Seat compatability
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Seat compatability
Hi All,
I have a '74 that had aftermarket seats installed by a PO. I wanted a more original look and feel so I replaced them with seats out of a '79. I have heard these referred to a "clam shell" seats. They bolted right in but it feels like I have no head room. Should I have used '74 tracks? I am very frustrated, the car is not fun to drive. Maybe the right aftermarket seats would give more room.
BTW, I am 6 foot tall.
Any thoughts would be appreciated,
Robert
I have a '74 that had aftermarket seats installed by a PO. I wanted a more original look and feel so I replaced them with seats out of a '79. I have heard these referred to a "clam shell" seats. They bolted right in but it feels like I have no head room. Should I have used '74 tracks? I am very frustrated, the car is not fun to drive. Maybe the right aftermarket seats would give more room.
BTW, I am 6 foot tall.
Any thoughts would be appreciated,
Robert
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
Hi All,
I have a '74 that had aftermarket seats installed by a PO. I wanted a more original look and feel so I replaced them with seats out of a '79. I have heard these referred to a "clam shell" seats. They bolted right in but it feels like I have no head room. Should I have used '74 tracks? I am very frustrated, the car is not fun to drive. Maybe the right aftermarket seats would give more room.
BTW, I am 6 foot tall.
Any thoughts would be appreciated,
Robert
I have a '74 that had aftermarket seats installed by a PO. I wanted a more original look and feel so I replaced them with seats out of a '79. I have heard these referred to a "clam shell" seats. They bolted right in but it feels like I have no head room. Should I have used '74 tracks? I am very frustrated, the car is not fun to drive. Maybe the right aftermarket seats would give more room.
BTW, I am 6 foot tall.
Any thoughts would be appreciated,
Robert
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 69
Likes: 14
From: Lewes Delaware
Shorten the column
Greetings, based on what I read and knowing you can't move back much if any at all, what you need to do is shorten your steering column.
Disconnect your steering linkage and discover how much extra you have in your column. My buddy and I were able to cut his 1967 column down almost a full 2" so he could enter and exit with a bit more space.
Before you cut it, make sure there is enough "meat" on the end that connects to the linkage, once you know how much you have, pull the column and cut that much off the column using a metal saw.
Once it's cut, reinstall the column, connect the linkage, and you now have a steering wheel that hugs the dash and is much easier to keep your stock wheel plus get in and out a ton easier.
Good Luck!!
Disconnect your steering linkage and discover how much extra you have in your column. My buddy and I were able to cut his 1967 column down almost a full 2" so he could enter and exit with a bit more space.
Before you cut it, make sure there is enough "meat" on the end that connects to the linkage, once you know how much you have, pull the column and cut that much off the column using a metal saw.
Once it's cut, reinstall the column, connect the linkage, and you now have a steering wheel that hugs the dash and is much easier to keep your stock wheel plus get in and out a ton easier.
Good Luck!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
Do you have a tilt/telescope steering wheel? If you have tilt you also have telescope. The little lever just behind the wheel at the top of the column turns left to unlock the telescopic function. I believe that the telescopic function only allowed the wheel to go forward beyond the non-moving wheel position. If a telescopic wheel is all the way in you will be forced to move your torso forward which will make you hit the roof.
Presuming you're a new C3 owner it takes some time to become accustomed to the seating position. Unless you have unusually short arms or an unusually long torso (above the waist) you should not have a problem with headroom at 6' tall--most certainly not if you have a tilt/telescope wheel.
Presuming you're a new C3 owner it takes some time to become accustomed to the seating position. Unless you have unusually short arms or an unusually long torso (above the waist) you should not have a problem with headroom at 6' tall--most certainly not if you have a tilt/telescope wheel.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
I certainly appreciate the comments but I am not seeing the connection between the steering column and how that affects the headroom I have.. I have been driving the car about 8 years now so I am very familure with the car.. The car does not have a Tilt/Tele steering column. I am right at 6 foot, average torso length.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
I certainly appreciate the comments but I am not seeing the connection between the steering column and how that affects the headroom I have.. I have been driving the car about 8 years now so I am very familure with the car.. The car does not have a Tilt/Tele steering column. I am right at 6 foot, average torso length.
The early C3s had the steering column so long that the driving position was often compared to a praying mantis because your elbows were so bent. At some point (I'm not sure when) the steering column/driving position was modified--I could be wrong here but it might be when a wheel with both tilt and telescope became available. The earliest C3s had telescoping only wheels available as an option.
In all sincerity your headroom problem may well be because of your fixed steering column.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,176
Likes: 633
From: perth western australia
It may not be the best way ,but I have taken the inner lining off my targas ,get a lot more room now.
I have to leave the roofs on as I don't have any hair left and get sunburnt
P.S those tracks you have are no different from the 74 tracks so no gain to swap
I have to leave the roofs on as I don't have any hair left and get sunburnt
P.S those tracks you have are no different from the 74 tracks so no gain to swap
Last edited by bazza77; Mar 5, 2017 at 12:49 AM.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
I see how the tilt/tele steering column can affect headroom with a seat that can recline but the "clam shell" seats out of a '79 I have are not reclinable. 
I am now looking for the correct '74 seat. So..are '74 seats reclinable?
Thanks for the input
Robert
I am now looking for the correct '74 seat. So..are '74 seats reclinable?Thanks for the input
Robert
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
ALL C3 seats have a great deal of built-in recline compared to most seats--thus the reason for the long steering column. That long column did intrude with entering/exiting thus the reason that a telescopic column was ALWAYS an option and also one that was very popular. The tilt & telescopic wheel came very early and was always installed in more than half of the cars produced. From '80 on it was standard. While tilt wheels were an increasingly popular option in other cars of the period telescope was comparatively rare and not even available in most cars.
It truly sounds to me that you are in need of a T&T (tilt/telescope) steering column and that no seat change will help your problem. Since you don't have a '74 (a one-year-only column) replacement T&T columns are reasonably easy to find at reasonable prices.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
Glass t-tops will give you at least another inch of headroom, about the same as removing your t-top liners. You could also find someone with the earlier seats and sit in their car to see if you fit better.
