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Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000) EG/EH/EJ/EK/EM1 Discussion

DIY: Rear seat delete for EG

Old 08-16-2011, 12:38 PM
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Default DIY: Rear seat delete for EG

PLEASE NOTE: I am not giving exact measurements. I am giving a guide on how to build your own. This write up is open to interpretation. Also, not every step is pictured, I did this all by myself during odd hours and didn't always remember to stop and take pictures.

OK, so I finally got enough time to finish my rear seat delete. It's not 100% "done" in my eyes, because there are a few things I want to do/add still, but they are more final touches and wants rather than functional issues. The functional floor is complete. This is a fully functional floor, as in it can support weight. My 250lbs *** rolled around on top of it a few times while working on it without flinching. If you want the floor to be more visual than functional, you can easily modify the floor thickness & materials to produce a lower weight if that is your goal.

List of Materials:
1- 3/8" sheet of 96"x48" plywood (cut @ 48"{front/back} x 52"{driver/pass})
3- 2x4'- more or less depending on how sturdy you want it.
Cardboard or card stock. I used a 20x20x20 cardboard box
3- Rolls of replacement carpet (36"x72") May be able to squeeze out of 2 rolls but I added some flair so I needed a 3rd roll.
2- Cans of 3M Super77 adhesive.
2- 90º corner brackets (Simpson Strong-Tie A21 Angle)
1- Simpson Strong-Tie Strap (see pic below)
Various screws/nails to attach things together. Self tap for metal, etc, etc. I had access to a pneumatic roofing nailer with 3" nails which I used to nail the frame down to itself. Wood screws would be just as good if not better, but it was free.

Optional:

1-2- Continuous hinge(s) aka Piano hinge, depending on size of access doors. I ended up not using them.
1- Reese Hammock cargo net. To isolate rear cargo area.
1- set of Nifty cargo-lok cargo organizers.

Tools needed:
Circular saw
Jig saw
Drill- Corded/cordless
Sander- Preferably belt sander

I roughly spent $60 on material and another $40 on optional add ons.


OK, Lets start. Run to your local big box home improvement store and purchase above items. While your there, they can cut the plywood to rough size for you if you don't have a table saw (I don't ).

Here is the basic framework of the floor. I added cross supports (not pictured) where I deemed necessary. Mainly by the access doors (weak points).
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Detailed pictures of the mounting points of the frame on to the body.
Rear:
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Front:
This is the tie strap seen a few pics down cut in half
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I used the tape to hold the strap while I screwed it on to the frame.
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Pull the carpet back to see metal and screw it down. The carpet was nice and tucked away and will now be a tad loose but it will be covered.
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This was the real fun, crawling around trying to get the template cut. There is not enough head room back there. Oh yeah, did I mention I was in my garage and it was 101 that day. YAY!
Note the center line on the template. Makes it easy to measure out the template on the ply.
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Mark your center line on the plywood and then lay your template down, trace and cut with jig saw.
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Here's some of the hardware used. Self tap screws, carpet, and the 2 different style brackets used.
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The piano hinges I planned on using and their placement. Using the box frame already in the car, I measured out the locations of the access doors for the fuel pump and spare tire.
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Adding some flair, I rounded the corners of the access doors.
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I then cut the piece of plywood in half and made my straight plunge cuts with a circular saw (NOT RECOMMENDED for amateur saw users)
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Here is the floor laid out in the car after the access doors were fully cut out with jig saw. There will be A LOT of dry fitting involved. You'll trim and sand and trim and sand until it fits nice and snug in the car.
NOTE: I had to cut the rear half of the floor along the center ling to allow it to fit in the car. Apparently plywood isn't THAT flexible.
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Here is the floor "in the raw". I have added the cross supports (not pictured) around the access door areas and where the center split was in the rear half. Not pictured is the front bulkhead That is used to conceal the frame work and create an anti-roll off lip.
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Here comes the carpet. I didn't take pics of wrapping the carpet. It's simple enough. Lay out your carpet and ply. Spray them both with the Super77, pay extra attention to the edges. Wait roughly 30 seconds-1 minute for the glue to "tack" then lay the carpet down. Start on one side and work your way across to avoid wrinkles. Tug and stretch around to the back side. If you put on enough glue around the edges it will stick, if not, use a staple gun to tack the carpet down that way.
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I really liked the carpet pictured above. It was plush and had a nice pile. Well I needed another roll. O'Reilly doesn't carry it anymore... So I had to buy 2 rolls of the stuff they carried NOW and had to pull off the old carpet as seen above. I used too much glue. heh.

Here is the finished product including the cargo net that separates the rear and forward sections. You can see the bulkhead in front. The carpet used now is a low pile but seems very durable.
I was going to screw down the floor to the frame but with the front bulkhead and all the carpet, the floor has a tight fit and doesn't move. so the floor is readily removable if need be. I know for me, the voids in the front on either side of the fuel pump, I will be adding a blanket and pillow and other emergency items just in case anything was to happen.
Rear view:
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Front view:
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Come payday, I am going to add Some S-hooks to the cargo cover so it holds the net up evenly and still make it easily removable, find some type of material to make pull tabs for the access doors, and the cargo-lok blocks. Anyone who has a MKVI VW or has a friend with one will know about these. they are pretty awesome.

