Sparco Evo XL QRT seat
 

Hello Z People.

I just picked up a Sparco Evo XL QRT Seat with rails and a planted base. Getting ready to replace the factory seats in the Nismo. I'll let you know how it goes. Shipping from West coast to Texas was quick. The box arrived in great condition, Props to FedEx for that. Tip: If you are going to buy this seat, you will only need to buy the side mount bolt kit. It has more than enough hardware to secure seat to sides and base. The seat rails themselves also have 4 bolts and washers included.

Link to Sparco site: https://www.sparcousa.com/product/evo-xl-2020

I didn't see large sparco seat install thread so I am putting this one together. I am a big guy. I am 6'3" over 200#, and a 38" waist. This seat fits me great. Super comfy and built right. I plan on doing the airbag resisitor mod. Parts are on order from Amazon for this. It's hot in Texas right now so bear with me on this. I hope to be able to work through this install soon. Updates to follow. PM me if you have questions.

I will be installing this in a 2014 Nismo 370Z. The factory seats for the moment will be retained until I am satisfied with the install. There will be seat parts available in the future for those that need them. Nissan wants entirely too much for replacement parts. Hence the Sparco install.

Seat install pictures.
 

The starting point, my factory Nissan Seat. Note the wasted cushion next to the Door sill:
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...718-065300.jpg

The new seat being installed. A Sparco EVO XL QRT seat. Steel siderails and a Planted base. The Planted base seems to have more mounting options over the Sparco seat base:
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...718-065306.jpg

What you need to remove. Pull out the floor mat and remove these four bolts holding the factory seat in place:
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...718-065633.jpg

You will need these two plugs too for the new seat. The white one is the seatbelt latch, the yellow one is for the SRS airbag. When you pull the seat out, be sure to vacuum the whole area, you will be glad you did. Neither of the two plug whips is difficult to extract, just take your time removing the grey wire retainer clips. In fact it took me about 10 minutes for the two of them to come out. You only need to unzip the factory seatback to be able to undo the 2x 10mm airbag retainer nuts to get the airbag out. The seatbelt is a 14mm bolt.:
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...718-065833.jpg

The Airbag and Seatbelt components removed intact. They are ready to go back in the car. No codes will be evident if both of these go back in when re-installing a seat. The airbag can be wedged in between the left side seat rail and the door sill. I have mine pointing upwards just in case it needs to deploy.:
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...718-072725.jpg

The seat fully installed, a thing of beauty. I fit great in this seat. I am 6'3" 200+ pounds and a 38" waist. If this is you, this seat is the ticket. The sharp eye will spot the airbag barcode just behind the seat in this image. I repositioned it later for more effective deployment if needed.
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...-installed.jpg

The Door gap latched to one click, about a 1/2 inch clearance to the seat shoulder:
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...-one-click.jpg

The Door just touching the seat when fully closed. Perfect placement. This seat is 26.5" wide here, so no wider seat can be mounted without modifications to the door card. Not something I want to do.:
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...lly-closed.jpg

I know the pictures are sideways. It's about the content here. PM me if you have questions. I am happy to answer them.

PS. Going to do the passenger seat in the next week. Another install review for that side to follow.

Man. That thing's DEEP!!
Good looking seat,and good job on the install.
I gather from the part pics that this is a fixed mount, i.e. the seat doesn't slide anymore?


Kirk B.

Nice!

Yes, it is a fixed mount. The Saprco slider would raise the seat by one inch. Too high for the track with a helmet. I also needed it to be fixed for safety. A worthy change to the Z interior.

The Passenger Seat and hardware has arrived.
 

370Z Community:

For those following along, the Passenger side seat and hardware arrived yesterday. This is the same size Sparco seat as the drivers side. The EVO XL QRT. I ordered sliders for this side just for added comfort for shorter riders or instructors. They will be able to adjust the seat forward as they need to. Saturday is earmarked as install day.

Review of the install thus far: I am very happy with the drivers side install thus far. Fit for me is perfect. With my helmet on and strapped in, I still have 1/2" to 3/4" helmet clearance to the headliner. No slider on the driver's side. No need to adjust the seat forward or backwards on the mount plate.

I'll post the passenger side install and photos when completed.

The Passenger seat got installed.
 

Ok, round two. Passenger seat install time.

