Proper Miata Seat Foamectomy (FM Live)

Looking for a better seat fitment without installing aftermarket seats? You need a Foamectomy! This week on FM Live, Keith Tanner answers your questions and talks us through the proper way to cut and shape your seat foam for a comfortable fit.
Original live video recorded 5-23-19. This is a quick overview video to inform our customers, and is not intended to be a guide or installation tutorial of any kind.
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[@john_dee1431]

Thank you Keith and FM! The video motivated me to trim some foam in my NC (driver seat, bottom side) ever mindful of "excitement" you mentioned if not careful around the sensors. It has made the car just perfect, simply perfect.

[@ryansedgeley]

I found that using a small Japanese pull saw, the long trapezoidal saw with cutting teeth on both sides, made for carpentry, worked fantastically for cutting foam. Way better than the electric carving knife or other tools I tried while performing a foamectomy. It is also flexible so you can bend it to the curve you need to shave off and shape the foam.

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

Good tip!

[@WickdPerfekT]

Could you expand on the tweak you mentioned, something about removing the rear pegs?

[@heavychevy383]

what about adding some foam (or?) to the front edge of the seat (under ur knees) to create more of a "buckete" to sit down into, because in my 99, i feel like im sliding forward under hard braking? thanx

[@morgstar1]

Thank you for an informative video, installing a roll bar to my NA soon so a foamectomy will probably be needed not long after ( I'm 6'1" )

[@burkean]

Also same height. Did not like my roll bar. It is too close to my head and takes up too much of my rear view. A foamectomy and relocation of rear-view mirror did not help much. It I had to do it again, I'd choose a double-hoop bar

[@TrackReadyMiatas]

@@burkeanis it a bad race car or road car?

[@burkean]

@@TrackReadyMiatas It's a road car. If it were a race car, I would go for the Hard Dog roll bar. I would care more about the better structure of the hard dog and care less about blocking the rear-view mirror.

[@TrackReadyMiatas]

@@burkean in my Miata I have I think like a. I’ll frog hoop like the old Shelby cobras had but on both sides but mine is a track car

[@tgy119]

What did removing the chunk in front of the hump do to the final seating position?

[@sorry4nothing983]

What glue should I use to glue on some lordosis and side polstery? I dont want it to be hard bc of using the wrong glue tho

[@MrKsmith65]

Another great instructional video. Any thoughts or insights on swapping NB seats into an NA (with a proper foamectomy) to provide better head to roll bar clearance for the weekend warrior that also enjoys a drive without a helmet..

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

NB seats swap into an NA fairly easily. Depending on the year, you might have to relocate the seatbelt receiver from the tunnel to the seat. We're a big fan of this swap. The NB seats don't really give any more head clearance, but the bolstering is much better, in my opinion.

[@aahguitars]

@@FlyinMiataVideo What about NA to NB? Is there any way to move the seatbelt from the seat to the tunnel? Or is it better to just swap the guts of the seats?

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

@@aahguitars If you're putting NB seats in an earlier NA, just leave the stock seatbelt setup in place.

[@aahguitars]

@@FlyinMiataVideo I'm an idiot, I meant 93 seats into a 2000.

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

@@aahguitars I'm a little rusty here, but I believe you can install the NA seats on the NB sliders, and that's where the belts are attached. The mounting points on the tunnel did stick around for a few years but I think they were gone by 2000. Sorry, it's been a while since we messed with this.

[@rigley8830]

Thanks Keith for a very informative video, I shall be doing a Foamectomy next week on my car! Just as a sideline have you ever thought about selling a heated seat kit? Would be very nice in the winter as I have leather seats and always drive with the top down ;)

[@TargaMiata]

We’ve thought about it. Heated seats are really nice :)

[@RobManser77]

@@TargaMiataAm I right that the heated pad is on top, under your bum, so won’t affect a foamectomy, which cuts out the underside of the foam?

[@TargaMiata]

@@RobManser77 You can cut the top of the foam with a foamectomy as well - you'll see that in the video. But yes, the heating pad is directly under the upholstery.