VW DriveGear
Old 08-17-2011, 12:22 AM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear sear delete for EG

Looks awesome. I'd do it if I didn't have a Del Sol
Old 08-17-2011, 02:50 AM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear sear delete for EG

You should think about selling that template. Along with the measurements for teh 2x4s.
Old 08-17-2011, 03:03 AM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear sear delete for EG

Sick!!! nice write-up and quality work!!!
Old 08-17-2011, 03:16 AM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear sear delete for EG

Nice write up looks good
Old 08-17-2011, 03:57 AM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear sear delete for EG

I did this same thing, except with the section closest to the front, I cut out 2 spots for 12 inch subs. There is another guy on here who did this with the front section used for subs and he has the template on his thread.
Old 08-17-2011, 07:21 AM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear sear delete for EG

Clean man, super clean.
Old 08-17-2011, 09:33 AM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear sear delete for EG

great job! i thought about doing this before but never really thought that there was a way to make it look good. after seeing yours, i'm ready to try it when i get another hatchback!
Old 08-17-2011, 10:00 AM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear sear delete for EG

I'm eventually going to do this in the coupe. Not seen one of these in a 6th gen coupe.
Old 08-17-2011, 01:53 PM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear sear delete for EG

Originally Posted by grumblemarc
I'm eventually going to do this in the coupe. Not seen one of these in a 6th gen coupe.
Trust me, your not putting the flag on the moon buddy.


Heres mine:

Amp under rear deck ^





^^ the 2 holes are for the PWDJDM cross bar




I used leftover Suede from my armrests.. But i need to buy more for the rear area.
Old 08-17-2011, 02:58 PM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear sear delete for EG

Originally Posted by EsotericImage
Trust me, your not putting the flag on the moon buddy.
Didn't say I was going to. Just hadn't seen one for the coupe.
Old 08-17-2011, 06:51 PM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear sear delete for EG

Originally Posted by grumblemarc
I'm eventually going to do this in the coupe. Not seen one of these in a 6th gen coupe.

Sorry, i musta mis-read your post.
Old 08-17-2011, 07:11 PM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear sear delete for EG

Sick I built one similar for my crx! Do you still have a jack and tool location?
Old 08-17-2011, 08:03 PM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear sear delete for EG

Just in time!!! I been looking for some ideas for this though. Constructive critisism: It looks heavy as ****!!!!.
Old 08-17-2011, 08:13 PM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear sear delete for EG

does look heavy might of tried with 1x2's for alittle more space but looks good! The pull tabs would be easy just loop some extra fabric and use a T50 staple.
Old 08-17-2011, 08:31 PM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear sear delete for EG

I'm in the process of doing this now. Finished cutting the corrugated plastic on Tues. that was purchased from Ace Hardware. I used four 2'x4' pieces (two connected, two thick). Its extremely light and will look great once covered with carpet. Only have to figure out the sub-structure. Question: Where did you purchase the cargo net?
Old 08-17-2011, 08:42 PM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear sear delete for EG

I'm not at all knocking anyone's designs, they all look very nice. Just a couple thoughts looking through all of this...
2x4s aren't that heavy. For the weight the plywood would have to hold up, you could even cut them in sections instead of having whole lengths running across from side to side.

As often as you have to access your fuel pump, I may forgo the fuel pump port hole, and maybe make cubbies on either side. Or flip up speakers could be kind of cool. Or drill several holes and somewhat reinforce the area around and house speakers on either side of the fuel pump.

I'm a little uneasy drilling into factory sheet metal. Maybe the holes for the hooks on the front of the seats could be used to hold the seat delete down?

For tie down points, I know I've seen larger stamped sheet metal pieces that have a recess in them and a metal loop that swings up. I'm not sure how small you could find these, but one in each corner would work nicely probably.
Old 08-18-2011, 03:45 AM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear sear delete for EG

Originally Posted by EsotericImage
Sorry, i musta mis-read your post.
Yes you did infer. The coupe as in MY coupe. I have hatch and a coupe. When I say THE coupe I mean MY coupe. Not ALL coupes everywhere.
Old 08-18-2011, 05:22 AM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear sear delete for EG

Gotcha buddy :thumbsup:


Edit:
The way i did mine was just to have mine lay in there. When i added the carpeting, it acted like a wedge which i needed to push into place..

The backseat area is just a board which snugly fits which i can pop out if i need to get to the fuel pump. It doesnt move over bumps either.

I used 1/2" MDF and it isnt that heavy as it looks.
Old 08-18-2011, 07:00 AM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear seat delete for EG

This is epic.

Thanks.
Old 08-18-2011, 07:31 AM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear seat delete for EG

My interior plastics were pretty scratched up and I am going to try to paint them while doing the seat delete with some SEM brand paint. Anyone have experience with this product?
Old 08-18-2011, 09:33 AM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear seat delete for EG

Originally Posted by RussLaviolette
My interior plastics were pretty scratched up and I am going to try to paint them while doing the seat delete with some SEM brand paint. Anyone have experience with this product?
Start a thread and see who chimes in.. youll get better results that way.
Old 08-18-2011, 11:49 AM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear seat delete for EG

Originally Posted by EsotericImage
Start a thread and see who chimes in.. youll get better results that way.
Your probably right. I just posted it in this thread because I'm doing a rear seat delete currently as well.

Thanks!
Old 08-19-2011, 09:24 AM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear seat delete for EG

good diy should start making templates
Old 10-19-2011, 01:21 PM
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Default Re: DIY: Rear seat delete for EG

Bump cause I'm going to take on this project this weekend.

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