I have an idea to re-construct the backrest part of the backseats to weigh 10lbs or less(stock 38.8lbs for just the two backrests) and look OEM. Personally I never use the backseat and want to shed some weight(part of my big picture) but on the other hand I don't want to gut my interior or do a hack job in the process.

I spoke to an engineering friend that has a lot of seat design experience and he thinks we could reconstruct the frame with aluminum to be 10lbs or lighter if we aren't in need of any crash safety concerns and just want a seat back there to look normal.

Cost would be $350 or so based on initial thoughts.

Bottom part of seat is only foam and material(9.6lbs) so not much further to lose there besides the whole seat cushion.

I'm not selling anything as this is only a thought for now and there are many variables to think over and justify this mod.

 

Why not just take it out and do a good looking and lightweight enclosure for the area. :D

 

It's nice to shed the weight but have a back seat when needed.

 

There are several reasons why not but the thought has crossed my mind.

1) I have read peoples posts on here that race in certain circuits that the backseat has to stay so I assumed this would be of some interest.
2) The TC looks odd IMO with the backseat gone since it is a true 4 seater. There is way to much room back there, almost like a station wagon by eliminating the backseat.
3) I like making things better with modifications but not completely changing the whole fucntion and look from standard. When my car is done it will be one of those things where a person says that is the way it should have came from the factory. More peformance, better function, and clean looking.

 

but wouldn't you want more weight over the back tires since the tc already has such a front bias weight distribution?

 

I wouldn't worry with this for now since, all u can move from the front is the battery and some reservoirs. The tC is too heavy to be thinking about the front/back distribution.

 

i would rather remove the rear seats completely and then just carpet back there. get a roll cage and some nice racing seats up front and bam there you go :D

 

^ I agree with carpeting it off. If you do this please make it look good, I like the idea though and think you should go for it, ive seen it somewhere before, although it wasnt finished.

 

x2

 

Sorry to disappoint but not what I want.

I'm staying with a rear seat. Just curious if anyone else cared for a lightweight rear seat also that looked factory.

 

If it only weighed TEN pounds then yes... 100 pounds = -1/10 sec.
10 pounds = -1/100 of a sec. Not a big deal when racing the tC

 

I'm very aware of all the basics guys as this is far from my first car I have modified. I wouldn't spend the time and money to remove just a few pounds and call it day thinking I have a whole new car. There is a much bigger picture involved and removing the excess 30lbs or so plays a part in that.

 

Im' reviving this thread. Racetested I think you and I are the same person. I've drawn up plans to keep the stock back seat but to reconstruct the uppers out of carbon fiber, the problem is with the tilt mechanisms and mounting brackets are all heavy steel, you make those out of cf, they're light, they look bada$$, they match your cf front buckets, and no one knows. Then you sign on for the group buy of flexite windows and you're really losing weight! lol

 

there is better ways to spend 350 on.

 

I was thinking about this the other day. I decided that I would sooner remove the 2/3 part of the 2/3 split and leave one seat in the back.

That way you can still have 2 passengers, you remove 2/3 of the weight, which is probably more than is possible with 3 light seats, and you gain some storage space.

It would look silly (although you could leave the seat folded down and it wouldn't be that bad) but it'd be very cheap to do.

How much do the seats weigh in total?

 

I always wanted to remove my back seats so I would never have to drive that many people around. I have also read that the seats fit over the gas tank and it provides support.

 

It might make it lighter, but weight distribution will be better with a bit more weight over the back... or you could just keep a full tank of gas.

 

remove back seat and lose your weight to balance lol

 

yeah I've been running in to weight balance issues. There's really no decent way to lighten the front, with the exception of alluminum radiator, lightweight battery, and removing a few extras (like windshield fluid) and maybe ABS (a great idear I've got, haha). Still wouldn't do very much. You'd have to get freaky and fabricate some stuff out of alluminum, like your front control arms, and maybe even the motor carriage. oooohhh

 

Been out of town until now, sorry for the slow response.

The whole tilting portion is what has me undecided. I would like to simplify the the seat and just have it stationary but then again I haul a lot of stuff with my car where I need my seats down. Maybe a basic removal for the back section where it just pops out like the bottom cushions do now.

There are several different ideas but my vision is I don't need a back seat to haul passengers but want the OEM look so something basic will do.

As far as the weight distribution issues I personally am not concerned as I don't do any type of "serious" racing with the car to care. It's more about creativity and messing around with the Scion than all out performance.