Tricks to get more leg room? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

MrC1 · 10-08-2005, 11:48 AM

I'm going to replace the factory bench seat in my truck, but while I'm at it, I'd like to get some more leg room (I'm 6'4"). I was thinking of somehow making the back of the seat about 1/2 as thick as original. This would also provide extra leg support 'cuase my butt would be further back i the seat.

Any thoughts on this? Anyone done something similar?

Jeff M. · 10-08-2005, 12:20 PM

I used a seat out of a 91 Chev P/U. It is the 40/60. I took out about 2 1/2" on the brackets. That made it set lower and gave me more head room. The narrower back also helped a bit in the leg room area.

Bill72BB · 10-08-2005, 01:00 PM

FYI : I have the 98 Chevy 60/40 wont work for you unless you take out the tank.

ebfabman · 10-08-2005, 02:09 PM

a) move the tank to the back.

b) trim the sheetmetal under the back glass to give more room to move the seat closer to the back of the cab, depending on your choice of seat.

redhead69 · 10-08-2005, 02:26 PM

Thought I remember a member who moved the steering wheel forward.. how ya do that??

MrC1 · 10-08-2005, 03:21 PM

I'd like to move the tank to the rear for sure, but that's a project down the road I think. Still not sure how to run the filler neck since I don't want it in the bed. Probably something out the rear by the bumper I'm thinkin. Anyway...

I was thinking, in the meantime, since the factory seat back is angled, I could just remove some thickness towards the top of the seat, allowing it to be slid backwards a couple of inches. Sound feasible?

HeavyD · 10-08-2005, 04:02 PM

IIRC if you collapse the intermediate shaft that connects the steering column to the st. box, you can make the steering wheel/column go in toward the dash a little farther.

68Stepbed · 10-08-2005, 05:49 PM

I'm 6'4", 300 and I have decent room with my 92 bench. I could use more room, but I have plenty to drive comfortably.

ChevLoRay · 10-08-2005, 06:58 PM

They's a feller in Texas, what took and added 6-inches to the length of the cab of his silver '69. You may have seen it in the magazines. It's slick. I know doing this is at the extreme end of the spectrum of making room in the cab, but he has one nice truck.

I, too, wonder about a shorter steering column. My problem isn't my height, unless you consider that I'm too short for my weight!! Not quite horizontally challenged, but gettin' there, one day at a time.

MrC1 · 10-08-2005, 07:06 PM

I like that idea too. What else is involved with moving the column? I mean, once you shove the column in a bit further, how do ya bolt it in place? (I'm assuming the bolts no longer line up.)

Jeff M. · 10-08-2005, 07:08 PM

Oh yeah, I also moved my steering column forward. I relocated the neutral safety switch up about 2" and collasped the link in the steering shaft a tad more. I had to weld on a little tang on the inner steering column tube for the neutral safety switch along with cutting out for the switch and drilling the new mounting bolt holes.

jd4300fel · 10-09-2005, 11:01 AM

not to high jack this thread, I am also in the plus 6 foot club, My question is to ebfabman. do you have any more details on your sugestion?

ebfabman · 10-09-2005, 01:54 PM

Yes I'm 5'11 but I have a 35 inch inseem. Seems like no matter what kind of vehicle I get into, there is never enough leg room.

If you remove the seat and gas tank from the cab, this is what you have. If you remove the area outlined in red you will have close to a couple more inches to move the seat back (please excuse my sloppy drawing)

5150 · 10-09-2005, 02:27 PM

Go to this link and it will tell you how to collapse the steering shaft. It's really easy, especially if I can do it. I haven't installed the neutral safety switch yet.

http://207.44.196.117/vboard/showthread.php3?t=133937

Here's a pic of mine done. I also have the 99 and newer buckets. You should have even more room.

Blue85 · 10-09-2005, 03:23 PM

Ebfabman, Do you have any pics of the finished job after cuttin that piece out?

ebfabman · 10-09-2005, 04:41 PM

Yes, but I'll have to locate them. I'll try to find them and post them maybe tomorrow....ok?

SCOTI · 10-09-2005, 05:47 PM

I too am only 5"11" but seem to have longer than normal legs. Several months ago I did the method Efabman suggested in his post on a spare cab I have (but only on the drivers side) & it definitely made a difference. I don't understand how moving the steering column forward benefits legroom. I first tried moving the extra column I had forward as far as it would go toward the dash after reading that some guys tried that method. It didn't seem to make that much difference. Granted it was just mocked into place w/a jackstand & some wood in the engine compartment, but it seemed as though the steering wheel was in too close of proximity to my knees if in any position other than straight (which kind of defeats the purpose of a tilt column).

After notching the rear wall, that made a significant difference. I can put the seat where the stock bench would be positioned & recline back several positions or I can recline the seat back 1 notch & move it farther back on the tracks enough that I might be too far from the pedals for comfortable driving.

