So I find myself with a new to me 1985 GSL-se. One problem...I'm 6'4" and find that my legs jam between the steering wheel and the door when I go to clutch. I am thinking of going to a 9 or 10 inch steering wheel, and maybe a seat with less padding that takes up less room.

Are there any other tall drivers here and what kind of solutions have you come up with.??

 

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/1st-gen-tall-people-134344/

If you have the leather seats they are taller than most.

I was lucky enough to score a set of leather seats out of a 82 GSL that sit much lower.

Before that in one of my Se's I had Recaro seats.

Back in the day when I got my first 7 there was a place that sold a seat extender rail for our cars that gave more leg room.

 

thx for the link to the thread. I like the snug feel of the car, just need to make some minor adjustments here and there to get it perfect. I'll look into some recaros maybe if I'm feeling rich. Great site here by the way.

 

I gave the Recaros away to a friend because they needed to reupholstered again. I should of kept them. :-)

 

If you have the skills you can modify the rails to lower and extend the travel. You can also lengthen the column easily, to clear your knee

 

I have an 82, and love the seats. Make me feel like I am riding on pavement

 

older model seats, or recaros or other aftermarket. I have recaros, but im not tall but if i were id have enuf room.

 

PM bstrange99 he is tall well over 6 feet he might have some suggestions

 

To clear your left knee I have employed 2 different solutions that worked:

1-on the 85GSL, which has power steering, I replaced the wheel with a 330mm Grant wheel from the autostore: $50.

2-on the 85SE, which has standard steering so the standard wheel is useful, I just removed the pull handle my knee got caught on.

But the best solution is the 83 which has a cleaner door panel that clears my knee, and it has a lower thinner seat that is MUCH better for a tall driver. It has one less mechanism for seat adjustment, so they saved over an inch of thickness, both ways, so you sit lower and further back. try to find the old seats at your local pick 'n pull (today is half price day, maybe I'll go looking, too).

I also cut the inside rearview mirror off close to the dome light and mount a $15 aftermarket mirror from the autostore just above the dash to get the !#@#$ mirror out of my line of sight. Works great. Just like an old MG TD!

I once tried to modify an 85 seat to be lower with an annealing torch on the zigzag springs and a bunch of prybars and such, but it didn't work out.

But if you can find some decent old seats (without the lumbar adjustment) they're really golden, even if you've gotta pay a shop to re-upholster them.

 

I'm 6' 7" tall. The best solution I found was to cut out about a 30 degree section of the steering wheel on the lower left side. It looks weird and you can't shift while turning, but other than that it works AWESOME!!!


Just kidding... .....I have s3 seats in my 83, and have a 13 inch Grant gt wheel. It really works well. Just to note, the s3 seats I have would be from an 84-85, so the same style you have.
Good luck.

 

Oh, and I have 84-85 door panels. I think a smaller wheel will be the answer to your problems.

 

i dont know if it just me but i think turbo2 seats sit lower than SE seats
im sure that would help you tall people. im only 5'8 so im all good

 

I'd get a 320mm steering wheel with an inch or more extension...

 

I put second gen seats in mine and that really helped. They are about 1 inch lower than the stock seats.

 

Im 6'4' and dont have problems in my FB, its nice when you can reach everything from the drivers seat(including the glove box). I do drive with the sunroof open all the time for that little extra headroom though.


Isaac

 

Change the steering wheel, the stock one is too big

 

Yeah, I run with the sunroof open all the time. I wish the padding on the ceiling is less thick, though.

 

Damn, great topic, I was going to start one similar to this today Im 6'4" and 265 so its a bit tight for me too. I think Im going to pull the drivers seat and see about extending the tracks. The biggest PITA is low speed turns cause you cant pass your hand between the wheel and your leg. Let me see what I can design on the seat track and Ill let ya all know.

 

I'm 6'2" and have rather large legs. I went with the 10" Grant Evolution wheel and have no issues at all.

 

I'm 6' 1", so I'm no giant, but I do race the car, and I was getting tired of my helmet being wedged to the right, into the sunroof opening. I put in some race seats, with the side brackets bolted directly to the floor. This lowered me by about 3". I also got a smaller wheel, with a 1" extension. The wheel is a little higher in relation to my position than optimal, but it does allow me to slide into the seat without having a removable hub, which I think is a good tradeoff.

 

I have Kirkeys in mine, I'm 6'2" so they sit too tall. I need to replace them for some nice stockers. My removeable steering wheels does help, though.

 

Yet another vote for changing the steering wheel here. It makes a huge difference, and is way way easier than messing around with a seat swap. I put in a 12/13" Grant Formula GT wheel from Advanced Auto Parts. The whole thing cost about $70 to change over. I'm 6'4" with a 34" inseam, and I have tons of leg room now.

The problem with the first gen isn't that you don't have enough room in the seat. The problem is the giant ship's wheel that is mounted to the dash. What is the stock steering wheel, like 15" in diameter? The thing's huge! Get it out of there and I think you will find your problem solved.

Jamie

 

Good info! Thanks!

I've been wondering about that for years, because so many people have done it, but nobody reported back on how it worked out.

Is the seatback thinner, too?

 

In the summer time when it is hot, I run with the steel sunroof cracked open. I gain several inches head room then.

In the winter time, I replace the steel sun roof with one of the optional glass sunroofs. I can keep the roof shut, and again I gain almost 2 inches of head room.

 

I wondered about the moonroof/ sunroof thingy. Those damn things always seem to rob valuable headroom out of a car.

Maybe a lexan bubble top would help.