leg room

[Bill Cal.]

Any way of getting more leg room in a 29 roadster? Thanks

 

[roundvalley]

Thin padded rear back rest.

 

[fredski53]

Some say to trim/ remove package shelve.

 

[Bulligen]

I ad one and the way to do it to have the seat backrest thinned out and that will gain you 3 to 5 inches.

 

[SSsssteamer]

I ad one and the way to do it to have the seat backrest thinned out and that will gain you 3 to 5 inches.

Ditto.

 

[Lona]

Don't know if the '31 package shelf is the same as the '29, but the '31 shelf has adjustable holes which allow the shelf and seat to be pushed back an inch or two. If you need more, suggest you look into doing away with the shelf all together and moving the seat back even further. Along with making the seat back thinner, that should do the trick for you. With such limited space for your size, might I suggest you install seat/shoulder belts so your first bump into something doesn't impale you or losing your teeth on the steering wheel?

Glen

 

[1931 flamingo]

I don't think there's a "shelf" in a roadster??
Paul in CT

 

[wrndln]

1931 flamingo
You are correct, roadsters don't have package shelves like coupe's do. A thinner backrest is about the only reasonable way to increase leg room and that wont help a lot.
Rusty Nelson

 

[pgerhardt]

If the problem is just more leg room then the above suggestions cover it. However there is another pretty common problem to look for. If your knee gets trapped under the steering wheel when going from the clutch to the brake while in first gear (like at every complete stop) then the issue is with the shift lever. They bend pretty easily, and can wind up leaning a little toward the driver's side leaving no room for your knee to get by the steering wheel. A little force will cause it to lean a little toward the passenger side completely elimination the problem.

 

[Lona]

I called it a package shelf but it's not a wide one like the coupe. Just a few inches behind the seat back. However, it does have a metal base with adjustment holes which lets you move the seat back a little and for a big guy, every inch counts.

Glen

 

[Bob Wright]

Maybe lose a few pounds?

 

[Bill Cal.]

not a problem between the seat and steering wheel

 

[burner31]

After several years of double clutching I can relate

 

[JBill]

If the problem is just more leg room then the above suggestions cover it. However there is another pretty common problem to look for. If your knee gets trapped under the steering wheel when going from the clutch to the brake while in first gear (like at every complete stop) then the issue is with the shift lever. They bend pretty easily, and can wind up leaning a little toward the driver's side leaving no room for your knee to get by the steering wheel. A little force will cause it to lean a little toward the passenger side completely elimination the problem.

I bent mine cold using a hydraulic press. Made a huge difference. Figure out exactly where and how far you want it to go before doing it. You'll have to remove the shift tower from the trans to use the press, but it's worth the trouble.

 

[Y-Blockhead]

If the problem is just more leg room then the above suggestions cover it. However there is another pretty common problem to look for. If your knee gets trapped under the steering wheel when going from the clutch to the brake while in first gear (like at every complete stop) then the issue is with the shift lever. They bend pretty easily, and can wind up leaning a little toward the driver's side leaving no room for your knee to get by the steering wheel. A little force will cause it to lean a little toward the passenger side completely elimination the problem.

I bent mine cold using a hydraulic press. Made a huge difference. Figure out exactly where and how far you want it to go before doing it. You'll have to remove the shift tower from the trans to use the press, but it's worth the trouble.

I had the problem described by pgerhardt above. I made this tool from parts laying around a while back to bend my shifter ~1.5" to the right. No need to remove shifter from car.

 

[pgerhardt]

I made this tool from parts laying around a while back to bend my shifter ~1.5" to the right. No need to remove shifter from car.

I just used my hands. Like I said they bend pretty easily.

 

[Y-Blockhead]

I just used my hands. Like I said they bend pretty easily.

Yes, it does bend easily. Just wanted to ensure it didn't bend internally and cause more problems.

 

[Dodge]

I had a thinner seat back made up with foam, it's only 2" thick, then I slid the lower cushion back and put the seat back on top of it instead of having the seat back sit behind the lower seat cushion. So far I love it. Moving the lower cushion back also lets you sit a little lower in the car also. I am going to drive it thru the season next year and if I still like it I might modify the lower seat riser to meet the pushed back seat cushion.