Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

How do you Fat Guy's get In & Out of your Roaster? ( 30-31 stock )
The door's on a Roaster are shorter then my sedan , in my sedan I have moved the stock seat's back 4 inches And wonder why Henrry didn't make the door's a few inch's longer , Now I am worken on my roadster ( body was complely a part when I purchased it ) Now all body pael are hung ,I am now working on inside ,
I have installed a 15 inch steering wheel ( stock 17 ) I have removed package tray , seat now sets about 3 - 4 inches back futher , and I have lowered the seat 2 inches . Still tight to get in & out !! It looks like close cab trucks are even tighter . Where there no big / fat guy's back then ,
Or Do I just have to lose weight !!!!
My self 6 ft 260 size 14 shoe,

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

They had chauffeurs! :cool:

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

Henry Ford was a runt.

Walter Chrysler was a big fella, much easier to get into a 28 plymouth.

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

Henry was 5 ft 8 1/2 inches and 138 pounds in 1919.

Edsel was 5 ft 7 1/2 inches.

Big difference from 260 pounds of the OP and his car is the bigger 30/31.

I dive in forwards in my 28 and back my big arse out first.

One bonus is, the door is small so I can throw it open without impeding traffic.

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

In a friend's '29 roadster I did 2 things to help him. Moved the wood seat back support frame back about 1" on the bottom. Makes the seat back a bit more vertical. We both worked to tie the seat spring coils in the seat back into a more compressed position which gained another 1". Seemed to help him quite a bit.

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

Fat has become the norm today, and I also need to loose some weight. People were much lighter 80 years ago, but the Model A's still seen to have doors and entrance clearances that are too tight. I often lift my feet over the seat to get in and out, otherwise you have to be in the right position to slide your feet through the narrow opening sideways. Henry should have hinged the front doors on the rear, like he did a couple years later.

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

LeBonney Baron makes seat bottoms and backs of different widths so bigger men can get behind the wheel of their A's.

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

I'm not that big, but I backed into the seat -then pulled my legs in. It worked for me!

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

My Brother-in-law got wedged trying to get into my 30 Roadster - finally got him in before we resorted to greasing him down..

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

Take those size 14's off first. Lol. I'm a small guy with only size 8's and my biggest problem is getting my feet through the space between the seat and the door frame so your problem is understandable. Might try several unorthodox entry methods to see what works best...like butt in first etc. It's easier in the summer with the roadster top down.

Glen

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

I have to put my right leg in first under the steering wheel then slide in and last pull in the left leg. The last leg has to have the foot turn outward to get in by the seat and the front of the door opening. (Also too fat!). But if the top is down, it is no problem at all.

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

Just be glad you don't have a '28-29 open car! Their door openings are even narrower than in a '30-31 open car. "Pooch" has the right idea - head first, dive in as if you are bailing "into" your car. The rest of your body will naturally follow. I am only 5'10" and about 170-175 pounds, but even at that size it can be a challenge getting in and out of my '28 Phaeton, mostly because of the windwings. By contrast, entrance and egress (P.T. Barnum - "This way to see the Egress") for my '31 Roadster is much easier, even with the windwings. I imagine Ford received complaints about the '28-29 open car narrow doorways even in the day because he widened the '30-31 doorways noticeably.
So, Big Guys - you want an open Model A? Better buy a '30-31 model. The Deluxe Phaeton has the widest doors of all. But $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Marshall

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

I am 5' 10 and 240 and have a bad knee. Own a '29 Coupe and '29 Pickup my way of entry is to back in and slide over to the passenger side, then get my legs past the door and seat. To get out I repeat the process, slide over work my legs up and scoot out.

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

That's how I get into my CCPU too. Getting out is easier unless I've been in the driver's seat a little too long. In that case, getting unbent and standing again can be a challenge, but it's also a challenge in a modern vehicle. :(

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

Install a seat setup on a "swivel". Hide the hardware and no one will know. This idea started out as a joke but....

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

I guess I'm a freak today with the help my new Wife I've fatten up to 180lbs (6'4") Teenage Daughters --enough said.

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

They hopped over the closed door and had fat man steering wheels. Some discarded the package tray and moved the seat further back.

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

I thought of that to ( swivel bucket seat out of sedan ) but there is NO. room ,
I guess We the Fat and Handy-cap! Can enter the Passagerside & slide across seat ,( Maybe that why the door key lock is on the Passagerside !! I think I read in small town it was a law that you had to enter from the Passagerside of the car . My biggest PROLBEM is my Big Foot feet , In my race car ( blown altered / funny car ) I have to take my shoes off & put my funny car boots on so I have enough room to get my foot to the Loud Pedal ,
I have seen a few Fat -man sterring wheel , but if I install one I will not be able to hide that I am Fat !! I think that I will make a adaptor on the mill so I can take the sterring wheel off & on ,, just remember if you go that rout ( removable sterring wheel ) that you check that it is Latched & secured befor you do a over 80 MPH BURNOUT in your Model A .

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

Not usually over here and sorry that I tresspass - my ride is a 1935 Coupe ... but just wanted to mention that at 6'4" and 14's as well - I shortened the package tray and moved the seat back 5" - also moved the heater off-center to the right to give me room for my big foot on the accelerator pedal - also did not touch the roof for good headroom.

