Floor drop kits
#1
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Sierra Vista, AZ
Posts: 1,305
Total Cats: 332
Floor drop kits
Anyone have any input on floor lowering kits? I have the tools and ability to do the install, but not the actual sheet metal fabrication.
So far, I'm only finding two kits out there, Advanced Autosport and Hanks Hot Rods:
Advanced Autosports kit
Hanks Hot Rods Floor kit
Quality? Install difficulty?
Any reason to spend 30% more on the HHR kit over AAS?
Any other kits I'm missing?
So far, I'm only finding two kits out there, Advanced Autosport and Hanks Hot Rods:
Advanced Autosports kit
Hanks Hot Rods Floor kit
Quality? Install difficulty?
Any reason to spend 30% more on the HHR kit over AAS?
Any other kits I'm missing?
#5
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Edmonton Ab, Canada
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I went with the DIY route on mine, it's not terribly hard to make yourself, its not pretty but I doubt after the beating a few years of racing dishes out the pre-bent ones would likely look just the same.
#11
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Location: Edmonton Ab, Canada
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Whatever the SCCA spec was for Spec Miata, 16guage 0.065" I guess.
I ended up with some reinforcements around the seat anchor points for peace of mind, 1/8" IIRC
#12
I wasn't happy with what was offered so I decided to make a custom kit for my car earlier this year. We have a handful of sets I could package up and ship out.
Basics
Cheers,
Chris
www.facebook.com/GuarinoWatsonRacing
Mods, let me know if this post breaks any rules and I'll adjust-as needed.
Basics
- CAD, CNC cut, bent, etc - Gr50 on the thinner stuff, 3/16 Gr36 on the seat brackets (per FIA spec)
- Weld nuts, etc where appropriate so no necessary fumbling - JIS metric aside from std SAE 7/16-20 for belt pickups
- Overlapping or T joints to facilitate errors in cutting/deformation during welding, relieved for weld fillets on overlaps.
- Designed to HTE400 centered on steering wheel, should be able to accommodate others...ask
SparcoCorbeau double-locking sliders bolt directly to reinforcements, including provisions for 6X M8 instead of standard 4X M8 (we noticed an unsettling amount of deformation on a slider rear bolt hole after a high-speed crash in another car)- With sliders, HTE400 in rearmost position height is the same as sitting on the stock floor. I'm 6' and can't see comfortably over the dash if I go any lower. You can go down 20-25mm if you loose the sliders. -5mm if you're aggressive with positioning the seat on the side brackets.
- Sliders on angle, set to equal eye height for 5'5 120# F through 6'0 220# M. Sub belt pickups set similarly (no need to adjust between occupants). Long-torso 6'2 M was fine as well, I didn't measure helmet height but no issues with OE hardtop/harddog bar.
- OE seat bolts in (with 3pt as well), so any existing direct-mount brackets should as well.
- Swap from race seat/harness to stock seat is minutes
- Front, rear cross car reinforcements - care taken to blend into side rails to maintain lateral crash load path. Longitudinal load path is maintained as well (continuous box section)
- Minimal tunnel intrusion - plenty of clearance to my 5+'' OD resonator in that area - ultimately, the seat -> exhaust -> transmission constrained the package
- Generous approach angle for impacts
- Full drop distance
- Seat goes back to bulkhead
- Side brackets that allow height adjust by only loosening the bolts (if you've messed with this before, removing tunnel-side bolts on a centered, side-mounted seat is always a nightmare). Oversized washers are used to ensure the seat is well-retained even if the bolts come loose or stretch in an accident.
- Frame rails for both sides (driver/passenger), including evenly-spaced pickups to mount your flat bottom, underbody reinforcements, whatever.
- All sorts of adjustability side-side and seat goes back to the bulkhead at min height.
- Brackets are powder coated semi gloss black
- OE carpet basically reusable with a few cuts near the seat base. My '99 has a full interior, including door cards and hardtop side latches.
Cheers,
Chris
www.facebook.com/GuarinoWatsonRacing
Mods, let me know if this post breaks any rules and I'll adjust-as needed.
Last edited by cwatson; 02-02-2020 at 10:02 AM.
#17
Careful DIY for me was a moderate weekend and a couple of weeknights painting and final fitting. That included grinding down welds, seam sealing, and painting all hidden surfaces.
The net result is where we wanted to be in the car for visibility. We're accustomed to a decent lay-back angle from formula cars (much nicer on the spine too), so no need to slam it. For those who want ultimate low, this design allows you to get 10-15mm lower than the others if you choose to leave the longitudinal reinforcement out, which I think is fair for a car with a full cage. I'd be cautious to do so on one with a partial cage.
Thanks
Chris
Last edited by cwatson; 01-08-2020 at 01:59 PM.