Step 1: You have to start somewhere.
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...r-side-370.jpg

Step 2: Remove the factory seat. 4x 14mm bolts to remove to accomplish this.
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...oved-point.jpg

Step 2a: Remove the factory airbag from the passenger seat. 2x 10mm nuts.
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...k-business.jpg

Step 2b: Undue all four 12mm bolts holding the seat cushion to the seat frame. Remove the seat covering to extract the occupant sensor. Cut all of the hogrings and gently remove the sensor pad and control module. It's not difficult, there are a ton of rings to cut though. Take your time and you will be glad you did. Later you can ziptie the seat covering to the cusion and replace it to the seat frame. Handy if you need to return it to the car later for any reason.
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...oking-some.jpg

Step 3: You are going to need these to install the new seat. Top is the occupant sensor, middle is the seat belt, bottom of picture is the factory SRS airbag.
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...ttom-photo.jpg

Step 4: Setting up the new seat. The occupant sensor is in place under the seat cushions and attached to the underside of the seat with Gorilla tape.
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...ed-service.jpg

Step 5: Clean up under the seat.
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...-i-approve.jpg

Step 5a: Put the factory SRS airbag back in the car for now. You can reposition it when you are done with the install.
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...shown-here.jpg

Step 6: Bolt in the new seat.
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...oom-driver.jpg

Step 7: Widen the seat adjuster handle. I needed to do this because the slider rails mount 2.5 inches wider on a Planted seat base.
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...re-does-so.jpg

Step 8: Door clearance view. More than adequate for the wide seat shoulders.
http://www.the370z.com/members/corsa...-1-2-least.jpg

Comments and Summary:
Looks good if I do say so.

This project took about 2 1/2 hours to do each day I worked it. Do it when you are fresh and the day is cool. You should allow time to in advance to assemble and fit the seat to the siderails and base. I chose to add sliders on the passenger side because not all passengers are tall or like to have their feet not touching the floor. When racing I get the sense that it gives them a better position to feel secure or to brace.

PM me if you have any questions. I am happy to answer them.

I hope you guys like this post and find it informative.

Great upgrade! Those seats look very comfy.

UPDATE after the installs:

Well Z fans, Here we are just about 1 month in with the New Sparco EVO XL QRT seats in the car. I must say they are an excellent upgrade from the factory units. They remain solid and planted as they should be. I get a few squeaks from my seat but it's not a problem. Overall comfort wise, I fit well in this seat and feel like it is properly adjusted to fit my driving style. Even after an hour in it, I fell good about it. I am using the 5 point Schroth belts when I drive, they hold like you expect. You are truly part of the car when you drive with these seat in place. As to the Passenger side, adding the Sparco Sliders to the passenger seat might not be a permanent choice here. The additional noise and rattles while driving is less than desirable, so they could come out in the future. I'll also need to get a few right seat reviews before I can comment on how that side feels. More in the future for those that might be tracking this thread.

In the mean time big shout-out to Sparco for producing a well fitted racing seat for larger guys like me. Thank you Sparco.

If you have any questions about this install, don't hesitate to ask or PM me for details.

One last thing: I did buy a collection of lumbar cushions from Sparco for the seats. So far the I like the large rectangular one for the drivers seat, it adds just enough lumbar support for my taste. I also have 4x of the smaller diamond shaped ones in the passenger seat for their comfort and adjustment. Jury is still out on those.

Question for you about the seat position (driver). Do you have it as far back as it will go?

I'm the guy with the other dark silver Z from The Drivers Edge and I forgot to ask you in Oct. I'm wanting to pull the trigger so i can have the ready in time for march (possibly feb..) but i'm on the fence between your fixed option and doing an adjustable buddy club low rail.

Since i already have my headliner out i think the low rail would just fit. but if you have the ability to position your seat, fixed, a little further back than you do in the pics i think i'll buy a fixed option.

For the driver's side, I have to say no. I installed the base and then sat in the seat with the side rails on and figured out where I was fitting right and feeling comfortable. My thoughts on the adjustable would be as follows.

1. Without the interior or headliner it would probably be fine. I wanted the helmet clearance and the sliders would have made it impossible. I am tall and do not want to be crammed into the driving position while helmetted on track.

2. As a street race/car, the seat is back as far as it could go without crunhing the driver side B Pillar trim at the shoulder height. See my pictures from the install on that side. Let me know if you want any other detailed pictures.

3. I'll be at ECR on the 2/20 - 2/21 race weekend. Maybe I'll see you there. If I can do more, let me know.

As far as being able to adjust the driver's seat backwards, I am guessing I could move it 1.5" or more, maybe. I'll go measure it and reply to this post.

I just went and measured it. Actually the drivers seat could be moved backwards another 4.5" before it contacts the package shelf. The Passenger seat does have full travel front to back. No issue with side to side clearance at the shoulder level. NOTE: With the headliner still in place, the passenger seat top headrest rubs just a bit on the headliner. Take out the headliner and problem solved.

That's perfect! I had trouble getting out of your car in Oct so moving it back a few inches would solve my issues with a fixed position.