Anyone lower their factory seats???

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My unique body has long upper torso and very short legs. When sitting in my new 2009 Montana van, my head has 1" clearance from its roof. Was looking at the factory steel seat mounts (under the factory bucket seats) and noticed it can be easily be modified - to lower the factory seat. For example, easily lower 1-2 inches. I did some measurements today and 2" "lower" would be perfect. Even 1.5" lower would be better then its current factory position. At this lowered position, my left arm / elbow would be nice position on its driver's door arm rest. And, a lower seat would also create a much better "optimized view" out the front window. Especially with its sun visor lowered.

Has anyone lowered their factory driver's seat? If so, how much did you lower the seat? What was your before and after comparison results?

thanks.

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Update:

A few moments ago, I completed the "lowering" of my van's driver seat. It was easily lowered approx 1.25" by using its existing upper L bracket holes - within its under seat slider rails. Also had to trim approx 1/2" off the seat's lower plastic skirt. Simple task that only took 3 hours. When the time comes to lower my van's passenger seat (for my 6' 2" son), I'm sure I can lower the passenger front seat in 1/2 the time. In all, it cost be $12 to lower the front driver's seat. Cost of 8 x 3/8" by 1" long bolts, 3/8" lock nuts, galvanized washers and a grind stone - for my 4.25" grinder.

Took a test drive "around the block" and to me, a lowered driver's seat feels much better. And, visual alignment (line of sight) out its front window is better as well. So far, I've had to lower the driver's seat on 4 of my previous vehicles - due to my body's long torso body shape. My current Montana van makes it vehicle number 5. (giant smile). For me (and my unique body shape), lowering the driver's seat on my 2009 Montana EWB van was well worth the energy as well. I'm sure my son will ask for his front passenger side to be lowered soon as well. I'm sure his head will be rubbing the roof liner soon....

Hope this helps others...

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I take it the seats aren't power seats? I know in vehicles that do have that option, like mine, you can lower the seats quite a bit. Thanks for the info, hopefully it will come in handy in the future for someone else looking to do the same thing. I wasn't aware it was so easy to accomplish this task without major cutting or fabrication.

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You are correct '97ventureowner. The seats in my '09 Montan van are manual adjustment. re: Back and forth with NO up/down. For my techicial skills, lowering the manual seats was an easy task. For me, the hardest part of lower was getting one of its 10 mm (3/8") bolt started - without cross threading it. That took more patients then doing the under seat "L" bracket relocation task...

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Being great weather in my woods yesterday, I lowered the passenger front seat. Lowered it approx 1.25" - by using its factory upper holes (already drilled out on its under seat railing system). It took me 20 minutes to get the one 10mm bolt re-started and only 1 hour to lower the seat.

Note to self: Get all 4 bolts and 4 nuts started (remain loss) before "sucking them down". Putting each bolt in, tightening it down and trying to start the other ones was the PITA. Lesson learned for next time...

Overall, the finished job looks and feels much better. "Line of Sight" out the front window for my family's long torso bodies is much better. And, more head room in front seats as well. This job is 100% completed at well... (giant smile).

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Funny you mention lowering manual seats - I had looked at an '08 and '09 Equinox and discovered that GM was making manual seats with height adjusters. I had never seen that before (on a GM product). It's a great idea. You shouldn't have to give up height adjustment just because you need to buy a manual seat like I do (b/c of height difference between drivers and the slowness and lack of memory with power seats).

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During the next few months, I'll probably lower the middle buckets or 3rd row seats as well. Simple removal of seat's steel support frame, cut out 2" (or so) and weld back together. Then, trim down its plastic skirt as well. For my steel fabrication technical ability, very easy lowering task as well. Especially its middle bucket seats...

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