The Ford Barn

doghair3 · 03-31-2026, 08:51 PM

Need some advise and opinions from The Ford Barn universe. I was looking at the possible purchase of a 36 Convertible Sedan. Problem is the seat is set all the way to the front. I'm 6'3" and it is just really tight. No movement in pushing the seat back. The owner has installed seat belts and says the anchor bolts are preventing the seat from moving further back by possible 3 or 4 inches. Those few inches would help me tremendously. I'm all about safety but would that work? Are their any other tried and true solutions out their that others have tried and been successful at. I was wondering if the seat could be removed and the rails could be relocated a few inches back. I really like the car but this is a deal braker for me. The way it is now I look like a clown getting in this one. Ideas and comments appreciated.

tubman · 03-31-2026, 11:46 PM

I feel your pain. I had a very nice '36 3-window that was very cramped (and I was only 6'). I struggled with it for a while, but since it was finished car with a full new interior, I ended up selling it. Being a coupe (and a 3-window at that), there was no room to move the seat and even if there was, it would have meant messing with that nice interior. Luckily, you have a larger car that probably doesn't have the same limitations.

Some years later, I had an employee who married a gal who was 6'4". (He was a larger gentleman himself.) In her infinite wisdom, she had purchased a new mini-car (a Plymouth Colt or some such) that was a very bad fit for her. I told them to bring the car, 4 steaks, and a bottle of Scotch whisky, to my place that weekend. I did exactly as you are proposing (moving the seat assembly back about 4 inches). You have to look at the car and decide which is the best wat to move things around, but it can be done. Please note : After this exercise, the rear seat will probably become unusable.

She was eternally grateful and thanked me again each time we met.

rich b · 04-01-2026, 05:28 AM

Crawl around and look at what the owner did to mess up the seat travel; shouldn't be a big deal to undo it and remount seat belts properly.

While I'm not familiar with how the seat is mounted in a convertible sedan; if it is like other '35-'36 Fords; the shape of the floor pan is not flat and the seat tracks match the shape of it. On my coupe the slides were worn & corroded so I trimmed the base down, added a new flange, and added modern slides. I mounted them to gain a couple of inches extra rearward travel.

doghair3 · 04-01-2026, 06:15 AM

Thank you both for you comments. Tubman can I buy you for 5 steaks and two bottles of scotch? Maybe I'll buy a mini bottle of King Louis XIII for you if that will work. To you Rich I found your solution interesting. Can you share any further details? More pictures? Is anybody aware of plans out in the universe for the construction of a 1936 front seat that I could possibly duplicate and modify?

Zeke3 · 04-01-2026, 08:37 AM

I don’t know how the convertible sedan is constructed, but a friend of mine had a 1936 phaeton and the front seat provided the support for the post between the front and rear doors, so the front seat was not adjustable. The attachment was at the top of the post.

doghair3 · 04-01-2026, 09:53 AM

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Thanks Zeke. That seems to be the general practice of the day. I looked at a 36 Cadillac and a 37 Buick both convertible sedans and both had the seats bolted to the floor with no adjustment and the seat was actually structural support for the "B" pillars. I thought to myself what a shame for such big cars with no seat adjustability. Given the fact that people were smaller back then I guess it worked.

petehoovie · 04-01-2026, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich b

Crawl around and look at what the owner did to mess up the seat travel; shouldn't be a big deal to undo it and remount seat belts properly.

While I'm not familiar with how the seat is mounted in a convertible sedan; if it is like other '35-'36 Fords; the shape of the floor pan is not flat and the seat tracks match the shape of it. On my coupe the slides were worn & corroded so I trimmed the base down, added a new flange, and added modern slides. I mounted them to gain a couple of inches extra rearward travel.

The Art Doctor · 04-02-2026, 08:42 AM

For larger/taller individuals I often remind them that Henry Ford was a man of only 5'10" and slight build and made cars that fit him. On the other hand Walter P. Chrysler was 6'+ and near 300lbs and made cars that fit him. I'd check out a comparable Chrysler, Plymouth or DeSoto and I bet they'd fit you better.