I based my measurements from the roof to the center of the bottom seat cushion & from the lower edge of the dash to the center of the top cushion (back rest). I set my bucket seat up 1" lower than a stock bench & approx 2" farther back. 2" doesn't sound like much but it sure feels like it.

Blue85 · 10-09-2005, 08:18 PM

thanx a lot man

*FUNMUDDER* · 10-09-2005, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellow69

Here's a pic of mine done. I also have the 99 and newer buckets. You should have even more room.

I threatened to steal the seats out of my dads 03 GMC when I get a truck...........

Didn't seem to fly very well.....

Geezer · 10-09-2005, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellow69

Here's a pic of mine done. I also have the 99 and newer buckets. You should have even more room.

Did you have to remove the fuel tank to use those seats?

5150 · 10-10-2005, 03:12 PM

No I had to redrill new holes and reinforce underneath the floor pan.

10-08-2005, 11:48 AM	#1
MrC1 Dork For Days Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dallas Posts: 407	Tricks to get more leg room? I'm going to replace the factory bench seat in my truck, but while I'm at it, I'd like to get some more leg room (I'm 6'4"). I was thinking of somehow making the back of the seat about 1/2 as thick as original. This would also provide extra leg support 'cuase my butt would be further back i the seat. Any thoughts on this? Anyone done something similar?

10-08-2005, 12:20 PM	#2
Jeff M. Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Pixley, Ca. Posts: 486	I used a seat out of a 91 Chev P/U. It is the 40/60. I took out about 2 1/2" on the brackets. That made it set lower and gave me more head room. The narrower back also helped a bit in the leg room area. __________________ 69 C-10 CST Short Fleet, Factory Air, BB427-400 Auto-2400 stall-tilt-cruise-Tach & Vac Gagues, 4/6 drop, power one piece side windows, Eaton posi.

10-08-2005, 01:00 PM	#3
Bill72BB Thats the Hillbilly way Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Torrance,Ca Posts: 5,979	FYI : I have the 98 Chevy 60/40 wont work for you unless you take out the tank. __________________ BILL Torrance Calif 90504 Member DUF Club Member Old Farts Club 72 3/4ton Custom Camper BB402/400 trans Dynomax Cerama-coat headers , Hei distributor ,Edelbrock 1411 air,ps,pb,leafsprings ,98 chevy 60/40 seat,S10 shoulder belts tilt,3.54 Dana 60 rear. 16" Eagle wheels with LT265/75 16 tires,Gaylord Lid,H4 headlights with 100W relay conversion. " If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself " Marriage changes passion...suddenly you're in bed with a relative. A GUY'S PRAYER.... Lord, I pray for a nympho with huge boobs who owns a liquor store and likes to fish and hunt and has a Harley .Amen ,

10-08-2005, 02:26 PM	#5
redhead69 fugedaboutit Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gresham, OR Posts: 832	Thought I remember a member who moved the steering wheel forward.. how ya do that?? __________________ Currently truckless

10-08-2005, 03:21 PM	#6
MrC1 Dork For Days Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dallas Posts: 407	Interesting ideas I'd like to move the tank to the rear for sure, but that's a project down the road I think. Still not sure how to run the filler neck since I don't want it in the bed. Probably something out the rear by the bumper I'm thinkin. Anyway... I was thinking, in the meantime, since the factory seat back is angled, I could just remove some thickness towards the top of the seat, allowing it to be slid backwards a couple of inches. Sound feasible?

10-08-2005, 02:09 PM	#4
ebfabman Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 2,488	a) move the tank to the back. b) trim the sheetmetal under the back glass to give more room to move the seat closer to the back of the cab, depending on your choice of seat.

10-08-2005, 04:02 PM	#7
HeavyD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wakaw, Sask, Canada Posts: 3,180	IIRC if you collapse the intermediate shaft that connects the steering column to the st. box, you can make the steering wheel/column go in toward the dash a little farther. __________________ "You can take the man out of PA, but you can't take PA out of the man"

10-08-2005, 05:49 PM	#8
68Stepbed Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 10-Uh-See Posts: 5,609	I'm 6'4", 300 and I have decent room with my 92 bench. I could use more room, but I have plenty to drive comfortably. __________________ Matt 68 C10 stepside, LS1/700R4, TCI Engineering suspension system

10-08-2005, 06:58 PM	#9
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	They's a feller in Texas, what took and added 6-inches to the length of the cab of his silver '69. You may have seen it in the magazines. It's slick. I know doing this is at the extreme end of the spectrum of making room in the cab, but he has one nice truck. I, too, wonder about a shorter steering column. My problem isn't my height, unless you consider that I'm too short for my weight!! Not quite horizontally challenged, but gettin' there, one day at a time. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

10-08-2005, 07:06 PM	#10
MrC1 Dork For Days Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dallas Posts: 407	Steering column idea is good too! I like that idea too. What else is involved with moving the column? I mean, once you shove the column in a bit further, how do ya bolt it in place? (I'm assuming the bolts no longer line up.)

