Picked up an XK8 to daily drive but the seats are pretty bad compared to my XKR at least for daily driving,,almost no support at all
compared to the newer ones. Wondering if anyone has tried any different seats and what did you have to modify to bolt them in?

 

X100 seats are known for being very unsupportive. Depending on budget options are trying to find the Recaro seat option that was sold for the x100, going aftermarket and losing a lot of electric adjustment and integration, or getting very skilled and creative fabricating some kind adapter bracked for the x150 seats. Seeing as you have both cars right there.... start by measuring the seat mount bolt spacing, maybe pull the seats out of both cars and see if they fit, etc etc. Controllers etc are a whole other ballgame but first just do a fitment check.

electric seats, seat memory, air bags and occupancy sensors definitely complicate the seat swapping game compared to an mx-5 lol.

Oh speaking of mx-5s one other thing you might try is the old mx-5/miata foamectomy trick. Throw in some higher density foam and maybe fabricate something like the paco motorsports bolster supports and fit them under the seat cover, you might be able to sculpt it into something that holds you in place.

 

Any long-time-in-business well-respected auto interiors and tops shop can refurbish and firm up your seat innards if you are willing to pony up the cost to do it....

 

Guess not a lot of people have done it is my answer.
Im the only driver so I wouldnt be hooking up any of the extra doo dads,
once its in the right spot it would staying there,,honestly once I set my x150 seat two years ago its never moved.
I do have a 98 xkr parts car that I can use as a guinea pig,, when work slows down a bit Ill see what i can come up with
and Ill post it up. Thank you for the replies.

 

I swapped mine for the Recaro x100 seats. The interesting thing is that the frames are exactly the same as the regular XKR seat excepting for an additional bolster bit of metal work (didn't know this until I had them completely apart for recovering). The big difference on the Recaros is the way the foam is shaped, so I'm sure you can come up with something.

 

interesting. The Paco bolsters I referred to (not an x100 item, more the concept) essentially sounds like what recaro did.

I'll say foamectomy again esp if you potentially have donor seats you can experiment on - look it up, I had my seat covers off to fix headrests the other week and I see no reason it wouldnt be possible to sculpt something more supportive/firm from the abundant foam that is there. Another trick is to cut the foam from the bottom of teh seat pad, not the top, so the original shape is retained but you sink down lower' couple that with something to brace the bolsters and you are already sitting deeper in a stiffer seat. Cut some out of the seat back as well to sink in more there; I always have my seat on minimum lumbar support anyway, so arguably you are just giving yourself more adjustability there.

Example of bolster supports (just imagine them installed under the seat leather instead) https://pacomotorsports.com/product/seat-bolsters/

 

Something like that might actually work, Installed under some new leather with foam.
wj

 

yep; heck, I might get in touch with them myself just to see if they can fab me something special if I send them bolt spacing/dimensions.

 

FYI I reached out to Paco to see if they'd be interested in working with me to size out a bolster support for the jag XK8/R. I'll let OP know if they are up for it at all, as he may also be a good candidate seeing as he has a parts car.

Also Jass performance does a similar product, and looking at the mountings on it might even bolt-on to the jag seat as-is, would probably only need to drill one hole per seat rail to accommodate either the front or rear mount point. At 50 quid I might just give it a go and see. Haven't done my welding course yet
https://www.jassperformance.com/shop...lster_supports

 

Throwback.....

Please keep us posted on what you come up with....The add-on sounds pretty good....Let us know what you do! Check with your local Upholstering Shop, they may be able to do what you want...The Seats look like they are in really good shape! Your Colors are the same as mine, on the 2005.....Why don't you get a Chrome Bezel for the Shifter? They look nice!

Thanks!

Billy Clyde @ Cinco Ranch