Long Legs C3 Seat Modification ?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Reston VA
Long Legs C3 Seat Modification ?
I remember reading a post where someone had modified a C3 to fit longer legs. I am 6'3" and with the seat all the way back I am still a little cramped and have no thigh support. Can you add washers under the front of the seat frame to raise the hieght of the seat and get some additional support on your legs. Anyone done this or know someone who has ? Thanks
:cheers:
:cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 0
From: Manassas, VA, USA
Re: Long Legs C3 Seat Modification ? (ScubaJKD)
Only EFFECTIVE method I know of is a bit painful:
Step 1: Cut your legs off just below the knees.
Step 2: Cut off the excess leg parts just above the ankles.
Step 3: Glue ankle pieces back on bottom of knees.
My son is 6'2", and what he does is move the seat forward a little and lean the seatback back (modified seat to allow it to lean back). He says that gives him more thigh support, although he still has to watch where he puts his knees.
Step 1: Cut your legs off just below the knees.
Step 2: Cut off the excess leg parts just above the ankles.
Step 3: Glue ankle pieces back on bottom of knees.
My son is 6'2", and what he does is move the seat forward a little and lean the seatback back (modified seat to allow it to lean back). He says that gives him more thigh support, although he still has to watch where he puts his knees.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Reston VA
Re: Long Legs C3 Seat Modification ? (lyonsh)
I think I will wait and see if someone has modified the seat mounting before hacking on my chicken legs. Not that it would not work, but when it comes to my azz I am an NCRS guy.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,833
Likes: 15
From: Southeast La
Re: Long Legs C3 Seat Modification ? (ScubaJKD)
Bryan,
The early C3's came from the factory with a 'burlap' drawstring bag underneath the driver seat full of shims 'washers' just for this purpose. I believe the buyer had the option of letting the dealer adjust the seat upwards for heigth or for more legroom.
:seeya
The early C3's came from the factory with a 'burlap' drawstring bag underneath the driver seat full of shims 'washers' just for this purpose. I believe the buyer had the option of letting the dealer adjust the seat upwards for heigth or for more legroom.
:seeya
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 56
From: Shawano WI
Re: Long Legs C3 Seat Modification ? (lyonsh)
Only EFFECTIVE method I know of is a bit painful:
Step 1: Cut your legs off just below the knees.
Step 2: Cut off the excess leg parts just above the ankles.
Step 3: Glue ankle pieces back on bottom of knees.
Step 1: Cut your legs off just below the knees.
Step 2: Cut off the excess leg parts just above the ankles.
Step 3: Glue ankle pieces back on bottom of knees.
What do you suggest to make a good cut and what kind of glue do you recommend? Do you think duct tape would work or is that kind of Bubba?Also can you recomend a good tailor to shorten all my pants! :eek: :D
[Modified by Pete79L82, 9:37 PM 2/12/2002]
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Long Legs C3 Seat Modification ? (ScubaJKD)
You may be thinking of one of my posts in which I may have mentioned doing a series of mods to my car....my '72 convertible, along with the rack and pinion steering....I cut the bottom footwell across and up and over a good bit, leaving it hand by about 3-4 inches of glass just under the steering wheel...
put some thickener into the fiberglass resin and used a LOT of cloth, backed it up with aluminum temporarily bent into a mold.... and recast the cut, this gave me about 2.5 some odd inches at bottom of floorboard, I cut brake pedal and got pedal rewelded, heated and bent gas pedal myself....this allows my legs/feet MUCH more room....while I was at it, I spaced the wheel flange about 3/4 inch back off firewall toward me, to get wheel closer to me, arms not stretching so far now....lowered seat too, knocked flanges off rear seat slided, and rebent front tabs to lower slided to resting directly on carpet,,took out padding from under carpeting, seatbelt clears on my car, so no sweat there....
so I gained allmost 2" in seat height...
