Not enough leg room!

[29Cabriolet]

There have been a couple threads about moving driver/passenger seats back to increase leg room in tudors or fordors. I posted this question there but did not see any replies, so I thought I would start a new thread specific to other models, i.e. two seaters.
I would like to be able to move the seat back in my Cabriolet. One way I thought would be to remove or modify the window shelf. I'd rather not do that for fear of compromising the body structure (strength). And although the car, as it came to me, is not a "pure original", I felt that mod would be too drastic.

Another thought I had was to modify (i.e build new, modified) seat cushions, where the back would be say half the original thickness.

Has anyone done something like this in these or perhaps another way, or have any suggestions on how to increase leg room for the driver in a two seater?

Thanks!

[Hicktick]

Most people modify the seat cushions to get an inch or two .

[Napa Skip]

If I understand your question, then for 1928-1929 Model A’s you might review the Ford Service Bulletins (page 257; June 1928) under “Coupe Seat Easily Adjusted” for some ideas. In addition to the descriptive write up, there are two illustrations, including one showing the dimensions of material to be removed from the package tray cover.

[silversink]

I am going to cut the package shelf in half to gain the room I need to get in and out of the Coupe. I will move the bottom the same distance back, I think I will fit this 6'4 body in comfortably in the modified interior.

[Binger]

I moved my seat back in my '29 special coup 6". I had to modify the seat riser and cut 6" out of the package tray. You could find another tray and riser and modify them and keep your other ones if you ever need to put it back stock. I also moved the floor pans back 6" and am going to have to put in another piece to fill the gap. You could build a new floor pan that works for the seat better. Its kind of a lot of modification but it will make the car a lot more fun. The rivets can be removed from the current floor pan and riser and then use bolts to hold the new one in.

[springerpete]

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I helped a friend gain room by moving the wood frame that supports the seat back in his 29 roadster. We also compressed the springs in the seat back and tied them off. This gained 1.5".

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

This is what we did! Didn't modify the body at all & can be changed back to stock in minutes----Bill W.

[Clem Clement]

The 30 Cabriolet seat moves back. Can you change seats?

[Logan]

Cut the package tray out if you want the most legroom you can get. I know people who have such long legs (6 foot 2 inches+ tall) just getting in the door is a problem for them. But by cutting the package tray out, it gives them more than enough room to sit comfortably. Another trick is taking a torch and heating the bottom of the gearshift and bending it to the right while it is hot. This moves the shifter out of the way of their knees.

[29Cabriolet]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions! Lots of good ideas; just need to pick the one(s) that'll work best for me! The biggest problem for me is actually the seat riser. When depressing clutch or brake, the heel of my shoe hits the riser and I can't get my foot on top of the pedal easily. Maybe I should have titled this thread Not enough foot room!

[tbirdtbird]

clever solution, Bill

[Skeezixx]

Have 2" or so surgically removed from both your femurs.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

clever solution, Bill

What I did "might" solve the problem of his heel hitting the seat riser. "Maybe" his heel is hitting the wood spring platform & NOT the riser?? If it's like my seat, the spring wood platform overhangs the riser by 4 or 5" & we couldn't even get our size 13 shoes in, between the "A" post & the cockeyed overhanging wood spring platform!! Minerva, my Early '30 Coupe, had more legroom than my '29 Coupe, but I still had to move the COMPLETE seat assembly & the riser, back a full 4" Were these cars designed for MIDGETS???
I personally know of 5, '28 & '29 CCPU's that were sold because the owners couldn't even drive them Even after REMOVING the backrest completely!
Bill W.

[Fred K-OR]

I am 6'2" so I also had a problem with my 29 STD coupe. I just moved the bottom of the back seat cushion back about 2 inches and this gave me enough room. I read the service bulletin mentioned above but did not cut my tray back.

[Charlville]

I'm 6'4" and also have the "foot room" problem particularly with the clutch pedal. The parcel shelf mod probably wouldn't help me. However the seat cushion mod mentioned in the thread certainly appeals, anyone have some pictures/details of a howto?

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

RACIN' BOOTS.jpgFOR MORE FOOTROOM: I found these "G-Force" Racin' Shoes, that gave me MORE room on the pedals.--Bill W.