Replacing the headliner.

[Ollie]

So I'm seriously considering replacing my headliner after having driven Ranjans car and seeing how much more head room I have. Ranjan suggested flocking. But I was also thinking of the possibility of sound deadening sheets and alcantara or some such on top just to keep the car a bit more road friendly. But I'm not sure if going that route is worth the effort vs flocking.

Was wondering if anyone had any views/ideas. I'm pretty happy to not have the headliner in. I'm pretty sure I could figure out how to get things to look half right lining up with the pillars etc.

[mi60o0]

Hmm did you consider cloth interior seats are lighter drover seat is lower than leather one and seats are grippy you don't slide like leather one

[Ollie]

I have. But I'd only gain around an inch. My cars got a sunroof after all. With the headliner out I gain about 2 inches roughly. My seated position is pretty decent so I don't really want to change that massively. I was considering dying the headliner anyway but.. If there's a decent alternative I can live with that gains me headroom I'd be willing to do that.

[mi60o0]

Ahhh sunroof.
That's not so good if you are big boy xD
I'm on a short side 176cm with my cloth seats plenty of space for helmet

[Ollie]

It'll be a while before my 8s on track I imagine anyway. But I think with a planted base and no headliner I'd have plenty of helmet room so that's kind of my plans down the line. Just looking at my options currently.

[GreySilver Beast]

if you are big boy xD

That's an understatement

[Markl17]

Hi
I track my car and it has a sunroof,it was quite difficult to get the headroom.what I have gone is fit an after market seat base and no seat runners which works well.

[30405]

If you've got a sunroof go the other way. Buy a booster seat, a pair of goggles, and one of those umbrella hats, then stick your head out of the sunroof.

Wipe off your hands, job done.

[Ollie]

Ahah. Just pretend it's an mx5. Why not. A planted seat base and a proper seats on my to do list. When I take the headliner out to possibly dye it I'll measure the headroom I gain before I put it back in.

[Dr. FrankenRex]

Umm... If you have a sunroof then I don't think removing the headliner will make much difference will it? as it's the sunroof that is in the way, not the headliner.

Might be wrong, though, as not driven a sunroof RX8

[Ollie]

I think the headliners the same thickness regardless of the sunroof Dan. Could be wrong though. I'll see when I take it out. Only way to figure anything out really I guess aha.

[GreySilver Beast]

I didn't think Ranjan had a Sunroof in his car, hence removing the Headlining works in his car

Having driven an RX-8 with a Sunroof, I think removing the headlining won't make a scrap of difference because the Glass part and mechanics of the roof will be in the way in any case

Good luck Ollie

[Ollie]

He does not. It was just a mulling over the idea kind of deal really Nigel. Though I could remove the sunroof if I really felt like it. A planted seat base maybe the less effort more rewarding route.

[GreySilver Beast]

The Sunroof Option is very rare so would be a shame if you removed it

Maybe doing Mark's suggesting may be the best way to go Ollie

[Dr. FrankenRex]

Having driven an RX-8 with a Sunroof, I think removing the headlining won't make a scrap of difference because the Glass part and mechanics of the roof will be in the way in any case

This was what I meant. The headliner will be the same size regardless, but removing the headliner won't make a blind bit of difference when the glass is what's causing the problem.

What another owner did (exactly who I can't remember) removed the glass and silicon-ed a piece of perspex in to the hole so they still had the sunshine without the thickness of the tilt-n-slide mechanism.

[Ollie]

Could always remove it just for track days. Make my life more effort ahah. Slap a bit of perspex in its place. I'll have a chat with Neil sometime to see about a planted seat base. Though I would prefer to wait to have a better seat for that.

Ahah just as I was about to post Dan. It was something I didn't take into consideration when I first posted. The headliners coming out anyway to be dyed sometime so I'll have a better idea then.

[GreySilver Beast]

If you put in a fixed perspex, rather than the opening glass, wouldn't you have to disable the passenger ejector seat?

eject.gif

[Neilparry]

Ranjan’s head lining was only removed to accommodate the safety devices roll cage, not because Ranjan is ever going to be 6’ lol.
But the design on the base and bucket seat side mounted brackets lowers the position considerably. I’ll have some pictures of the setup shortly when they will be fitted into a orange 8


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[ChrisHolmes]

Ranjan’s head lining was only removed to accommodate the safety devices roll cage, not because Ranjan is ever going to be 6’ lol.
But the design on the base and bucket seat side mounted brackets lowers the position considerably. I’ll have some pictures of the setup shortly when they will be fitted into a orange 8 Hopefully with runners for the passenger side at least. EDIT by Chris


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[Ollie]

Ranjan’s head lining was only removed to accommodate the safety devices roll cage, not because Ranjan is ever going to be 6’ lol.
But the design on the base and bucket seat side mounted brackets lowers the position considerably. I’ll have some pictures of the setup shortly when they will be fitted into a orange 8


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You never know Neil he could spout up over night! I was only considering it as any extra headroom is useful. I have a feeling I won't be making my current 8 super trackable but will probably keep it as road friendly as possible and down the line get a bit more of a less nice shell one and use that as a track car. Though I am very strongly considering a bucket and lowered seat setup.... The stock 8 seats really aren't good for holding me in.

[mi60o0]

The cloth seats are much better than "leather":
- not slippery
- cool on summer
- warm in winter, without needing heaters
- lighter in weight, no electric motors
- sit lower in the car, if you want.


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[mi60o0]

The cloth seats are much better than "leather":
- not slippery
- cool on summer
- warm in winter, without needing heaters
- lighter in weight, no electric motors
- sit lower in the car, if you want.


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Reason I remove black leather interior

[30405]

Yeah but they make you look so... common...

Can confirm Ollie is a big boy and needs all the head room he asks for.

[Ollie]

Ahah. Yeah who wants to be common... I wouldn't mind a cloth seat swap and did ask BigPete about it. But the possible logistics of getting it to scotland etc made the price (which to be fair is a fair price for the actual set of seats) a bit much. Once I'm south and the cars on the road and south with me I'll start looking at actual changes for seating.

[GreySilver Beast]

Can confirm Ollie is a big boy

I can confirm the above