[@isidrotechdecker]

I saw a video of a guy swapping the recliner lever and pan into an s2000 seat and bolted in. What do you guys think about this?

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

The S2000 has nice seats, but we aren't sure on the measurements. If they fit, go for it!

[@osalcedoucmsae]

Really the only way to tell if a previous owner has done this is if there are carving marks on underside of the foam? I gotta replace my driver seat cover (at least the bottom due to being torn) and figured I would try this since I’m 6’3” but don’t want to mess it up hah

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

If the bottom fabric seems a bit loose, that's usually an indication. Only a small percentage of owners have done this, really - it might be hundreds, but there are nearly a half million NAs out there. Even if it has been done before, you may be able to improve it for your needs.

[@etasDustin]

Thanks for vid. If you find that the original covers are kind of trashy, is there a good aftermarket cover that provides a really tight fit over a seat that has been through a foamectomy?

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

The problem is that no two foamecotomied seats are the same. I don't know of anyone who has come up with a tighter-than-stock seat cover. The best option for a really tight fit would be custom upholstery work. However, the seats in this demo have their covers made to stock dimensions and they look pretty good.

[@etasDustin]

Thank you

[@crisprapper]

This video made me realise my NB1 seats are different from those in an NA and NB2... :o

[@smitty5890]

I have done this but I am lost on one thing. You said I could get more room by removing rear posts ? Rear posts ? Not sure about what your talking about. Thanks,well done as always.

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

The rear seat mounts on the chassis are raised above the floor level. They can be removed fairly easily if you're not afraid of spot welds. Then you can drill a couple of holes through the floor and bolt the seat rails through there. Make sure to use locking hardware and a decent size backing plate.

[@ThePheonixrain]

would this help for someone whos 6''3 or taller with long legs a large build?

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

Definitely.

[@RobManser77]

Do you know what the difference is between NA, NB1 and NB2 seats? From what I've read and experienced I'm sure the seats get gradually higher with each generation. I've just bought an NB2 and the seat are *way* too high. What I want to know is whether that difference is just foam that I can cut, or whether it's structural and I need to buy an early generation of seat as my starting point.

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

Seats are really going to be personal preference. The NB2s definitely feel taller in our experience, but have enough foam that you can sculpt them to fit. They are also more comfortable for most people than the earlier seats. We always recommend asking around your local Miata club and sitting in a few cars. Nothing beats personal experience when it comes to stuff like this.

[@FearlessAmateur]

Dude, are you Canadian? ;)

[@stevenloe3117]

Are the seat backs on NB Seats any taller than on NA seats? It would be great not to have the back of my head not so close to my Hard Dog roll bar

[@Bertgarrpin]

Definitely yes, I just put an NB seats on my NA and they cover my head way more tan the old NA seats

[@throwback19841]

Only on the nb2 (2001 onwards) the nb1 has quite small seats. You will notice the nb2 seats cost about 2x as much on the used market as a result.

[@Master0Splinter]

Does it make the seat bottom bouncy by removing the large bottom foam piece that sits into the pan? Seems like it would be spingy feeling.

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

There's little or no flex in the seat pan, it's the opposite of bouncy.

[@user-kd9td4hy1w]

Hi, what about nb 2.5 seats that have heater elements in them? Is this still possible?

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

@user-kd9td4hy1w NA and NB Miatas never came with seat heaters in them, so we aren't really sure if this is possible. It would depend on how the heating element is installed within the cushion - if it is removable from the foam section, you should still be able to perform a foamectomy and reinstall the heating element afterwards.

[@arthurdeanna6368]

I’ve found the angle of the bottom part of my NA seat is giving me really bad lower back pain. It is possible to cut the foam in a way to make the seat more flat? Is this a common problem? And if I wanted to do that, would I start by cutting from the bottom or the top?

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

A foamectomy may take a couple tries to get it how you really want it. You can shape and remove as much foam as you want on the bottom cushion until you run into the support wires.

[@heavychevy4616]

thank u sir

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

Hope it helps!

[@CruzinChris]

Team Zip Ties FTW!