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

Included a picture of seat set back

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

Vermin, my '29 Coupe, has 2 plywood panels, replacing the seat cushions. 2 curved back bar stools are mounted on swivels from Bass-Pro Shop. Try search & you might find pics & description. "Maybe" try RACIN' SEATS.
We gained quite a bit of leg room & we sit about 4" lower & it's MUCH easier to get my feet in the car.
After a long re-hab stay, I was at home, alone, & desperately tryin' to get in Minerva, my previous '30 Standard Coupe. I ended up layin' across the seat on my R/H side, tried to sit up, slid off the seat, on my R/H side, in the floorboard, semi-trapped by the chromium shifter pressing into my RIB CAGE. Selected 2nd gear, NOT much help, (HELP, HELP, HELP:eek:)
Slithered out feet first, like a SNAKE in REVERSE & sat on the running board, with a dejected grimace.
With my extra long arms, I worked all the start up stuff & tried to start her, to NO AVAIL----RRR------RRR-----RRR----CUSS-CUSS---RRR--RRR:mad:
After FINALLY getting to sleep in bed, sat up & said, "OH SH-T, forgot to turn the GAS on"!
Bill W.

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

6'1" - 250 - size 14's too...
In both my '28 Roadster and '29 Phaeton, I get in on the passenger side, fish my left foot around the gearshift and push/pull myself over...tucking the right foot can be a bother if I haven't stretched out first...

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

After FINALLY getting to sleep in bed, sat up & said, "OH SH-T, forgot to turn the GAS on"!
Bill W.

Funny Bill, my best diagnoses also of what went wrong or didn't work that day often come when a bout of insomnia sets in.

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

Removed front Seat back Riser and wood 1 1/2" wood strip from package tray trying to get seat back as far as possible in my little sport coupe. Set this seat from late model Jeep Cherokee in temporarily and am now able to sit in the little car and actually operate clutch without my knees stopping at the steering wheel! or Having to drive with the drivers door open! I am thinking next will remove the seat riser and build seat mount with storage under seat.
Will hang on to all the parts in case some one smaller than I decides they want it back stock! I am 72 years old 6 foot 2 inches 190 lbs to 200 lbs, had neck and lower back problems due to two rear ended car wrecks.
Made sure to keep cell phone where I could call 911 to come cut me out of the car If I got stuck in there I am bruised and sore all over after working inside the car

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

Not sure what your problem is. I'm 6'6", 250lbs, shoe size 13. I step into my car, upright, then bend a bit down, have my right hand on the folded convertible top, turn 90 degrees to the left, and slide down. I do that so quickly and elegantly, you wouldn't believe it. I get out just like it, pull myself up, turn to the left, and step out of the car. The advantage of a Roadster is that there's nothing but open sky above.

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

I'm 6'2" and 165 and that's the way I get in the 28 coup----the only way.

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

Mike, I am with you at 6'4" and 180lbs I feel like a freak. But regardless, getting in and out of our 1928 Tudor is no sinecure. I put my right leg in first as far as I can, slide my butt onto the seat and drag the left foot in. My size 11s often get caught up. Biggest problem is remembering not to use the steering wheel as an aid.

Getting out is easier as gravity is on my side.:)

Ian

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

Some of my problem I guess is the 4 vertebra that are self fused in my lower back so that I can not bend or twist since there are no disc left....Doc says he could go in break the self fused vertebra apart put in steel plates and screws and so on I said "Screw that"! Been this way over 12 years now just going to keep moving on....
My little coupe is nothing special it has an galvanized sheet-metal roof applied over the original soft sport coupe top bows etc. That was done during the depression before WWII. I like it that way, no plans to restore just leave it as it was used in its lifetime. Each of these little cars have their own charm and are a testament to their life of toil, and service to man

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

I am actually surprised that driving my Tudor is as conforatble as it is. My driver seat does have those longer seat legs

http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/4721

http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/up...02EXT-9517.jpg

And as for shifting, I have bad ham string in my left leg but thus far I've had no pain when shifting so very blessed with that..

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

I am a big fat guy and my roadster is easier to get in with the top down.;)

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

OK, Maybe I'm Not that Fat, and it will not be that bad to get in & out, ( Exsept my Left 14 foot )
I just have the sterring wheel mocked up on a pipe taped to it , & the pedal's ( but they are in the wright locations , I used Ford drawing's & measermint 's ) the windshield is not in nor the upper stanchion's . When I am getting in and out wright now ,I am not trying to hold or pull on any thang because it is just taped in place ,, But no issues getting in & out of my 30 Tudor , thank you for CONVINCING me & the Suport that I am not FAT !!!! wife says I'm am !
Merry Chrismasv & holidays & happy new year P.s. No new year Resolution for me to loos weight , Just to get my Roadster done.

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

It does seem that a Tudor would be much easier to get into and out of, since you can get the seats much further to the rear! Or take them out sit in the back seat! Ha Ha
Merry Christmas and Happiest of New Year to ALL!
Pooch You still have an 28 Plymouth? I still have Mine...

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

Back in the '50's, I had a '29 Sport coupe & used 2 Tudor seats, without the legs, just sitting down in the seat riser & that worked very well.
Bill W.

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

I moved the Front seat's back 3 or 4 inch's from stock location & door's are Longer by a few inches on a 2 door sedan 30-31, then the 30-31 Roadster.

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

I have a video of entering and exiting my channeled Roadster... all I need to do is figure out how to post it! :D


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th8IXITh6aw


<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Th8IXITh6aw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

http://youtu.be/Th8IXITh6aw

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

Super Clean Car! Very nice Interior!

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

I've got a Sport Coupe, I'm 6'4" & weigh 217 pounds, not fat just big, and its a struggle :)

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

Are "Fat Man" steering wheels available for Model A's ? I've only seen them for T's. Sources ?

Re: Fat Guy's Only!!! Roadster
 

Get in the passenger side and slide over