Does anyone do BYO racing cockpits?

[dgrams2000]

So, I am looking at doing something like this for my driving games on PC/Game Systems/Emulators...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ORLVWNM?ref_=pfb_hmn884mmij4albekl1mc66f53994&tag=hydfbook0e-20&ascsubtag=pfb-P01-V01-O5-T1-HI-4DCJUB

Has anyone around here built anything similar to this?  Is it even cost effective to do so?

Never really got into the driving setups until the thought popped into my head over the last couple days.

[Slippyblade]

Yeah, there are some amazing cockpit builds here.  Dig around in the search feature for a little bit, you'll find em.  I'll check my bookmarks and try to find a couple as well.

Cost effective?  Not really.  You don't get into this hobby for "Cost Effectiveness".

[dgrams2000]

So, if I wanted to do something on the cheap... what I have linked above is probably my cheapest way out?

I did find a seat to use that was cheap. http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performance-Products/555/70250/10002/-1

But I would be wondering how to build something sturdy enough to go with it... and be usable.
It doesn't have to be pretty underneath as you can always find ways to 'build around' the frame to make things look a little better.

But a seat like this.. some wood.. some bolts... I am wondering if I could do it all <$100 as I have the wheel and pedals I want to use already.

It sounds like I am personally challenging myself.  lol

-------------
update:
Did a quick google search and looked at pics for "Home Made Racing Cockpit"  and found
https://www.google.com/search?q=homemade+racing+cockpit&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiM9c-HrP_UAhXi6oMKHTQNCV4Q_AUIBygC&biw=1718&bih=1290

Good place to get some ideas...

[n3wt0n]

You can totally build a cockpit for under $100 including the seat. I just did it and can post some images later today.

Check out an auto parts wrecking yard for your seat. Most u-pull (go in and get it yourself) wrecking yards will charge around $20-25 for a seat. I had my pick of many and chose a passengers side seat out of an Acura Integra. It's sporty looking and it appears that it wasn't used much. It's definitely more comfortable in the long term over a race seat that has no padding like the Jegs one you posted.

I used about $12 worth of lumber and maybe another $12 in 3/4 MDF and screws. You would still have money left over for some paint and some carpet to make it pretty. The thing is nice and sturdy too.

[Titchgamer]

Yup if i had the room I would build one.

Car seat out of a scrap car, some 2x2 timber, MDF sheets and the wheel etc and you are good to go!

Paint and or decals to finish.

Totally worth it

[dgrams2000]

You can totally build a cockpit for under $100 including the seat. I just did it and can post some images later today.

Would love to see pictures.  Can't wait to get started on this.  Never pulled a seat before or did junkyard diving.  But I am willing to try! 


So here are other random thoughts...
1) I just looked and don't have a junkyard around
2) Did some craigslist searching and came up w/nothing.
3) I really like how light the JEGS seat looks (being plastic)  One of my ideas was to make my cockpits is to have it come apart in pieces for storage.
Heavy seat = permanent fixture =
4) I could call some of the places that tow and find out where the wreckers take things.. but then again.. heavy seat. 

[Howard_Casto]

I think I would want to sit in the seat and try it myself.  Those hard plastic racing seats are typically uncomfortable for extended periods of time.... not to mention different body types. 

[shaolindrunkard]

I'll share my experience with seats. I bought one of those plastic seats, hated it. Its way too hard and the sides come up too high so its hard to get in and out of it from the side. Next I bought a racing seat off ebay. Nice seat but the problem was I'm a 38 waist and the "thigh bolsters" the metal plates that are supposed to keep you centered in the seat when driving at high speeds were way to hard and uncomfortable. Finally I settled on a seat with a wider base, similar to this one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carbon-Style-Black-Red-PU-Leather-Reclinable-Racing-Passenger-Side-Seat-w-Slider-/201802668989?hash=item2efc605bbd:g:AHsAAOSwstJZQDGq&vxp=mtr

Its pretty comfortable. Not as much as a real seat ripped from a car, but seats ripped from cars rarely have a flat bottom and I really didn't want to have to create a custom bracket to mount the seat. I like that the universal seats are flat on the bottom... and come with a slider...

