Need maximum leg room... Bench seat?

[vikingsandpintos]

Another post for my daughters new project...

67 C10, someone has put some bucket seats in it, on top of some tall homemade mounts.

I am 6'7", and my daughter is close to 6" already, and she is about to turn 15! lol

I cannot drive the truck. I can't bend my leg enough to hit the brake pedal! She can, but is cramped. She wants a bench seat anyway, and I can get a stock bench in decent condition. Any of you tall drivers out there have enough leg room with a stock bench, or am I going to need to re-think this?

I am going to shorten the steering column, looks like there is plenty of room to go in towards the dash, as I have read on here about how to do that. But the seat has me worried, after I tried to unload it off the trailer last night!! Any thoughts appreciated, thank you! Earl

[BigBen702]

Originally Posted by vikingsandpintos

Another post for my daughters new project...

67 C10, someone has put some bucket seats in it, on top of some tall homemade mounts.

I am 6'7", and my daughter is close to 6" already, and she is about to turn 15! lol

I cannot drive the truck. I can't bend my leg enough to hit the brake pedal! She can, but is cramped. She wants a bench seat anyway, and I can get a stock bench in decent condition. Any of you tall drivers out there have enough leg room with a stock bench, or am I going to need to re-think this?

I am going to shorten the steering column, looks like there is plenty of room to go in towards the dash, as I have read on here about how to do that. But the seat has me worried, after I tried to unload it off the trailer last night!! Any thoughts appreciated, thank you! Earl

Im 6'6" and I am using the stock bench and drive ok with it. I did install a tilt steering column in my 70 stepside. I may in the future get the seats redone and remove some of the foam on the bench seat. My wife states I look huge in the truck haha

[In The Ten Ring]

My truck was bought new off the lot in 1972 by my dad. My dad is 5'11", so he's nearly the height of your daughter. The bench seat served him fine for the 20 years he drove the truck.

Bench seats aren't really heavy but they would be very awkward to try and move alone.....it's one of the few things I've needed help removing and putting back in.

Bench seats come up for sale here on the forum (parts forum) from time to time and members find them on Craigslist. I'm sure you'll find something. Do you want headrests or no?

[Deer_hunter_088]

Originally Posted by vikingsandpintos

Another post for my daughters new project...

67 C10, someone has put some bucket seats in it, on top of some tall homemade mounts.

I am 6'7", and my daughter is close to 6" already, and she is about to turn 15! lol

I cannot drive the truck. I can't bend my leg enough to hit the brake pedal! She can, but is cramped. She wants a bench seat anyway, and I can get a stock bench in decent condition. Any of you tall drivers out there have enough leg room with a stock bench, or am I going to need to re-think this?

I am going to shorten the steering column, looks like there is plenty of room to go in towards the dash, as I have read on here about how to do that. But the seat has me worried, after I tried to unload it off the trailer last night!! Any thoughts appreciated, thank you! Earl

Newer seats from a wrecked newer chevy!!! thats what mine is, bench seats with a fold down counsel.

[vikingsandpintos]

I don't believe it matters to her about headrests or not. Are the newer truck seats any lower or thinner backed, to give more room? I'm sure I would have to drill some new holes, which is fine. I did that in my Pinto (Don't judge me!! lol ), with me being 6'7", I moved the seat back 8". NOBODY can sit behind me, the back of the seat almost touches the front of the rear seat! But at least I can drive it now!!

[joeydurango]

I'm 6'2" and lanky, and have no trouble driving my truck with the factory bench seat. But I do look through the top of the windshield...

The bench seats can be removed/hauled/installed by one person. But it's not easy.

[Ironangel]

If the gas tank has been relocated, you can gain more leg room with either buckets or a bench. Might want to seal them extra holes in the floor while your at it...

[57larry]

I'm 5 foot 6 inches and have no trouble

[In The Ten Ring]

I'm a bit fearful of a rear-ending resulting in bad whiplash since I don't have headrests, but I also don't want to get rid of my bench seat.

My seat is over-padded though, to the point that I am looking through the top part of the windshield.......it was reupholstered in 1990 and they rather over did it. In fact, it's nearly impossible to get my legs under the steering wheel, that's how bad it is.

I'll get it worked on later, after the truck is running, and I'm thinking about going with a Highlander type of plaid seat cover. I think that would look killer.

[ratty69]

You may want to consider the bench from an 88-94 Chevy truck. The way the base is, you can cut it down and reweld it to be much lower than stock. The front hole in the base lines up with the existing front outer hole in the floor. They also come in several configurations with or w/out headrests, split bench, armrest, etc.

[rsgt]

Here is my seat, it is a 99 Chevy. Found in the basic standard cab trucks. I had it reupholstered. It sits a little lower. The bottom cushion is flatter than an original seat and back is thinner. I like it better than the original seat. I am 6 ft. Hope it helps.

[TwoFiftyShifter]

Originally Posted by joeydurango

I'm 6'2" and lanky, and have no trouble driving my truck with the factory bench seat. But I do look through the top of the windshield...

The bench seats can be removed/hauled/installed by one person. But it's not easy.

