I have a '34 Ford pickup that was built for dwarfs. No legroom. I'm an old guy and tried bomber seats but no bueno. I'm sure others have had this problem. I've searched everywhere but most seats won't work because the rear curvature of the seat doesn't allow it to sit flat (somewhat) against the cabin wall. Of course, money is an issue. Can anybody help an old time hot rodder out with ideas? Thanks
No easy Quick fix unless stock cab.witch adding taller seat. Modified to Hot Rod, cabs for short people ,5,9ish or less. Extend the cab Move the firewall , or make extension pocket for feet , moving things in that Area
The part you need to consider is the top of the seat. It only needs to be an inch or so thick, at least so your head isn't resting on the back of the cab or window. It can be thicker lower down in the small of your back area for lumbar support. You may have to make this if off the shelf options are not working. Pedals. A lot of people screw up here also. They need to fully function obviously, but be as close to the firewall as possible. Especially the go pedal. Where are yours? You should also consider the arc of travel. The s**** should move away from you as you depress. I've seen throttle s****s poking nearly ten inches out from the firewall with and almost up/down action. Plainly not good, then they drive like a crippled monkey. If necessary, kick out the lower firewall. Also, everything is relative. People were smaller when the pickup as made. Smaller on average than now and not fat.
I feel your pain, I drive a '30 Ford pickup with even less legroom. I use these seats mounted on modified seat mounts from Speedway, with the back legs cut 1" shorter than the front so the bottom cushion angles back a little: https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_8264_8264?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Farm + Acreage > Seats > Forklift Seats&utm_campaign=Wise&utm_content=1742&gclid=CjwKCAiAheacBhB8EiwAItVO2wJIsZdpSJEvBB7Xw0_W0BTRN037Bv0Mjc01HhTd1Ms_3GHArWYLrBoCWm0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds They actually work really well, pretty damn comfortable; and are probably about the best you're gonna find for leg room as well as head room (if your truck is chopped, mine is about 3 1/2"). Still, the legroom is very limited. Personally I don't mind so much, I'm good for a tankful of gas, but by then I'm ready to stop and have a rest. This guy has 'em in his Econoline:
I have a 29A pick up and a 27T rpu. Both are clutch cars. Im 6'1"tall. There just is no leg room. Pedal placement in relation to the firewall and floor needs thorough consideration. Some room and comfort can be achieved by modifying/ adjusting pedal arm length and throw. In my A truck i also extended the steering column a few inches from stock which also gave me more room for working the pedals. I have a flat padded seat back in the A truck and bomber seats in the T. The padding is thin in the back and is reasonably comfortable but both need a lombar pad for any extensive driving.
I have one of these seat bottoms in my A truck, but use a padded flat plywood back. The bottom is great but the back needs some lombar support as i said in previous post.
On my truck witch is a 32 I used the gas tank as the seat riser and added a two inch spacer to the front of the seat riser to give the seat some tilt. I then used a 3/4 inch pice of plywood with areas cut out where your **** goes and covered that in 2 inch foam. For the back I used 3/4 inch plywood covered in half inch foam
How many of you guys have a recessed firewall ??? It creates legroom issues in the early pickups, and makes it crucial to get the seat/peddle setup right. Even then, it helps if you have hobbit genes in your family tree......
Here’s some info from a previous thread. I’ve added some pictures for clarification. Please excuse the rough drawing. A lot of the dimensions were taken from the door and floor opening edge. Let me know if you need any others. I believe the seat is the second or third seat from a 60’s van based on the tubing frame underneath. PJ
How many Caught Quick release steering. It makes a lot easier In& Out of my roadster & 32 5w , Im 1/2 fat , 6, 265 14 feet. I even made mistake flat fire wall in 32, With out package tray , Will be changing I used a Strange
I am 6'2". This is why I don't own an old pickup truck. I like them but I don't fit comfortably and I am into comfort.
My 32 had no chop. I used the mini van seat and removed a lot of the foam from the back. It was against the rear wall of the cab. My memory is fuzzy about this but I don't remember if the bottom was 16 or 14" in the air. I took that measurement from a 2000 dakota that is my daily. The clutch and brake were firewall mounted and were good. The throttle was the one that I had no room for. It was normal for me to 4 hours in one direction to a show. I survived but there was stiffness and some soreness after a real long day. That did have something to do with me selling it after almost 40,000 miles. Getting the pedals and steering wheel location is a big deal in any vehicle. There's a mess of those pickups but few that are driven real long distances and I am a midget.
as shown, some have raised the front of seat. Instead of that another option, if you are doing new upholstery, is to the add padding along the front upper edge of seat base. this will help support your legs, since they are bent to operate pedals. also, allows space for padding for rear that you lose by just changing angle of seat. when padding seat back add a little to bottom edge to provide some lower back support.
My '36 cab is a little bigger than yours but I had the same trouble. I'm using the "way back" buckets from a Chevy FWD minivan. I'm on my 3rd gas pedal placement and my 2nd set of seat risers. The first seat risers had the front of the seat raised slightly but I found that setting them flat moved my hips back a little and helped a lot. I don't think I can get it any better than it is now and it's not bad. Gary
I sold a just completed 39 Dodge pickup for that very reason a few years ago. The redesigned 48 and newer cabs are a so much better fit. Dodge used the same cab 39-47. The 48 cab is 13" wider, and 7 1/2" longer between the firewall and the back of the cab. That extra 7 1/2" is a huge difference.
100 percent. Read and follow. Especially the seat back part. You need almost none and it’s still comfortable.
My chopped '29 pickup had a simple custom-made seat, 1/2" plywood with 3' foam on the bottom and 1 1/2" foam on the back, all covered with simple red tuck-n-roll. The seat back was straight up, the bottom had a small riser with about 1 1/2" tilt. It looked like it would be terribly uncomfortable, but it was fine, even on long drives. This doesn't bode well for my unfinished '33 pickup, it's chopped 4", channeled 2 1/2", and the firewall is moved back about 1 1/2". Uh oh.....
And, about the time I think you're somewhat normal, you come up with something like this! Good going, you keep my blood pumping.
As several Mentioned, There is a penchant for rodders to want lower the seat cushion in an old truck or car for that matter causing it to actually loose rather than gain leg room. that and the lean back needs to be as straight up and down and as thin as your back will allow and still have reasonable comfort.
The Jalopy Journal
