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Posted by: gnomefabtech Jan 26 2023, 06:26 PM

Hello All-

I took a break from the 914 thing but now I'm back after a few year putting a barn found 73 back together. I modded some stock seats to have side bolsters and now that I put them in I notice that the driver's seat isn't really in line with the steering wheel but off to the right a bit. Stock seats, stock mounts. Is this normal? My last 914 has aftermarket seats so I don't have a point of reference.

Posted by: gnomefabtech Jan 26 2023, 06:27 PM

Also. How do I post a picture here?

Posted by: rjames Jan 26 2023, 06:55 PM

That's normal. It threw me for a loop, too, when I replaced my floor pans and then put the seat back in. I thought I had misaligned the brackets that the seat rails attach to when I welded them in.

Posted by: mepstein Jan 26 2023, 07:05 PM

I’ve owned a 914 since I was 16. Sitting in one always feels normal to me and I didn’t get the “offset” until someone pointed it out to me. Since it was an early car, I’m also used to reaching for the wiper switch on the dash.

Posted by: 914Sixer Jan 26 2023, 07:32 PM

Part of the crash safety engineering that was ahead of the times.

Posted by: gnomefabtech Jan 26 2023, 07:34 PM

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll do more stretching on the right side.

Still can't post a pic of my seats though. I'm getting some error when I upload the image.

Posted by: Superhawk996 Jan 26 2023, 07:45 PM

Pretty much all vehicles have an offset. Some more, some less.

It depends on the vehicle architecture. Vehicles with a tall transmission tunnel and or wide wheel wells are typically the worst.

Although the 914 has a low tunnel, the front wheel wells intrude on the passenger compartment quite a lot. This drives the pedals toward the center line. After that the steering wheel and the seat just follow.

Posted by: SirAndy Jan 26 2023, 07:48 PM

QUOTE(gnomefabtech @ Jan 26 2023, 05:34 PM)

Posted by: SirAndy Jan 26 2023, 07:55 PM

This might explain it better




Attached image(s)

Posted by: Spoke Jan 26 2023, 08:44 PM

Not only the steering wheel, but the peddles are skewed towards the center of the car and not in line with the seat.

Posted by: Montreal914 Jan 26 2023, 09:21 PM

Imperfection is perfection!

Posted by: wonkipop Jan 27 2023, 12:39 AM

the skew whiff thing is nothing to complain about left hand drive.

wait till you have to sit skewed in a RHD beetle, type 3 or worst of all a 914.
thats when you really sweat the clutch pedal, the steering wheel and the seat as you do your conversion of a "never made" rhd 914.

it kind of works in beetles and 911s. nice and narrow between the seats.
a 914 is so wiiiiiiiiiide.

Posted by: lkeigwin Jan 27 2023, 06:37 AM

QUOTE(gnomefabtech @ Jan 26 2023, 07:26 PM)

Hello All-

I took a break from the 914 thing but now I'm back after a few year putting a barn found 73 back together. I modded some stock seats to have side bolsters and now that I put them in I notice that the driver's seat isn't really in line with the steering wheel but off to the right a bit. Stock seats, stock mounts. Is this normal? My last 914 has aftermarket seats so I don't have a point of reference.

Posted by: Jamie Jan 27 2023, 08:48 AM

QUOTE(wonkipop @ Jan 26 2023, 10:39 PM)

the skew whiff thing is nothing to complain about left hand drive.

wait till you have to sit skewed in a RHD beetle, type 3 or worst of all a 914.
thats when you really sweat the clutch pedal, the steering wheel and the seat as you do your conversion of a "never made" rhd 914.

it kind of works in beetles and 911s. nice and narrow between the seats.
a 914 is so wiiiiiiiiiide.

Posted by: gnomefabtech Jan 27 2023, 10:53 AM

QUOTE(SirAndy @ Jan 26 2023, 05:55 PM)

Posted by: gnomefabtech Jan 27 2023, 10:59 AM

My image was too big before. So here are the seats I "made". Don't zoom in too far because I am not a pro upholstery person and I sewed the bolster sides myself. That said, they are way better than stock seats.

Posted by: MM1 Jan 27 2023, 01:46 PM

The "angled to center" implementation seems especially prominent on mid-engined vehicles for packaging reasons, etc.

I'll never forget the first time I sat in and drove my friends 1975 Dino 308 GT4 . . .the skew was initially quite disturbing.