The Ford Barn

eagle · 05-19-2012, 09:32 AM

I am 6' 4" and 215#. My Fordor was actually dangerous for me to drive, my leg would get wedged between the steering wheel and the shifter and I couldn't get my foot on the brake. Several times I had to resort to quickly grabbing the Ebrake in order to stop. (yes, I know thats not a good idea but beats running into another car!) So, I moved my seat back 2.5 inches and bent the shift lever over to the right about 4 inches. It is now perfectly comfortable. Those few inches made an unbelievble difference. The back seat passengers had tons of room so they don't miss a couple inches. The Fordor has a wood seat frame screwed to the floor and to the door posts. I just made a double "L" bracket for the seat to door post, and then drilled new holes for the seat bottom screws. The seat upholstery had an extra piece of fabric "folded under" one of the trim pieces, I used that to cover the sides of the seat that had previously been against the door post. My seats are upholstered in wool, done in the 50's, so there was no way to find matching material, I was glad to find the extra piece.

ctlikon0712 · 05-19-2012, 03:56 PM

I thought the Vicky had the longest doors!?

glenn in camino · 05-19-2012, 07:57 PM

When I had a 29 phaeton I broke a lot of belt loops on the door jamb latch.

RHD · 05-19-2012, 10:24 PM

Cars do definitely shrink over the years. The seats also shift, become higher and are awkward to get into. An elderly gentleman I know cannot get into his roadster any more, it has shrunk so much over the years. Maybe its because the cars have been left out in the rain.

JBill · 05-20-2012, 08:57 AM

I find it a lot easier to get in and out of my '29 roadster when the top is down and I can get in and out sort of halfway standing up. I had to modify the gear shift lever so I could get my foot on the brake without my upper leg always hitting the steering wheel.

05-19-2012, 09:32 AM	#21
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,029	Re: Is it just me?? I am 6' 4" and 215#. My Fordor was actually dangerous for me to drive, my leg would get wedged between the steering wheel and the shifter and I couldn't get my foot on the brake. Several times I had to resort to quickly grabbing the Ebrake in order to stop. (yes, I know thats not a good idea but beats running into another car!) So, I moved my seat back 2.5 inches and bent the shift lever over to the right about 4 inches. It is now perfectly comfortable. Those few inches made an unbelievble difference. The back seat passengers had tons of room so they don't miss a couple inches. The Fordor has a wood seat frame screwed to the floor and to the door posts. I just made a double "L" bracket for the seat to door post, and then drilled new holes for the seat bottom screws. The seat upholstery had an extra piece of fabric "folded under" one of the trim pieces, I used that to cover the sides of the seat that had previously been against the door post. My seats are upholstered in wool, done in the 50's, so there was no way to find matching material, I was glad to find the extra piece.

05-19-2012, 03:56 PM	#22
ctlikon0712 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Cocoa, Florida Posts: 1,609	Re: Is it just me?? I thought the Vicky had the longest doors!? __________________ Wanted: Simmons Super Power Head Craig Likon 1931 150B

05-19-2012, 07:57 PM	#23
glenn in camino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camino, CA. Posts: 3,086	Re: Is it just me?? When I had a 29 phaeton I broke a lot of belt loops on the door jamb latch.

05-19-2012, 10:24 PM	#24
RHD Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New Zealand Posts: 670	Re: Is it just me?? Cars do definitely shrink over the years. The seats also shift, become higher and are awkward to get into. An elderly gentleman I know cannot get into his roadster any more, it has shrunk so much over the years. Maybe its because the cars have been left out in the rain. __________________ R.H.D. Author of Model 'A' Ford technical manuals. Supplier of good original RHD parts.

05-20-2012, 08:57 AM	#25
JBill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 702	Re: Is it just me?? I find it a lot easier to get in and out of my '29 roadster when the top is down and I can get in and out sort of halfway standing up. I had to modify the gear shift lever so I could get my foot on the brake without my upper leg always hitting the steering wheel.