.

So I would propose fitting the new seat to the existing base/runner.
The least worse option. Really just modifying ( pretty radically admittedly) the existing seat.

Any better ideas?

Many thanks,

Clive

Click to expand...

A better idea is to leave the factory seats in it. The FL1 has a pretty poor (by modern standards) crash rating as it is, without removing part of the safety equipment.

Тhe seat shown in the video is my ideal. I currently have cloth seats Pretty practical and surprisingly not branded. However, I want leather. Not just leather, but combined - leather/Alcantara (or leather/cloth). Working on it. )))

Given the OP is a Ukrainian soldier, I don't think seatbelt pre-tensioners are at the top of his list of hazards...

...Meschersmhmitt - get your Cobras, basically remove the stock seats from their original runners, leaving the pretensioners on the seat runners / bases . Then get some flat bar and mcguiver some brackets for the cobras onto the original seat runners. The following pics are of mounts I made for my mate's side mount bucket seat onto stock lexus runner, and I even managed to retain some of the electric adjustment:








Two points of the seat belt are attached at their original points, on the pillar and floor pan near the sills, the third point of the seatbelt is attached to the vehicle by it's original mounting points and fasteners on the seat runners, the only thing that changes is the squishy foam and springy seat perched atop the original metal work, so there shouldn't be much, if any change to the crash safety systems - good luck sir.

Hi Jayridium,
Now that's what I call a plan! Thanks for the photos too, great for my tame fabricator.
I will however need a slight variation on this theme. As I am now officially old git, just turned 70, no question of pulling out nasty heavy seats.
So I need to make a "kit" for the seat installer firm.
I already have the Cobra runners and will get hold of scrap factory seat mount. It incorporates the seat runners and cushion base. It's part number HFB000360 - "Land Rover Frame assembly-front seat cushion Freelander 1 1996 - 2006 Classic" - see illustration. The plan is to cut off or detached in one piece from the runners the upper part and weld on an adapter plate to take the Cobra runners.
So the installer removes the whole original seat and base, replacing it with the new Cobra seat already fitted onto the above adapter/Cobra runner assembly.
How does that sound?
And about the SRS pressure sensor in the original seat base. Online advice says to prevent an MOT fail on the SRS being on, an autosparks has to permanently disarm the sensor " if an aftermarket seat is fitted". Does that sound right? What safety issue might be compromised?
Very many thanks
Clive

Jayridium said:

Given the OP is a Ukrainian soldier, I don't think seatbelt pre-tensioners are at the top of his list of hazards.

Click to expand...

Sorry I thought the OP was from Liverpool.

I'll duck out then.

Hi - Clive here alias Moosekeeper and yes, I'm definitely a Scouser!

Basic plan (update):-

1) Fit the Cobra onto an original Freelander seat base as above. No drilling of the car and just an adapter plate needed from my local laser cutting firm. A breakers yard in Darwen has several donor Freelanders for the seat base. I don't want to butcher the original seat so that in case something goes wrong with the conversion , it's ready to go back.

2) If for some reason above does not work, just bolt the Cobra slider to the car's floor. Use studding for height adjustment.

Option (1) may fail if the seat height is not acceptable with the Cobra seat sitting on the Freelander seat base ( and if I can't then figure out a way around it.)

Updates will follow.

Clive

Update with pictures.
I got a seat base from Campbell's Breakers, Bolton (tel 01204 393951) and pictures attached. A nice clean one with all wiring still attached.
The top of frame is 18" x 18" and overall depth 12".
Note the very clear height depth of the fixing points side to side, the reason that I did not fabricate from scratch.
I will be having an adapter plate laser cut to mate with the Cobra Classic RS bolts. Cobra gave me bolt pattern as " 292mm width by 330mm .Each mounting is a captive M8 fixing and the seat is supplied with the correct bolts." ( Thanks to Mark at Cobra.)
Instead of an adapter plate, I suppose that a steel plate could instead be welded to the top of the frame and I may do that.
So that's where we are to date.
Happy New Landy Year,
Clive the Scouser