Kurt in NJ · 04-02-2026, 12:01 PM

I don’t know about your car,on mine the seat goes back all the way to touching the second cowl at the corners and about 1/2” away at the center.
It’s be a long time since I drove it but I don’t remember it being uncomfortable.

johndee138 · 04-02-2026, 03:38 PM

This may be slightly off topic but, I'm 6'2" and the seat in my 3 window wouldn't go back far enough to suit me. I could barely get in and out of the car. I also found the flip up seat back to be a massive pain in the tail. So, I found a split back bench from a 38 ( I think) Tudor, made some cheesy brackets and moved the whole deal back. I also had to remove some of the width of the package tray to get more room. Worth every bit of grief I went through

petehoovie · 04-02-2026, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johndee138

This may be slightly off topic but, I'm 6'2" and the seat in my 3 window wouldn't go back far enough to suit me. I could barely get in and out of the car. I also found the flip up seat back to be a massive pain in the tail. So, I found a split back bench from a 38 ( I think) Tudor, made some cheesy brackets and moved the whole deal back. I also had to remove some of the width of the package tray to get more room. Worth every bit of grief I went through

03-31-2026, 08:51 PM	#1
doghair3 Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Venetia, Pa. Posts: 59	36 Front Seat Delima Need some advise and opinions from The Ford Barn universe. I was looking at the possible purchase of a 36 Convertible Sedan. Problem is the seat is set all the way to the front. I'm 6'3" and it is just really tight. No movement in pushing the seat back. The owner has installed seat belts and says the anchor bolts are preventing the seat from moving further back by possible 3 or 4 inches. Those few inches would help me tremendously. I'm all about safety but would that work? Are their any other tried and true solutions out their that others have tried and been successful at. I was wondering if the seat could be removed and the rails could be relocated a few inches back. I really like the car but this is a deal braker for me. The way it is now I look like a clown getting in this one. Ideas and comments appreciated.

03-31-2026, 11:46 PM	#2
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 12,136	Re: 36 Front Seat Delima I feel your pain. I had a very nice '36 3-window that was very cramped (and I was only 6'). I struggled with it for a while, but since it was finished car with a full new interior, I ended up selling it. Being a coupe (and a 3-window at that), there was no room to move the seat and even if there was, it would have meant messing with that nice interior. Luckily, you have a larger car that probably doesn't have the same limitations. Some years later, I had an employee who married a gal who was 6'4". (He was a larger gentleman himself.) In her infinite wisdom, she had purchased a new mini-car (a Plymouth Colt or some such) that was a very bad fit for her. I told them to bring the car, 4 steaks, and a bottle of Scotch whisky, to my place that weekend. I did exactly as you are proposing (moving the seat assembly back about 4 inches). You have to look at the car and decide which is the best wat to move things around, but it can be done. Please note : After this exercise, the rear seat will probably become unusable. She was eternally grateful and thanked me again each time we met.

04-01-2026, 06:15 AM	#4
doghair3 Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Venetia, Pa. Posts: 59	Re: 36 Front Seat Delima Thank you both for you comments. Tubman can I buy you for 5 steaks and two bottles of scotch? Maybe I'll buy a mini bottle of King Louis XIII for you if that will work. To you Rich I found your solution interesting. Can you share any further details? More pictures? Is anybody aware of plans out in the universe for the construction of a 1936 front seat that I could possibly duplicate and modify?

04-01-2026, 08:37 AM	#5
Zeke3 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Columbus, IN Posts: 1,646	Re: 36 Front Seat Delima I don’t know how the convertible sedan is constructed, but a friend of mine had a 1936 phaeton and the front seat provided the support for the post between the front and rear doors, so the front seat was not adjustable. The attachment was at the top of the post.

04-01-2026, 09:53 AM	#6
doghair3 Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Venetia, Pa. Posts: 59	Re: 36 Front Seat Delima Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks Zeke. That seems to be the general practice of the day. I looked at a 36 Cadillac and a 37 Buick both convertible sedans and both had the seats bolted to the floor with no adjustment and the seat was actually structural support for the "B" pillars. I thought to myself what a shame for such big cars with no seat adjustability. Given the fact that people were smaller back then I guess it worked.

04-02-2026, 08:42 AM	#8
The Art Doctor Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2025 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 226	Re: 36 Front Seat Delima For larger/taller individuals I often remind them that Henry Ford was a man of only 5'10" and slight build and made cars that fit him. On the other hand Walter P. Chrysler was 6'+ and near 300lbs and made cars that fit him. I'd check out a comparable Chrysler, Plymouth or DeSoto and I bet they'd fit you better.