Big guy....little cab. Any options to free up space?

[ToughOldFord]

I mentioned this recently in another thread. I'm 6' and agree that Fords in general have a lot of cab space. I never fit well in a Chevy, they shove you right into the steering wheel in a Chevy truck.
However, since I'm upgrading to a manual transmission I can see that clutch articulation can be a problem. If I put my foot on the floor were the clutch pedal would be my leg is very close to the steering wheel, (still have the stock big one and it's not going away), so I guess I'll have to get used to clutching with the left leg bowed to the left side of the wheel.

[Mooosman]

If you have power steering, maybe a smaller steering wheel would help?

Or, combination of a smaller wheel and a tilt column?

Nick,
Only 5'7", has NO problems fitting!

[uboughtwhat?]

I put a bench seat from a 2004 in my 68. I removed all the 2004 brackets and reused the tracks from the 68 seat. This seat sits lower than the original seat and with a clutch and stock steering wheel I have no problems--lots of headroom now, too! If I take it out for any reason I will add a spacer or a couple of washers to change the angle a little and get the seat away from the back glass some.

[RedneckTexan]

same problem here i only have 13" from the wheel to the back of the seat im 6' 280 and yeah i have a gut but in my 79 i have 16.5" from the wheel to the seat.

so i will be trying a different wheel. can i swap out the mean green one for a 73-79 3 spoke sport style like in my 79? ho wbout a newer aftermarket one. whats all involved adapters wiring etc?

the reason you fit in the 79 better than your bump is cuz the dent-side cabs are 2" longer than a bump cab.

[Joshpow]

small steering wheel would help. Different seats may help also.

[kilog55]

same problem here i only have 13" from the wheel to the back of the seat im 6' 280 and yeah i have a gut but in my 79 i have 16.5" from the wheel to the seat.

so i will be trying a different wheel. can i swap out the mean green one for a 73-79 3 spoke sport style like in my 79? ho wbout a newer aftermarket one. whats all involved adapters wiring etc?

the reason you fit in the 79 better than your bump is cuz the dent-side cabs are 2" longer than a bump cab.

could be but i have a chevy seat in mine from the PO and i can ball up my fist and put it down to the gas tank sideways and thats a good 3" gap

[easy]

ranger bench seats hv alot of foam padding very tight then found good deal on standard bench with new vinyl lots more room just a little more bounce because it uses springs instead of 6 inches of foam

[SoCal]

small steering wheel would help. Different seats may help also.

I am trying to decide on the smaller steering wheel..... I dont have power steering and physics tell me a smaller wheel will make it a lot harder to maneuver?

[kilog55]

yeah less leverage and you'll have to turn it more

[kaptnkaos]

If you have PS, one of the easiest ways to gain some room is to change the steering wheel...
Get one a liitle smallr ib diameter, but the most room is gain by going to a shallower dish...
A 14-15 inch wheel with a 3-4 inch dish will move the steering wheel foward about 6 inches or so.. the smaller diameter moves it away from your legs...
Ive got a pair of charcoal grey buckets out of a Pontiac Grand AM, I sat them in the empty '71 CS cab... they looked really good and looked like the fit pretty good...
I'd really like to hook up with a nice set of leather buckets out of a '95ish T-bird.

KaptnKA S

[Redcap]

This is one of those times where being a little guy is actually a benefit! My 5'6" butt has all the room in the world in a bump cab.

Now, if only I could find a decent late model seat that wasn't all clapped out!

[70shortwide]

another option if you have manual steering is to put a power steering column in. they are a little shorter. when i converted my truck to and automatic i got a power steering column, since ps was in the plans. it was a very noticable difference. the only thing i had to do to make it fit was take the mount that bolts to the dash off of my old column and use it on the new one. the ps steering column is supposed to sit the same inside, but with the manual box it had to go farther forward, the ps mount under the dash wont line up that way. if you do this you could just as easily move the mount on the ps column, and keep the old one intact.