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TR4/4A What is "Too Tall" for a TR4?
- Thread starter KVH
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Geo Hahn
Yoda
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What is 'too tall' may come down to 2 things:
Does he plan to drive with the top up? Without the top infinite headroom has let lots of too tall folks drive little British cars.
Is his height mostly in his legs? Some tall people appear to be average in height once they sit down, they seem to have an extra 3 or 4 inches in the legs.
The TR4 seems to me to have quite a bit of leg room, but the only way to know is too have him sit in one. I assume he is not local or he could try yours.
Does he plan to drive with the top up? Without the top infinite headroom has let lots of too tall folks drive little British cars.
Is his height mostly in his legs? Some tall people appear to be average in height once they sit down, they seem to have an extra 3 or 4 inches in the legs.
The TR4 seems to me to have quite a bit of leg room, but the only way to know is too have him sit in one. I assume he is not local or he could try yours.
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I certainly hope 6-4 is not too tall. I'm 6-5 and my TR3 fits perfectly. Also most of my height is from the waste up(I wear 32 length pants). I will add that LBCs were easier to get in & out of when I was 20 compared to 70. I can't figure out what has changed about the cars (lol). Have your friend try one on for size and see. I once had a stranger look me up through the local club and ask if he could stop by to see if he could fit in my car before he made further bids on ebay.
martx-5
Yoda
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I'm 6'2" and fit fine with no problems in my TR3, as most people of height find the TR3 more then adequate. However, in a TR4, the situation can change. I had an early TR4 that had the TR3 style seats, and that was OK. However, I also had a TR4A which had more padded seats and I always felt a bit tight in it until I removed the seat tracks, moved it as far back as possible, and then bolted it to the floor. I also owned a TR6, but for some reason it felt OK without removing the tracks. Maybe that seat goes back farther. Like they say, try them out, but be careful with the TR4s and 4As, the seat themselves can make a big difference.
HerronScott
Darth Vader
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6'5" here and no problem with my TR4A but my height is mostly legs (35" inseam). A TR6 and TR4A should have the same leg and headroom.
Scott
Scott
Ha ha ha. Eat your Wheaties and let us know how your height progresses Geo.
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Funny thing about Arnold, he is certainly broad but really not that big, Mike Golic, former defensive line player in the NFL tells a funny story about how he was a fan and finally got a chance to meet him at a party, he said Arnold kept running away when he would try to talk to him, I think Arnold is 5'9" or 5'10" and at the time anyway, didn't want his picture snapped with anyone that would make him look (relatively) little.
On the subject of size and cars, interesting how different people fit differently, I am 6'0" and have plenty of leg room in my TR250, I have the seat set in about the middle of the track adjustment when driving, plenty of room to go back further. MGBs have a goodly amount of legroom too, and a little more elbow room, Austin Healeys are better than TRs on the elbow room too, but I would say worse on the leg and head room. Funny, I just read a contemporary road test of the TR250, and they said you would have trouble fitting if over 6'0".
I think in addition to people's body dimensions differing a bit, preferred driving position differs a lot, I know my brother's legs are shorter than mine by an inch or so, but when he gets in my cars to drive them he always pushes the seat back a notch. My first car was an Austin Healey Sprite, so I learned to drive with my knees bent and legs splayed out a little, and all other cars seem big by comparison, people who come from the SUV and pick-up world often think "our" cars are just too cramped, even though they physically fit in them.
Best way to find out of course is to have him sit in one, if a TR4 isn't handy the whole TR4, 4a, 5/250, 6 range of TRs all shared the same cockpit so have him sit in any of them for a trial fit. That being said, an overstuffed re-upholstered seat vs. an well worn, sagging original will also make a difference in how much room you have in the car. Common trick in the early Healeys, which have very little headroom, is to have the seat cushion foam shaved to fit better, my head hit the top with the roof up before I did it in mine.
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:highly_amused:
Keoke
Great Pumpkin
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I'm 6'5", and fit fine in my tr4. (My head does rub with the top up, but who puts the top up?) I didn't shave my seat foam, but I released the clips on the back of the rubber seat bladder thingy that serves as springs in my seat. It gave me another inch or two of headroom...
Geo Hahn
Yoda
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Calls for a photo -- The 6'5" Chileman and the somewhat shorter Geo (demonstrating the secret BCF handshake):
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Ahh, my tr4 pre restoration.. lol... I still can't believe that car is the same car in my signature.
So,
the issue with tr4's is the leg/knee clearance to the 16" steering wheel (mostly) . Many have put in 14" steering wheels without a significant increase in steering force required.
Leg length is not usually an issue, but knee/thigh height is. Many replace the early seats with Miata/mx5 seats (if they fit you). Tr6 seats should work depending on seat height.
