Modifications For a Tall Driver?

[jclarkey]

My new 1974 Spider should be arriving in the next couple of weeks. It comes with a slue of new parts including a new carpet and dash so I am going to be trying to replace that straight away.

My question is, while I have the interior "apart" are there any modifications I should look at doing to create a bit more leg room in the car? When I sat in the drivers seat, I had enough room to operate the pedals, but am looking to create a bit more comfort room. I was considering taking out the centre console to give me a tad more knee room and maybe trying to mount the seat back a bit further. Any other tips or tricks?

Cheers!

[TX82FIAT]

How tall are you? I have found the Spider to be one of the only period Roadsters that allows for taller drivers. I guess if you have a 38" inseem then it may be a cramped driving position. My wife has a 37" inseem. Thats right gents... she is all legs at 6' tall and an exceptional driver to boot. I'm the opposite, 6'1 now.. was 6'2". Stubby legs with a 32" inseem and all upper body for height. The car fits us both very well.

I suppose you could buy a low profile racing seat if your head is too high. For the leg room the problem may be more in the positioning of the back seat. When I push the seat all the way back on my 82' it has about 1" to spare before the back seat would prevent it from going any further. My guess is you could go an inch into the back seat giving you a couple more inches of leg room. in order to do thay you would need to move the seat rails on the floor pan back a couple inches or create some type of custom extension to the existing seat rail. The seat rail has captive nuts so you could dis-assemble the rail, drill new holes in a new thin piece of metal attached to the top of the existing rail to extend the position of the seat without moving the rail.

I'm not sure I would modify the seat rail unless your like 6'8". If you are that tall then a fixed seat position might be the easiest solution with modifcations to the seat bolted to the original oles in the rail.

[jclarkey]

How tall are you?

I am 6'4" with a 36" inseam. As I said, not that I dont fit, just looking to make it even better. Thanks for the tips!

[narfire]

Try a smaller diameter steering wheel... I'm 6 ft but it sure is easier getting in and out of the car...

[jclarkey]

Try a smaller diameter steering wheel... I'm 6 ft but it sure is easier getting in and out of the car...

That was something I was looking at as well. I also like the idea of a removable steering wheel for getting in and out. Thanks!

[vandor]

Try a smaller diameter steering wheel...

Also a longer steering wheel hub that puts the wheel closer to you - thus it also moves the wheel up.

[courtenay]

I'm 6'4" as well. Put a 12" MOMO steering wheel in and all issues around room vanished. You might also want to look at the shorter shifter that Mark sells.

[Exit98]

6'4'' and 36 inseam, man, you are all torso. My brother-in-law is just like you. He has constant problems with modern cars, he says he too tall for the windshilds. He compounds the problem though by insisting on sitting up stright.

It is true though as Bruce said that even back in the day our Spider's were always sited as fitting most every size, unlike a number of other cars of that era.

Check out Brady's amazing Spider. He has a removable steering wheel. What a cool car. Here's the pictures:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... ilit=brady

[courtenay]

With the stock steering wheel, not only could I not properly shift between first and second, I didn't have enough knee room to be able to get the clutch in and out. As you can see in the photo, the combination of the small wheel and short shifter provides all kinds of knee room on the right side to shift as well as on the left side to allow room to get the clutch in and out.

[Kingme2]

Might I also recommend a small circular cut out of the roof, for the top our your head to fit thru?

(Unfamiliar with the issue, at 5'5" myself)