Looking for leg room

[LNP]

Originally Posted by howzzzit

For 100 bucks you shouldn't have to modify anything. Just my thought. I've already had to modify too many aftermarket Taiwan sheet metal parts.

I didnt think you should have to either. I contacted Brothers about this issue and they didnt seem to grasp that where the gas tank sits the floor is higher up than where the seat mounts. The brackets hit that raised area not allowing the seat to move back. In fact it pushed it forward. So I cut 3ins or so off of the bracket where it bolts to the floor on the rear brackets. Then lengethened the frt brackets where they bolt to the floor. Brothers did send me another set of brackets thinkin maybe mine were made wrong. I gotta say they did try to make it right but they just didnt understand about the floor.

[howzzzit]

They don't understand. The set they sent the slots were way too short. They didn't get it until I sent them pictures. They sent new rear mounts with longer slots. Still fubar. So anyway they're long gone to the dump. I don't buy from them any longer.

[CarlsLQ9SS]

Originally Posted by my67c20

Not being one of the taller folks this thread got me thinking. Gonna make an assumption that just sitting in the seat, there is room, but the issue happens when you need to stop or press the clutch and your knee comes in contact with the steering column or the dash. Not so much an issue with the gas, since it is on the floor. Post #4 (cdub2010) hinted to moving the pedals, so it got me wondering. Digging up some e-bay pictures of the pedal assembly and it appears that you could move the pedal pivot forward and adjust the angle to better align the gas and brake pedal. Of course you would need to make sure that the location allows for complete pedal travel, but seems like a pretty straight forward mod with simple skills. The other part is to bump out the floor of the cab. It appears not much is in the way and the inner fender-well when installed does leave a bit of a gap in that area. Combine this with a seat lowering and you might be able to pick up quite a few inches of space.

This is doable for sure, I think I can get about 2" at the floorboard and recessing the seat to the back of the cab will gain about 3". With getting a 95 to 98 seat it should make plenty of room and get a better driving experience.

[CarlsLQ9SS]

Originally Posted by Jason Banks

Hey Carl, are you using the DBC throttle body with your stock pedal assembly? Or DBW with electronic pedal?

In my LS swapped truck. I'm using DBW with electronic pedal. I saw a Youtube video one time where the guy said that the "adjustable" pedals have less throw. One of my donor vehicles was a 2003 Suburban with LT trim level that had a pedal that you could adjust in an out. I had my truck set up to use a different pedal because the adjustable was very bulky. I dug the adjustable pedal out and compared and it is a significant difference in pedal travel. I cut and welded on the adjustable pedal and now have a pedal that starts very low to the floor(below the brake pedal low) and ends just above the floor. It has made a huge difference in how comfortable my truck is to drive.

Most of my height is in my legs. 34 inch inseam. My upholstery guy was very careful to keep from making my seat taller and I sit pretty low in the seat. I had told him about using new foam on a different seat made it sit high and firm. Also no tilt column and I don't have the column pushed in.

My driver is DBC, my other truck will be DBW. I dont have tilt in my driver but I did move the column in 2" and made a BIG difference and was more comfortable to drive.
I've done many LS swaps and didn't know about the difference in pedal travel on adjustable pedal trucks. Thanks for the info.

[KQQL IT]

My 68 seat was raised up when I got it.
Seat back was at the window seal.
Seemed ok just weird sitting in it that tall.

[72c20customcamper]

Before I lowered my seat my head would hit the roof on bumps . Now I can wear a hat but in reality these trucks are very cramped and seems to have been designed for smaller people .

[Myself]

Different year....same idea. Just extend the floorboard a bit.
https://www.1952chevytruck.com/1952c..._extension.htm

My wife doesn't know it but I plan on doing this to her '68. I'm 6'8" with a 38" inseam. My Nissan Xterra has more leg room than these trucks.

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Before I lowered my seat my head would hit the roof on bumps . Now I can wear a hat but in reality these trucks are very cramped and seems to have been designed for smaller people .

Ever try to fit in a 40s-50s era truck? I think that trucks were designed for "working" people...farmers, contractors...etc..... then the obesity epidemic hit along with the idea that a truck needed the cushy comforts of a car...this is when the price of trucks skyrocketed as well.
I'm 6'2" tall @ 190 lbs and it's a little cramped for me. Fortunately my best friend and next door neighbor has an upholstery shop. We are planning on heavily modifying the seat frame to thin the back, lower the mounts, and add a fold down cup holder for the center....
It will be a couple of months until it's time to install the seat but it will get disassembled soon to start the modification....
I also like the idea of modifying/lowering the brake pedal a little bit

On my 70 Blazer I simply moved the seat back a couple of inches....made a world of difference!

[72c20customcamper]

Depended greatly on the make of truck also . I seem to remember much more room in the 50s Studebakers I owned . Seat higher and the roof much higher . My 67 Gladiator was very comfortable as was the 82 that replaced it . But they were basically the same truck .

Should have kept the Kaiser .

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Depended greatly on the make of truck also . I seem to remember much more room in the 50s Studebakers I owned . Seat higher and the roof much higher . My 67 Gladiator was very comfortable as was the 82 that replaced it . But they were basically the same truck .

Sorry...should have been 40s-50s "Chevy" trucks....some of the old International pickups had more room too...

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by A1971Blazer

Sorry...should have been 40s-50s "Chevy" trucks....some of the old International pickups had more room too...

Was just an observation . I had one of these late 80s town had an auction I made a rediculas offer and I won the sealed bid . Came with the V highway plow the sander they reused. Plenty of room lol

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Was just an observation . I had one of these late 80s town had an auction I made a rediculas offer and I won the sealed bid . Came with the V highway plow the sander they reused. Plenty of room lol

My Grandad never bought anything but a $150.00 used pickup...(in the 60s) he bought an old international pickup one year....someone had painted it pink...we called it the "Pink Pig"....I was about 14.....we drove the heck out of that old truck...it was tough as nails....

[fdbdw]

6’3” 220, moved fuel tank under the bed and got adjustable bucket seats, also installed a smaller steering wheel. Still not great but it’s better.

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by CarlsLQ9SS

I thought about lowering the seat some...

Think about it -- the lower the seat, the closer you are to the pedals. Simple geometry.

In my 69, I installed a 15" steering wheel and shortened the column 1" (anything more required lots more work). There's no more leg room, but it's noticeably less cramped.

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I agree with the above, the 88-98 (especially the 95-98 buckets) are the most comfortable. They will help some. You may also want to tray a smaller 15" or less) steering wheel to help out. I have a 91 bench seat in mine and it is way better that stock. I am getting ready to put in some 2010 Nissan Frontier cloth buckets in mine fore a bit more support and hopefully comfort/room. I like my DD's Frontier buckets for comfort and long haul and hoping to get similar results in the 70. I am 6'1" about 210 with creaky knees and looking for that extra bit of comfort. Mine is a manual 3 on the tree, so the clutch comes into the formula also.

Definitely NOT 2010 Frontier seats. The backs are too thick and you loose room. So far the best bet I have found is using 88-94 GM GMT400 bench or bucket seats. You can cut and lower the stock brackets, but it won't really give you much more room.

[HO455]

QuestionsDo you have an idea of how much more room you need? Maybe doing some measurements on a truck that is more comfortable would help define what and where the modifications are needed.
Early 2000's Ford bench seats have a thin back and that may help you. See below.

On the other hand maybe it's time to go to a 3 door! Pick a spot for the seat and more headroom too!

[HO455]

Linking in this thread as it may be applicable but as a Suburban guy I have no idea what they are talking about.


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=176440