I am restoring/rebuilding/rustomodding-restomodding an early 62 tr4 that came with tr3 type seats (terrible for someone my size-6'-2", 235 lbs). I'm not overly fat but have big hips and chunky bones. The rear view mirror blocks my vision with the original seats. I am putting recaro expert-M seats in it (with modifications) and bolting the drivers seat to the floor. I am also removing the rear view mirror (blocks my vision) and mounting a wide, curved, racing mirror in it, mounted on the dash . I have issues with all rear view mirrors in almost every vehicle i have driven (at least 100 plus different ones) including my present regular vehicle and my wifes.
I plan to put a 14" D-shaped custom steering wheel in my tr4 (making my own) for maximum knee clearance.I know it's not 'period' looking, but i don't care. Fit and function is way more important than looks. If you think looks are more important, so be it (I'll consider you a shallow person-lol). I do care about looks, but its low on my list. Some people have put in a removeable steering wheel for car ingress/egress.
So, sit in one for size. move the seat back, and plan modifications to suit your body.
I am building a tr4 (basket case) because i wanted a project to make it how I want,: needed to have one i can fit in (with modifications if required), love small car handling.
I hate modern cars: warnings, buzzers, voices, notifications, automatic transmissions, computer screens, blue tooth, phones, cameras, stuff not related to driving and paying attention to driving, etc..
I don't need 400hp for a steet car (can't legally utilize it) since i would get in way too much trouble. I used to race karts and dirt bikes and turn into Mr Hyde when behind the wheel or bars.
I don't like heavy cars-even a civic is bloated these days. 2000 lbs or less is my target. The healeys are typically heavier (and expensive) , mg's too small, Alfas can work but are unibody so when rusted are a structural issue.
I literally cannot fit in a Miata/MX5. I look straight at the top of the window frame and the seats are WAY too narrow and my shoulders dont fit.
This makes a tr4 an excellent choice for taller guys.
my 2 cents
Rob
the issue with tr4's is the leg/knee clearance to the 16" steering wheel (mostly) . Many have put in 14" steering wheels without a significant increase in steering force required.
Leg length is not usually an issue, but knee/thigh height is. Many replace the early seats with Miata/mx5 seats (if they fit you). Tr6 seats should work depending on seat height.
I am restoring/rebuilding/rustomodding-restomodding an early 62 tr4 that came with tr3 type seats (terrible for someone my size-6'-2", 235 lbs). I'm not overly fat but have big hips and chunky bones. The rear view mirror blocks my vision with the original seats. I am putting recaro expert-M seats in it (with modifications) and bolting the drivers seat to the floor. I am also removing the rear view mirror (blocks my vision) and mounting a wide, curved, racing mirror in it, mounted on the dash . I have issues with all rear view mirrors in almost every vehicle i have driven (at least 100 plus different ones) including my present regular vehicle and my wifes.
I plan to put a 14" D-shaped custom steering wheel in my tr4 (making my own) for maximum knee clearance.I know it's not 'period' looking, but i don't care. Fit and function is way more important than looks. If you think looks are more important, so be it (I'll consider you a shallow person-lol). I do care about looks, but its low on my list. Some people have put in a removeable steering wheel for car ingress/egress.
So, sit in one for size. move the seat back, and plan modifications to suit your body.
I am building a tr4 (basket case) because i wanted a project to make it how I want,: needed to have one i can fit in (with modifications if required), love small car handling.
I hate modern cars: warnings, buzzers, voices, notifications, automatic transmissions, computer screens, blue tooth, phones, cameras, stuff not related to driving and paying attention to driving, etc..
I don't need 400hp for a steet car (can't legally utilize it) since i would get in way too much trouble. I used to race karts and dirt bikes and turn into Mr Hyde when behind the wheel or bars.
I don't like heavy cars-even a civic is bloated these days. 2000 lbs or less is my target. The healeys are typically heavier (and expensive) , mg's too small, Alfas can work but are unibody so when rusted are a structural issue.
I literally cannot fit in a Miata/MX5. I look straight at the top of the window frame and the seats are WAY too narrow and my shoulders dont fit.
This makes a tr4 an excellent choice for taller guys.
my 2 cents
Rob
charleyf
Luke Skywalker
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I have 2 TR4s. I am 6'2" with long upper torso and 32" inseam on my legs.
My modifications were 14" steering wheels, early TR6 seats( that recline) modified to allow another inch or 2. And modified the dash support where my knee was hitting. I cut part of it back some right below the dash. It is not noticeable. One car I modified the side spacing of the brake & clutch pedals for better separation for my size 12 / wide shoes.
I also have Surrey tops on both cars and fit in the car with hard and soft tops.
Love to drive both of them.
Charley
My modifications were 14" steering wheels, early TR6 seats( that recline) modified to allow another inch or 2. And modified the dash support where my knee was hitting. I cut part of it back some right below the dash. It is not noticeable. One car I modified the side spacing of the brake & clutch pedals for better separation for my size 12 / wide shoes.
I also have Surrey tops on both cars and fit in the car with hard and soft tops.
Love to drive both of them.
Charley