1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

1st gen solutions for tall people

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Old Sep 4, 2008 | 03:51 PM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by bliffle
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?
If you look at the bottom of a second gen seat, it has a little bump down in the foam. I think the seatback is about the same in turms of thickness. It sqeeses you a little more with the side bulsters (I think that is what they are called).
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Old Sep 4, 2008 | 09:12 PM
  #27  
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Man, I just drove my 83GS a few minutes ago, and it is SO MUCH more comfortable than either the 85GSL or the 85SE that it's amazing. I MUCH prefer driving the 83 even compared to the more powerful SE.

The 83 doesn't have a lumbar adjuster, but has a fixed lumbar ridge which is just fine. And the bolsters are vastly superior to the leather seats in the 85GSL. And the door pull handle is further back, out of the way of my left knee.

It's a keeper.

I'm going to sell the other two.
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Old Sep 5, 2008 | 08:50 AM
  #28  
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That's good to hear, I think I still need a 1 or 2 inch steering wheel adapter though to not have to reach quite so much. I think I found the right size on Momo's web site.
Now if I could just get the seat lowered about an inch or two also, I'll be in heaven.
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Old Sep 5, 2008 | 09:57 AM
  #29  
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My problem was headroom.
I took the seat out, pulled back the carpet and sawzalled off the sheet metal stands the seats mount to. I then took the bend out of the mounting tabs on the seat, drilled holes in the floor and mounted the seat directly to the floor.
I bolted the seat in it's original position, but could have easily moved it back for more legroom. Careful though, as the seat movement on the rails is restricted due to hitting the floor carpet.
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Old Sep 5, 2008 | 10:10 AM
  #30  
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I too am over 6 foot. My problem was banging my knee against the steering wheel getting in and out. Solution......Flat bottom steering wheel.

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Old Sep 5, 2008 | 11:15 AM
  #31  
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The 82 S has low, thin seats which are probably the same as other S1 and S2 base versions. When I swapped in S5 TII seats I didn't seem to loose any head room but it's definitely harder to open the storage bin doors. So the seem to be a bit thicker in the torso area. The passenger side also looses some rail travel.

So the thinnest, lowest seats I've had experience with are the vinyl/velour S seats. Unfortunately, they also have almost no side support so you end up hanging onto the steering wheel to keep from flopping around.
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Old Sep 5, 2008 | 11:50 AM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by bad 83
I too am over 6 foot. My problem was banging my knee against the steering wheel getting in and out. Solution......Flat bottom steering wheel.
That's one way. But there are 2 different door panel configurations and they are basically interchangeable. One configuration (the old one) has the grab handle moved back out of the way. They occur in both mechanical and electrical window winder forms.
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Old Sep 5, 2008 | 03:01 PM
  #33  
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I think bucket seat would help, too. They do sit lower...

but I think that's only if you custom the bracket or something.
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Old Sep 7, 2008 | 12:09 AM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by GKW1957
My problem was headroom.
I took the seat out, pulled back the carpet and sawzalled off the sheet metal stands the seats mount to. I then took the bend out of the mounting tabs on the seat, drilled holes in the floor and mounted the seat directly to the floor.
I bolted the seat in it's original position, but could have easily moved it back for more legroom. Careful though, as the seat movement on the rails is restricted due to hitting the floor carpet.

So the seat is still on the rails?

How much height did you gain?
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Old Sep 14, 2008 | 11:05 AM
  #35  
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Old Sep 14, 2008 | 02:19 PM
  #36  
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hahaha... stooopid!! =D
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Old Sep 14, 2008 | 04:55 PM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by ray green
haha, that's classic. I'm about 6'5 with a 34" inseam. My old 82 had a 335mm MoMo wheel in it, and my new '85 has the stock wheel. It's like driving a damn tractor!. As far as room, the only time i've ever had really big problems with fitting as far as head room is at an auto-x with a helmet on. You can see in the attached picture, i'm in the passenger seat (room mate was driving) how squished I am with a helmet on (look at the distance between the back of my head and the head rest, that's because i have my head on the roof and i can't bring my body back any further.).
Attached Thumbnails 1st gen solutions for tall people-bret-auto-x.jpg  
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Old Sep 14, 2008 | 06:08 PM
  #38  
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Crit's got the little steering wheel too:



Here he is out auto crossing:

http://www.atlantamx3.com/events/200...073_large.html
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Old Sep 14, 2008 | 07:56 PM
  #39  
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that style door panel is in my SE so I just removed the grab handle (had to remove the panel to loosen the lower screw) and now I have OK kneeroom, even with the standard fullsize wheel.
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Old Sep 19, 2008 | 03:37 PM
  #40  
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From: lacey
im 6'5" and i got a 320mm steering wheel and a corbeau seat that i welded to the floor pretty far back...kinda permanent but there is plenty of room now
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Old Aug 4, 2009 | 10:38 AM
  #41  
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Originally Posted by bliffle
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!
Bumping old thread.

I've done the glass-sunroof to get 2" extra and dropped the seat back and such. I can now fit in the car comfortably, but every time I try to look left I have to duck my head down to see around the freaking mirror (this happens to me in every car.)

Anyone know where you can find a dash mounted mirror and are there tricks to these things to get them aligned correctly?
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Old Aug 4, 2009 | 11:52 AM
  #42  
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I cut the hub from a spare steering wheel and used a length of tube (well, waterpipe) to extend it about 2".



Thigh room aplenty now.

Additionally, the seat I am using has about 230k on it, roughly 80k of which had my heavy, skinny backside firmly cinched down into it. I swapped it into this chassis because the far-less-worn seat (same S3 GSL cloth interior) sat about an inch higher.

Other things I have done are to remove the steering column surround for kneeroom, remove the carpeting (on this car) or the stupid floormats (on the other car). Th extended steering wheel additionally allows for a more reclined driving position while still allowing a decent reach.

When I sit, the steering wheel is about inline with the tops of the headlights in the "up" position, from my point of view.

I am 6'5 and regularly wear a helmet in the car.

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Old Aug 4, 2009 | 02:39 PM
  #43  
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Like many other people with fitment problems (im 6'4" 230 lb of beer gut) , LOL I added a spacer and a monte carlo momo wheel. Its MUCH Better!!!! Only draw back is the signal switch and such, you have to reach for it now! haha!

Stock VS Momo Huge difference.. I think is like a 12.5 inch wheel? dont remember....


Spacer added




Now that the leg room is fixed, now I have to work on the head room! Any websites that sell lower rails for our cars? I would like to add old school recaros. Thanks!
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Old Aug 4, 2009 | 03:11 PM
  #44  
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The stock rails are less than an inch thick... not sure how you'd get them any lower without redesigning the floor pan.
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Old Aug 4, 2009 | 04:34 PM
  #45  
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so you cut off the hills and welded the rails straight to the floor?
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Old Aug 4, 2009 | 05:48 PM
  #46  
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I'm not sure if even that would buy you any real space... on the tunnel side of the driver's seat, the floor pan flares out right about where the seat fastens. You'd shift position to the left as you went lower, unless you completely reworked the pan.

& you want to be careful not to compromise the strength of the seat mounting to the floorpan. All the harness in the world won't do you much good if the seat demounts in a wreck.
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