10-08-2005, 07:08 PM	#11
Jeff M. Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Pixley, Ca. Posts: 486	Oh yeah, I also moved my steering column forward. I relocated the neutral safety switch up about 2" and collasped the link in the steering shaft a tad more. I had to weld on a little tang on the inner steering column tube for the neutral safety switch along with cutting out for the switch and drilling the new mounting bolt holes. __________________ 69 C-10 CST Short Fleet, Factory Air, BB427-400 Auto-2400 stall-tilt-cruise-Tach & Vac Gagues, 4/6 drop, power one piece side windows, Eaton posi.

10-09-2005, 11:01 AM	#12
jd4300fel Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: wheatland, Ca Posts: 427	not to high jack this thread, I am also in the plus 6 foot club, My question is to ebfabman. do you have any more details on your sugestion? __________________ Mike K Friend of Bill W

10-09-2005, 01:54 PM	#13
ebfabman Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 2,488	Yes I'm 5'11 but I have a 35 inch inseem. Seems like no matter what kind of vehicle I get into, there is never enough leg room. If you remove the seat and gas tank from the cab, this is what you have. If you remove the area outlined in red you will have close to a couple more inches to move the seat back (please excuse my sloppy drawing) Attached Images

10-09-2005, 02:27 PM	#14
5150 C10 Club Tennessee Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: White House, TN 37188 Posts: 8,281	Go to this link and it will tell you how to collapse the steering shaft. It's really easy, especially if I can do it. I haven't installed the neutral safety switch yet. http://207.44.196.117/vboard/showthread.php3?t=133937 Here's a pic of mine done. I also have the 99 and newer buckets. You should have even more room. Attached Images __________________ Bryan www.gmtruckshow.com Project "Andes"-Halen's First Truck Project: Patina Burb for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Romans 13:4

10-09-2005, 03:23 PM	#15
Blue85 Oilfield Trash Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Raymore, Sk, Canada, Earth Posts: 3,170	Ebfabman, Do you have any pics of the finished job after cuttin that piece out? __________________ 14 Dodge 3500 Mega Cab 08 Dodge 3500 Mega Cab 87 Chev 3+3 4x4 80 GMC K10 High Sierra bone stock 70 Chevelle 350SS long term project 68 GMC 3ton Grain Truck/Garbage wagon 50 Pontiac 2 Door Coupe Project "I've got a shotgun rifle and a 4 wheel drive and a country boy can survive" Hank Jr.



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10-09-2005, 04:41 PM	#16
ebfabman Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 2,488	Yes, but I'll have to locate them. I'll try to find them and post them maybe tomorrow....ok?

10-09-2005, 05:47 PM	#17
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,064	I too am only 5"11" but seem to have longer than normal legs. Several months ago I did the method Efabman suggested in his post on a spare cab I have (but only on the drivers side) & it definitely made a difference. I don't understand how moving the steering column forward benefits legroom. I first tried moving the extra column I had forward as far as it would go toward the dash after reading that some guys tried that method. It didn't seem to make that much difference. Granted it was just mocked into place w/a jackstand & some wood in the engine compartment, but it seemed as though the steering wheel was in too close of proximity to my knees if in any position other than straight (which kind of defeats the purpose of a tilt column). After notching the rear wall, that made a significant difference. I can put the seat where the stock bench would be positioned & recline back several positions or I can recline the seat back 1 notch & move it farther back on the tracks enough that I might be too far from the pedals for comfortable driving. I based my measurements from the roof to the center of the bottom seat cushion & from the lower edge of the dash to the center of the top cushion (back rest). I set my bucket seat up 1" lower than a stock bench & approx 2" farther back. 2" doesn't sound like much but it sure feels like it. __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.* Last edited by SCOTI; 10-09-2005 at 10:24 PM.

10-09-2005, 08:18 PM	#18
Blue85 Oilfield Trash Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Raymore, Sk, Canada, Earth Posts: 3,170	thanx a lot man __________________ 14 Dodge 3500 Mega Cab 08 Dodge 3500 Mega Cab 87 Chev 3+3 4x4 80 GMC K10 High Sierra bone stock 70 Chevelle 350SS long term project 68 GMC 3ton Grain Truck/Garbage wagon 50 Pontiac 2 Door Coupe Project "I've got a shotgun rifle and a 4 wheel drive and a country boy can survive" Hank Jr.

10-10-2005, 03:12 PM	#21
5150 C10 Club Tennessee Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: White House, TN 37188 Posts: 8,281	No I had to redrill new holes and reinforce underneath the floor pan. __________________ Bryan www.gmtruckshow.com Project "Andes"-Halen's First Truck Project: Patina Burb for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Romans 13:4

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