As far as the cockpit. There's a company called Richmotech that makes a really nice set of plans for a cockpit. The plans are around 40 buck and the materials cost about 150 I think...

I'm working on a 4 cabinet set up in my basement using existing midway cabinets and now I'm also working on a custom designed smaller cabinet more in the Sega style for my little man cave upstairs. I'm so obsessed with this stuff its ridiculous...

Good luck.

[dgrams2000]

I just threw an offer in for a racing seat that looks great and under $100, shipped.  (Not the plastic one)

AND.... I just came across pictures that opened up a whole new way of thinking for me.

PVC.

Google searched PVC Racing Cockpit and I think that is going to be the way to go.  Simple.. Cheap.. Lightweight for portability...
Wow.

Now I am stoked.

https://www.google.com/search?q=pvc+racing+cockpit&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjHrputgoTVAhWn64MKHRFmB0QQ_AUICygC&biw=3440&bih=1310

[n3wt0n]

Would love to see pictures.  Can't wait to get started on this.  Never pulled a seat before or did junkyard diving.  But I am willing to try! 

I just posted my super simple build here... http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,154734.0.html

I wouldn't think PVC would be incredibly sturdy but if you want to take it apart it may be perfect. Some of the PVC rigs look pretty well put together so I would love to be proven wrong.

[dgrams2000]

Thanks for the link n3wt0n.
That is a pretty nice setup you have there.  I am jealous as you did that on the cheap.... mostly 2x4's it looks like..  So simple.  That may be the way to go.
How is it on the sturdiness side?  Looks sturdy.

I put an offer in for this http://www.ebay.com/itm/XM2-Reclinable-Racing-Seat-Red-Black-PU-Leather-w-Slider-Passenger-Right-Side/381715298365?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D44770%26meid%3D800beb7d0a2d45c4ba6f2e63fa4cfff6%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D201802668989&autorefresh=true

Hopefully will have a cool seat in my near future.  I know I could have gone cheaper thru other channels - but I dont have patience.  haha
 
I priced out PVC/ABS yesterday off of a parts list from a similar setup to this http://www.isrtv.com/forums/topic/11988-my-version-of-the-diy-pvc-rig/
And the PVC and wood was just over $90.. ugh.    So my bill would be about $190 when all said and done using the seat above with PVC. 
That makes me want to do something similar to what you did.   Wood would be so much easier to paint than PVC also to finish it up.

You get the gold star today!

[n3wt0n]

Thanks for the link n3wt0n.
That is a pretty nice setup you have there.  I am jealous as you did that on the cheap.... mostly 2x4's it looks like..  So simple.  That may be the way to go.
How is it on the sturdiness side?  Looks sturdy.

I put an offer in for this http://www.ebay.com/itm/XM2-Reclinable-Racing-Seat-Red-Black-PU-Leather-w-Slider-Passenger-Right-Side/381715298365?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D44770%26meid%3D800beb7d0a2d45c4ba6f2e63fa4cfff6%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D201802668989&autorefresh=true

Hopefully will have a cool seat in my near future.  I know I could have gone cheaper thru other channels - but I dont have patience.  haha
 
I priced out PVC/ABS yesterday off of a parts list from a similar setup to this http://www.isrtv.com/forums/topic/11988-my-version-of-the-diy-pvc-rig/
And the PVC and wood was just over $90.. ugh.    So my bill would be about $190 when all said and done using the seat above with PVC. 
That makes me want to do something similar to what you did.   Wood would be so much easier to paint than PVC also to finish it up.

You get the gold star today!

Thanks! It is actually incredibly sturdy. It is completely done with 2x4's except for a couple small panels of MDF for the flat surfaces. As much as I like the idea of PVC I can't shake the feeling that it would wobble or eventually develop creaking noises.

That looks like a nice seat. The price seems pretty good too. Sometimes your route is better because it almost always won't come with a live animal living in it. That's always a chance you take when pulling seats from the junk yard, 

The wood could definitely be painted before it was put together. I would imagine that would be easier to do than painting PVC but as I mentioned earlier, I have never worked with it.