I"m 6'5" and need the extra room too....;-)))
GENE
put some thickener into the fiberglass resin and used a LOT of cloth, backed it up with aluminum temporarily bent into a mold.... and recast the cut, this gave me about 2.5 some odd inches at bottom of floorboard, I cut brake pedal and got pedal rewelded, heated and bent gas pedal myself....this allows my legs/feet MUCH more room....while I was at it, I spaced the wheel flange about 3/4 inch back off firewall toward me, to get wheel closer to me, arms not stretching so far now....lowered seat too, knocked flanges off rear seat slided, and rebent front tabs to lower slided to resting directly on carpet,,took out padding from under carpeting, seatbelt clears on my car, so no sweat there....
so I gained allmost 2" in seat height...
I"m 6'5" and need the extra room too....;-)))
GENE
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 10,787
Likes: 0
From: My own state of mind
Re: Long Legs C3 Seat Modification ? (ScubaJKD)
Please take this lightly as other Forum members have been taking me too seriously! It's supposed to be funny.
All you tall guys are paying the price for making fun of me in kindergarten, elementary school, junior high, and high school for being short. I'm 5 ft 3 in tall now and have been short my whole life. Sitting in my Vette feels like a Lazy Boy.
Sorry I wasn't much help. :lol:
Matt
[Modified by Golden80, 9:47 PM 2/12/2002]
All you tall guys are paying the price for making fun of me in kindergarten, elementary school, junior high, and high school for being short. I'm 5 ft 3 in tall now and have been short my whole life. Sitting in my Vette feels like a Lazy Boy.
Sorry I wasn't much help. :lol:
Matt
[Modified by Golden80, 9:47 PM 2/12/2002]
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Long Legs C3 Seat Modification ? (Golden80)
Tell you all what though, I miss hell out of those huge old cruisers GM used to make...back in the 60-'s and 70's....99 way electric seats, recliner action even...fit anyone from 5' to 7' tall with ease....
wide, comfy, snooze-off lethality....with tilt-tele wheels....fine piece of machinery....
GENE
wide, comfy, snooze-off lethality....with tilt-tele wheels....fine piece of machinery....
GENE
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Reston VA
Re: Long Legs C3 Seat Modification ? (mrvette)
GENE,
I would have to agree with you. My Dads 1977 Olds Vista Cruiser Station Wagaon complete with fake wood paneling and rear Rice Boy Wing was the most incredible long road trip lay out and cruise vehicle of all time.
:cheers:
I would have to agree with you. My Dads 1977 Olds Vista Cruiser Station Wagaon complete with fake wood paneling and rear Rice Boy Wing was the most incredible long road trip lay out and cruise vehicle of all time.
:cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Long Legs C3 Seat Modification ? (ScubaJKD)
Scuba, snicker, and that was a downsized car....the last of the old B body types were made in '76, as in 455 and 500 ci engines....the body's were larger, much larger....I had a Grandville Pontiac convertible from '73 once...
5500 lbs filled with helium....rolling comfort zone with Lazy-Boy contracted for the seats....I had Caddy leather seats in it....from a ElDorado, circa '74 or so.....
GENE
5500 lbs filled with helium....rolling comfort zone with Lazy-Boy contracted for the seats....I had Caddy leather seats in it....from a ElDorado, circa '74 or so.....
GENE
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Long Legs C3 Seat Modification ? (Gary79)
Gary, I think you will find the later power seats actually take up more height when fully collapsed, than the stock manual seats....not sure about any C3 power seats, never seen any....probably don't exist for all I know...
the seating well is much deeper in the C4's....to make up for that....
I wonder if my wifey of 5.5 feet tall can drive my '72 now, though...
interesting thing to try....
GENE
the seating well is much deeper in the C4's....to make up for that....
I wonder if my wifey of 5.5 feet tall can drive my '72 now, though...
interesting thing to try....
GENE
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 860
Likes: 40
From: Woodforest
Re: Long Legs C3 Seat Modification ? (mrvette)
I have the six way adjustable power option drivers seat in my 82. These seats are a lttle different than the earier C3 generation. I am 6'1 and fit comfortably, but I also have the tilt/tele steering wheel. You might try the later model seats if you can get ahold of a set. It's not a big deal to take them out, maybe someone in your area would be willing to let you "borrow" one for a trial fit?
