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Harold's Return - Driving Position

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jjbunn

jjbunn

Jedi Knight
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It was off the jack stands again today for Harold, and an opportunity to blast some carbon out of his under-used cylinders.

I don't think of myself as a big bloke, but sitting in the GT seems a very tight squeeze. My 7 year old daughter is a better size for it:

537879288_09806322bb.jpg


You can see how I seem to fill the whole side of the car!

What's worse is that the driving position is seriously uncomfortable, and I'm not sure what to do about it. I have the seat as far back as it will go, but the steering wheel cuts into my right upper leg. My right leg is bent at an angle so that I can press the accelerator and clutch, and my foot is angled in the opposite direction so I can do so. After a mile or so, it's almost unbearable.

Anyone else have this problem in these cars? I'm 5ft11, so not abnormally long /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
Buy a 14" steering wheel and move the column up as high as you can. Also consider taking the wood strips out from the bottom of the seat, although a better solution is to leave them in and cut some seat foam out.
 
Steve_S said:
Buy a 14" steering wheel and move the column up as high as you can. Also consider taking the wood strips out from the bottom of the seat, although a better solution is to leave them in and cut some seat foam out.
Click to expand...

After I rebuilt my seats earlier this year, I found I sat too high in my car; high enough to have my right leg constantly rub the steering wheel. I ended up cutting about an inch off the bottom of the seat foam, and removed the wood strips. Doing both worked for me. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

As for foot/leg position, my right knee is usually propped against the center console, and I just roll my right foot on its heel to hit the brakes or accelerator. I usually stretch my left leg all the way out unless I need to use the clutch. I haven't had any problems with my seating position in the 3 years I've been driving my B. Then again, I'm only 5'9".

Given you're 5'11", I'd prolly grab the 'lectric knife and lop off about an inch from the seat bottom, remove the wood rails, and switch to a 14" steering wheel.
 
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif
 
Thanks for all the suggestions.

I guess I should look again in the Owners Manual, but is there a height adjustment on the steering column?

Also, any suggestions for a suitable, reasonably priced 14" steering wheel would be most welcome.
 
Grant GT steering wheel? easily found at your local AZ; though, I dunno how easy it'll be to get the appropriate adapters for it. Other than that, I'd go to the 'normal suspects' for a smaller wheel.
 
Can't recall the column setup for the later B's but the earlier cars had a bit of an adjustment possible just behind/below the instrument panel. A thru-bolt in a slotted anchor point. I *think* your car has about the same thing. Tony would know for certain. Others with the "newer" column as well.
 
And now you know why us big guys drive Bugeyes.
 
I met a guy at the car show yesterday. He had to be 6'-6" or more and not slim. He was driving a mini. I told he he should get the award for biggest guy in smallest car. He said he was comfortable.
 
My brother is 6'11 and drives a TR3. He found a way to move the seat back and can comfortably drive it. Any chance of getting a tiltable column out of a salvage yard? From a Honda, etc? Won't be original but might add to the driveability. Or perhaps a street rod aftermarket source? Just some thoughts to make you go hmmmmm.....
 
jjbunn,

I have the opposite problem. I am 5'9 and barely see over the dash... My ol' B driver's foam is so shot that I basically sit on the floorboards with a layer of leather between me and the carpet, or what's left of it... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif
 
vping said:
I met a guy at the car show yesterday. He had to be 6'-6" or more and not slim. He was driving a mini. I told he he should get the award for biggest guy in smallest car. He said he was comfortable.
Click to expand...

A tall bloke I knew actually removed the front seat of his mini, and sat in the back seat to drive ... true story.
 
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