Before I get too excited about planning the build of my chopped '34 Ford 3 window.... it occurred to me that I might not fit in being 6' 4" tall. I'm no stranger to squeezing into small cars, but as I've never sat in a chopped rod and don't know anyone local with one, I thought I'd better ask for advice. Any tall people out there have a chopped rod, and if so, did you have to do anything special with the seat etc? Thanks.
not exactly the same, but it looks roomy compared to an A. Of course I'm only 6'1" http://www.ironmartonline.com/34-ford-5-window-coupe-chopped-channeled-true-hot-rod/
You'll be ok...my grandpa had a '33 ford three-window that was chopped three inches and me and him could both ride in it together. Wasn't the roomiest car in the world, but the lowback buckets in it let us sit low enough in the car to be able to take a trip in it without getting too cramped up. Back then I was 6'5" 295 lbs. And he was 6'2" 250 lbs.
It's one thing to get in it , next thing is, can you drive it? I'm 6'1" and not as flexible as I once was. Driving my roadster (27 T) more than 10 miles is an challenge. Knees under chin doesn't work for long.
I'm 6'-5" 300 pounds, and I've sat in a chopped 34 Chevy 5 window and a couple chopped and channeled model A's They were all tight! I've also sat in a couple chopped and channeled sedans and with the seat on the floor they were pretty nice. If your set on a coupe, better find one thats set up along the same lines as the one you want to build and have a seat! Your probable going to want one you can at least drive without your head tilted or your legs cramped!
Gotta say, I'm 6'4" and some of the early cars are tight. At this height, some are long-legged, some are long in the torso. The torso will hurt you first in a chopped rod. If you are in the planning stages, do the following; Go to a rod show. Many people will let you sit in a car IF YOU ASK FIRST! Talk to the body mfgr. There may be a customer nearby (UK...hmmm) they could steer you toward. Sit in modern cars that are also sold here. Find one that is too tight and one that is okay. You can compare notes with others that have a chopped 34 3 window (how chopped?).
F that @ 6'4 250 it sucks. We were trying to set up the pedals in a buds chopped model A and I couldnt wait to get out of the thing. I love them things to death, but come to the conclusion I will never own one. I'll stick to my 50's cars and early 60's pick ups. I couldnt see driving one very comfortably for any amount of time. Try one on for size and while you are at it sign up for some yoga classes.
Not trying to show off or anything, but once upon a time before I was married, had kids, mortgage etc, etc, I had an original Countach, and 280 miles in that taught me a thing or two about being cramped. I guess if you want it bad enough, you'll find a way to fit! LOL Thanks for the advice. EDIT: I'm 195 lbs...
Well, a friend had a Pantera that I drove a number of times. Had to sit just right, and barefoot. Would have made changes to it if it were mine...
I am 6'3" and 275lbs and chopped my A 5" put the seat on the floor suicided the doors and fit good, I do have to take my hat off though.
Andy, I'm 6'4"+ and had a '33 ford 3W. I built my own seat and took the package tray out. I had tons of room. I now drive a '33 roadster and did the same thing. Drove it to L.A. Roadster show from Ohio with no problems. Us big guys need room. Good luck. Tom
Go to a car show find a car with the chop you like, and ask to sit in it. There is also the ability to lower the seats if they, or you are to high.
If you build on a Z'ed frame you don't lose any more interior space than you have to. Maybe not totally traditional, but it certainly improves your odds of fitting comfortably.
Plenty of room in a chopped 33-34, like patina33 said, you should be okay in a 33 on up. Build it for yourself.
If you are tall, the '33-'34 Fords are a good choice. Especially the 3 windows. More room then the '32 or Model A's. On the other hand, the trucks are cramped and I'm only 5'5".
If you get a very low seat and set it back as far as possible its not bad at all. I am 6' 4" with a 34" inseam. Its all in how and where you put your seat. Build it to fit you. I know a lot of guys don't like them but if you can find an old pontiac fiero the bucket seats in them set real low. I cut the headrest off and they don't look bad and set great for me, a tall fat boy.
I'm 265#, 6' 5" 34" inseam (actually have a choice of being either 6' 3 1/2" or 6' 5", depending on which leg I shift my weight to, left leg is 1 1/2" shorter than right, the orthopedic equivalent of a car with mismatched size tires). Old cars were built with extra headroom because most men wore hats back then, so the issue is not so much headroom (you can afford to sacrifice some) but windshield height. At stock height, the windshield is not very tall (the one on my '38 Ford pickup is 11" tall), any shorter and you're looking through a mail slot, I've seen many windshields chopped down so short that there was simply no windshield wiper setup that will work enough to do any good if you get caught in a heavy rain with it. Seats that have you sitting almost on the floor don't cut it for me, as I don't like sitting too low in relation to the dash just to be able to see through a mail slot windshield opening.
Long time ago my brother built a 33 Chevy 5 window (close size wise to a 33/34 Ford) and he chopped it 3" and channeled it 6". We are both 6'4" and fit just fine by putting the seat as far back and down as possible. Drove it from Albuquerque to Oklahoma City with no problems other then seeing out sitting that far from a short windshield, especially tough in a rain storm with that little 6" long wiper! Of course we were much younger and limber in those days. I have a chopped A coupe I'm working on, still had the stock seat. I had to duck to sit in it and my buddy that owns it was tight to the wheel. 17 years we been running around in it like that, last month I took out the package tray and moved the seat back 4" and down 1 1/2". We got in and wanted to kick ourselves for not doing it 17 years ago it made such a big differance. So I'd say yes like the others, mount the seat right and you can fit just fine.
Thanks guys..... I'll see if I can sit in a couple at the nest show. As a side issue - anyone ever used the glass body from Rod Bods in Austrailia?
Well after reading these responces there is hope for me to one day own one of these fine machines. I need to look for another big goon driving one and check his set up.
I'm 6'4" and had a chopped 39 Ford Convertible,32 3-window and 32 roadster,,plenty of head room in the 39 convertible and the roadster(no top) The Coupe was a little snug,,but heck I drive a '32 pickup and my main problem is leg room. I will point out that I don't see me in another chopped car,unless it's a 50 Mercury. HRP
Andy, I'm about 6'-220 (mostly torso height). My car is chopped 3". I'm using '65 Mustang seats. They are about 6" off the deck. Anything that's chopped is going to require a low seat. Something for you to look at when the time comes would be the seats out of a newish Mini. They're height adjustable and at the lowest setting they are about the same height as the early Mustang. You can always remove the headrest if you don't like that look. Driving a chopped car is worth all the bullshit issues that come up.
I think where there's a will, there's a way, and a little ingenuity and craftiness can buy you precious inches here and there. I don't think I could ever enjoy a Model A coupe the way I would want to, but at 6' 10", my 30 roadster in mockup is going to be comfortably snug - but no more-so than most modern cars. And if its a too snug fit when she's all said and done... I'll just have to drive faster so my grimace looks like a smile. ... and the suggestion for yoga classes wasn't half bad.
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