[@joshymcdaniel9233]

Couple years late helpful tips Make a couple different size jar lid shavers. Makes it easier on tight spots with smaller one. Also look in pedicure section those dead skin removers are basically a cheese grater and work better than jar lid shaver.

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

Better late than never! Thanks for the feedback.

[@JoeTirone]

Let me see if I have this correct. For the bottom of the seat you trim what’s underneath and touches the pan. For the back of the seat you trim the outside and what touches your back.

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

This was just a sample of how Keith chose to do it, but you can trim however you like. We choose to trim underneath the seat because lumps are much more obvious on the seat portion due to having more oof your body's weight pushing the cover into the foam. This creates a pocket underneath that can hide imperfections and give you more cushion. The rear cuts are more about contouring to create a slightly deeper pocket for better bolstering.

[@tedfoureagles2778]

My back has begun to resemble a more or less vertical version of an old buffalo, so I'm trying to repair my posture while also trying to make the NB2 seats in my '90 more comfortable and supportive/therapeutic. If you're trying to modify musculature, routes to there are not always the most comfortable in the moment. I want to figure out a seat shape that promotes the positions that I want while not being completely uncomfortable on cross-continent drives. It takes some real understanding of the human body's structure to make an informed decision, and the last person I asked to help with that has blocked me from her Facebook feed. So, I'll be experimenting, if without a control presence, to approach that sweet spot of sit. It may involve trash bags and spray foam, or more likely, I'll just wing it. }}}}

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

Thanks for the info and I know I fit in some seats better than others but haven't dived deep into the subject past a simple foamectomy. Good luck with it and there's some nice foam out there these days once you get the shape figured out.

[@Needlesgunsandgrass]

Is it possible / more complicated with heated seats ( NB SVT Sport model ) ?

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

We never had factory heated seats in the NB in the US, so we haven't tried. But it should be possible, the heating element is usually just a sheet underneath the cover. Treat it like part of the cover and everything else is the same.

[@Needlesgunsandgrass]

@@FlyinMiataVideo ​ @Flyin' Miata Thanks for the reply. I did have a look at this before I saw your video, but just took the 'hump' out of the seat base. Now I need to go back & remove more foam. The heating elements worry me a bit, and the wires also get in the way when you split the seat back from the base. Cheers.

[@user-kd9td4hy1w]

How did you fair with the heated elements in the end and are they in the cover?

[@38tech]

I know this is an old video, but my wife is concerned about the seatbelt changing positions. Do you have a position on such matters? Maybe if she hears it from you guys as opposed to me. Haha thanks

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

There's far more difference between individual people than the change in seating position. You're not going to move down more than an inch or so, there's a lot more leeway in seatbelt position than that. The only time you might need to be concerned is if she's quite short, down in the lowest percentile of design body sizes.

[@38tech]

Thanks for the reply.

[@sicuranzo63]

Great video, really enjoy all your stuff. Foam Murderer😂

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@chazworm3]

Is this the guy who wrote my new “bible”. Thanks for your work!

[@narcissistinjurygiver2932]

does anyone sell new foam?

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

Check with a local upholstery shop, they should be able to provide some. You'll have to shape it from scratch.

[@narcissistinjurygiver2932]

@@FlyinMiataVideo thanks

[@pppcorn]

have you done a foamectomy on a scion iq?

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

We haven't - sorry.

[@BillyBlaze7]

What's the meaning of life?

[@2006gtobob]

This video within the first minute and 15 seconds confirms to me the superiority of the NA and NB models for the DIY enthusiasts. NC and ND cars just don't seem worth the bother in many ways.

[@AlphaKingsMachinima]

I've worked on all four generations of Miatas as of right now. NC is a little bit more difficult than early models but not by much. ND's are almost as easy as early cars save for a few things here and there. In fact swapping shocks on an ND is quicker and easier than an NA/NB! You really can't go wrong with any generation Miata.

[@2006gtobob]

@@AlphaKingsMachinima Miata is always the answer

[@WickdPerfekT]

NC is best miata

[@JonahAberle]

Hahahaha Keith Tanner, foam murderer.

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

We couldn't resist :)