Hand truck?

[joeydurango]

Originally Posted by TwoFiftyShifter

Hand truck?

I wish. Nope, just unbolted it, wedged myself in the cab, and hefted that sucker out of there, doors still on and everything. Carried it to the front porch. Reupholstered it, then put it back in. Couldn't find anyone to help me that day. Kind of awkward and heavy, but I was determined to get it done, help or no...

[indymachinist]

Originally Posted by rsgt

Here is my seat, it is a 99 Chevy. Found in the basic standard cab trucks. I had it reupholstered. It sits a little lower. The bottom cushion is flatter than an original seat and back is thinner. I like it better than the original seat. I am 6 ft. Hope it helps.

You found that in a 99? That is my favorite newer bench seat. I thought it was in the really low trim later year 88-97 trucks though.

[rsgt]

Originally Posted by indymachinist

You found that in a 99? That is my favorite newer bench seat. I thought it was in the really low trim later year 88-97 trucks though.

Curt, I have a 2000 model chevy 2500 truck with the same seat. That is how I knew I wanted that seat in my 72 truck.

[Overdriven]

I'm almost 6'3" and my 67 is a 3 on the tree with stock bench, stock steering wheel. I'd like a little more room like most tall people, gotta bend my knees pretty good for the brake/clutch and they get close to the wheel. In my opinion I wouldn't shorten the column, that moves the wheel closer to your legs making you want to lower the seat. Lower the seat and now your knees will be bent more. It's all up to you, but I'd advise doing some careful planning and evaluating.

The plan for my truck is to get a smaller diameter wheel and do some work on the pedals. Seen some guys cut, bend then resell the pedals and will be doing something similar. Also saw someone modify the floor/firewall for more legroom but that was with a custom frame. Looked under my truck briefly and looks like I can gain some room, not sure how much and if it'll be worth the effort yet though.

[Ruscal]

I have a friend who is 6'-10" that had one of these trucks. He looked like he was driving a kiddie car! His truck had fiberglass buckets with very little padding. I am only 5'-11" and feel cramped in my truck. My arms are long, 6'-5" span, so I shortened the column. That put the wheel closer to my legs, so needed a flat bottomed wheel to make it easier to get in and out. I now have a tilt column, but would like to go back to non tilt if I can. My tilt column has an automatic column shifter and indicator which I don't need for my manual trans. Your daughter's legs are probably way longer than mine, so you will need to have a very thin seat back to get her hips back as far as possible. An upholstery shop may be able to thin out a OEM seatback a few inches, and still have some padding and a good appearance.
Russ

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by rsgt

Here is my seat, it is a 99 Chevy. Found in the basic standard cab trucks. I had it reupholstered. It sits a little lower. The bottom cushion is flatter than an original seat and back is thinner. I like it better than the original seat. I am 6 ft. Hope it helps.

Wow, I like that! Bench seat with headrests. Top shelf!

[vikingsandpintos]

Wow, thanks for all the replies! There were a couple of things brought up that I hadn't thought of, such as shortening the column would move the wheel down, ect...

I think the plan is to remove the current seats, and cut off the mounts they made. I can get a decent bench seat at work (I manage a salvage yard), and will see what it is like for her. I can bring it back if it doesn't work out. I will look closely at moving the column, and as was suggested I may look at cutting/welding the brake pedal. It is a manual truck, but will be switching it to automatic before she starts driving it.

I first bought a 71 GMC to re-do for her, that is complete but needs a lot of work. Then I came across this 67 Chevy that is MUCH better! Just the Chevy is manual everything, and the GMC is power steering/brakes and automatic. Gonna do some switching around, then selling the GMC. Going to put them in the garage soon to get started!

[big mike71]

I used to haul cereal out of Battle Creek, I'm 6'4" and have a factory bench with no problems

[firedemon]

I keep thinking hightower from police academy that's what I feel like anyway lol

[88fordf150]

I moved my steering column forward as far as I could and cut off an inch off my clutch and brake pedal. Feels much better now!!

[CG]

Originally Posted by rsgt

Here is my seat, it is a 99 Chevy. Found in the basic standard cab trucks. I had it reupholstered. It sits a little lower. The bottom cushion is flatter than an original seat and back is thinner. I like it better than the original seat. I am 6 ft. Hope it helps.

I really don't like "modern" seats in our trucks, especially with head rests. But I do get the idea of having a head rest.

I really like this seat though (you guys always screw with my head stuck in the sand biases lol) I can see it upholstered with a period looking cover and the head rests maybe halved. That would make it a more period looking, but more comfortable than a stock seat in my book.

Thanks for posting up this pic!

[aod92]

Originally Posted by ratty69

You may want to consider the bench from an 88-94 Chevy truck. The way the base is, you can cut it down and reweld it to be much lower than stock. The front hole in the base lines up with the existing front outer hole in the floor. They also come in several configurations with or w/out headrests, split bench, armrest, etc.

This is the bench I'm using. I'm also 6' 3" tall so it gives me plenty of room. I also cut a little over an inch out of my base and welded it back together.