More room needed???

[DrKrankenstein]

First post here so will start off by saying hello

Do have a question regarding leg and headroom. I'm '6 7" with a '52 3100 and I am needing more leg and headroom, I do have an extra seat and frame I could modify or do other members have better ideas I could borrow?


Thank you in advance

[e015475]

I've looked at a bunch of ideas to get more legroom - I'm 6'3".

I think the guys that use the third row seats from Astrovans and the like get a little more room, but my preference is for something a little more period correct.

I'm taking the springs out of the original seats and making new bases out of plywood to use foam instead of the springs. The upholsterer I'm going to use says he can dial in the thickness and firmness I want by layering different density foams. Going to have him foam the seat, then try it uncovered in the cab to make sure I fit right and the support is good.

The back of the stock seat comes pretty close to the back of the cab, so it seems logical to me that the only way to get more room is to have less volume (and thickness) in the seat and backrest.

Here's a shot of the seat with the new plywood base that's ready to go to the upholsterer. I cut the mounting points out of the old metal seat springs and bolted them to the plywood.

[DrKrankenstein]

Hmmm there's a possibility with my extra frame, and I could still be period correct.

Thank you for sharing

[e015475]

I'll be taking the frame in the foto to the upholsterer next week - will keep you posted on how the trial fit turns out.

Will likely report progress at the classicpartstalk board first-

https://talk.classicparts.com/thread...t.22045/page-9

[e015475]

Looks like Leevon is going down the same road with the foam seat in the original frame.

In case you missed it, here's his post on the same topic

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...383265&page=26

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by DrKrankenstein

First post here so will start off by saying hello

Do have a question regarding leg and headroom. I'm '6 7" with a '52 3100 and I am needing more leg and headroom, I do have an extra seat and frame I could modify or do other members have better ideas I could borrow?


Thank you in advance

I am a short dude, not a problem. But when I read this the first thing I think of is modifying the seat to make it thinner in the back. And of course possibly sectioning the seat bracket that is welded to the cab floor to lower the seat. But when I look at modern cars (work on them every day) the seats have became so much thinner, many are simply moulded foam, no springs at all! So I am thinking to take foam like this and put it on the seat frame without any springs could do it.

Brian

[OrrieG]

There are a couple of guys here that have extended the cab and doors to gain leg room, depends on how much work you want to do and your skill level. You could put a short bed and extended cab on a long bed frame. Here are some examples.

https://www.google.com/search?q=exte...h=752&dpr=1.13

[my56chevytruck]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

There are a couple of guys here that have extended the cab and doors to gain leg room, depends on how much work you want to do and your skill level. You could put a short bed and extended cab on a long bed frame. Here are some examples.

https://www.google.com/search?q=exte...h=752&dpr=1.13

I'm with OrrieG, if you're 6'7" I don't see a seat making that much of a difference. I'm 6'1" and I'm somewhat cramped in my 56. I'd consider extending the cab some if you want good comfort. my .02 worth.

[Mw548]

Im 6'5 300lbs and i fit better in my 51 then i do in my work van. I took tank out of cab and mounted and astro van 3rd row seat on sheet steel directly to the seat riser. It gave me 5-6 inches of seat travel back and 3-4" lower.