[dgrams2000]

So, now that I have a week before my seat shows up and I start getting building materials... I am thinking to myself...
"Self....  I am getting old.  Why is everyone building their driving chassis down on the floor instead of up higher at a normal seat height...?"

I think I need to start looking into some examples... Keeping it as simple as n3wt0n's, but build the seat and pedals up higher.
I wonder what extra challenges there will be...  Time to start looking.

[pbj]

Maybe you could mount some wheels to it, add a small gasoline motor, and directly interface the steering wheel to the tires?

[smass]

I did some research on a DIY racing seat rig last year.   For an cool, easy to build, and inexpensive option I settled on a PVC rig.  In my case I had most of the PVC handy from a PVC lacrosse goal project that I had built 6 years ago.  I ended up finding a steel lacrosse goal for real cheap last year so I cut it up to make the PVC rig.  Here is a link to a long forum post with all the plans and details.  Check it out:

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/eddys-pvc-rig-from-start-to-finish-inspired-by-simul8r-now-with-insturctions.138156/

In my case I have the basic PVC shell all done, and I have been on the lookout for an inexpensive racing seat on CL.  I will probably finish mine sometime in the fall but its on the back burner for now.

[dgrams2000]

Maybe you could mount some wheels to it, add a small gasoline motor, and directly interface the steering wheel to the tires?

Yes....      Damn... Now I need to go back to the drawing board

I did some research on a DIY racing seat rig last year.   For an cool, easy to build, and inexpensive option I settled on a PVC rig.  In my case I had most of the PVC handy from a PVC lacrosse goal project that I had built 6 years ago.  I ended up finding a steel lacrosse goal for real cheap last year so I cut it up to make the PVC rig.  Here is a link to a long forum post with all the plans and details.  Check it out:

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/eddys-pvc-rig-from-start-to-finish-inspired-by-simul8r-now-with-insturctions.138156/

In my case I have the basic PVC shell all done, and I have been on the lookout for an inexpensive racing seat on CL.  I will probably finish mine sometime in the fall but its on the back burner for now.

That is nice.  But like I said, another $95ish to do PVC.   Is the PVC sturdy?   Wood stuff is obviously built like I tank I would imagine.

[smass]

I did some research on a DIY racing seat rig last year.   For an cool, easy to build, and inexpensive option I settled on a PVC rig.  In my case I had most of the PVC handy from a PVC lacrosse goal project that I had built 6 years ago.  I ended up finding a steel lacrosse goal for real cheap last year so I cut it up to make the PVC rig.  Here is a link to a long forum post with all the plans and details.  Check it out:

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/eddys-pvc-rig-from-start-to-finish-inspired-by-simul8r-now-with-insturctions.138156/

In my case I have the basic PVC shell all done, and I have been on the lookout for an inexpensive racing seat on CL.  I will probably finish mine sometime in the fall but its on the back burner for now.

That is nice.  But like I said, another $95ish to do PVC.   Is the PVC sturdy?   Wood stuff is obviously built like I tank I would imagine.
[/quote]

Yes, very sturdy - and it looks like a metal go cart frame when painted.  Also, its not too overly heavy.

[Howard_Casto]

FWIW pvc, if using the right thickness and assembled properly, is far sturdier than wood and as stated, much lighter. 

[pbj]

Yeah, okay, can't wait to slam my sumo ass on some PVC.

Who wants to stress test their rig?

[Howard_Casto]

FWIW pvc, if using the right thickness and assembled properly, is far sturdier than wood and as stated, much lighter.

[pbj]

I'm up for the challenge, don't be scared.

[05SRT4]

I am in the midst of designing a PVC cockpit. I have the pipes, fittings, SRT4 seat, G29 wheel and pedal. I want to retro fit it with mounts for flight stuff too though, so trying to figure all that out. Having access to a 3d printer will help with some custom fittings. The hacked office chair just isn't cutting it anymore.

[n3wt0n]

I love the hacked office chair! 

[Ian]

Maybe you could mount some wheels to it, add a small gasoline motor, and directly interface the steering wheel to the tires?