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Author: Subject: Chassis for short arses!
Matthew_1

posted on 20/1/04 at 10:25 PM Reply With Quote
Chassis for short arses!

I've just finished a chassis built to my own custom suspension design and width, but to book lengths - because I assumed it would be long enough. Wrong. I'm 6'1 and with Cobra Roadster seats I haven't got a chance!

Chassis rear section (the biq square) needs to be at least 100mm longer! Time to reach for the grinder.

****ed off dosn't even begin to describe it !

Anyone else of a reasonable size find they fit in ok ?

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200mph

posted on 20/1/04 at 10:29 PM Reply With Quote
I am 5'8 ( well maybe), and the book chassis is tight, very tight, compared with a normal car of course

Us small folk are here for a reason

Mark

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stephen_gusterson

posted on 20/1/04 at 11:30 PM Reply With Quote
'the book' doesnt really use seats......it upholsters the rear panel - that saves room.

I think there is 4 or so inches behind my seats....but then my car is longer anyway - but I can see how the angle of the seats to angle of rear panel, and seat tickness, steals space.

im 5ft 9

atb

steve






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David Jenkins

posted on 21/1/04 at 08:38 AM Reply With Quote
I'm 6ft, my chassis is 'book', and I'm wondering if I've mounted my seat a bit too far back! I have to stretch a bit to depress the pedals fully.

Before you carve up your chassis you might like to try thinner seats...

rgds,

David






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Mix

posted on 21/1/04 at 08:57 AM Reply With Quote
6', book length chassis and roadster seven seats work for me.

(But the first thing I'll do when I'm next in the garage is to check again)

Are you using runners and if so do they allow the seat to touch the rear panel?


Mick

[Edited on 21/1/04 by Mix]

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Matthew_1

posted on 21/1/04 at 09:19 AM Reply With Quote
The problem seems to be the angle of the seat and/or the angle of the seat-back part of the chassis. The seat bases themselves will go back about 100mm, but then the seat backs will go through the chassis back. Think I'll have to redesign the chassis seat backs to be slightly less vertical
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stephen_gusterson

posted on 21/1/04 at 10:35 AM Reply With Quote
think thats the situation I described....

david - have you just got tiny legs

atb

steve






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David Jenkins

posted on 21/1/04 at 11:50 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by stephen_gusterson
think thats the situation I described....

david - have you just got tiny legs



I think I've got 'duck's disease'
(my @rse is too close to the ground)

No - I'm normally proportioned - if you ignore the spare tyre...

DJ






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nick205

posted on 21/1/04 at 12:47 PM Reply With Quote
David,

I think carrying the spare tyre about your person is a good use of space myself!

It also saves the effort of making an additional bracket to fit to the rear of the car for spare tyre storage

Cheers

Nick






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Alan_Thomas

posted on 23/1/04 at 03:24 PM Reply With Quote
Height is not everything to consider my 6' 2" is because of grossly long legs and I luckily found out before building that std was no good for me I added 6" to the overall wheelbase adding 3" to the main cockpit section and 3" to the scuttle area. I did this because I thought it would still keep its proportions. It does, but it causes huge headaches in non std Bonnet, side panels, steering and scuttle. no chance of using f'glass bits.
If I did it again I would leave everything forward of dash the same dimensions as book - Alan

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James

posted on 23/1/04 at 05:16 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Alan_Thomas
Height is not everything to consider my 6' 2" is because of grossly long legs and I luckily found out before building that std was no good for me I added 6" to the overall wheelbase adding 3" to the main cockpit section and 3" to the scuttle area. I did this because I thought it would still keep its proportions. It does, but it causes huge headaches in non std Bonnet, side panels, steering and scuttle. no chance of using f'glass bits.
If I did it again I would leave everything forward of dash the same dimensions as book - Alan


I basically did the same- and regret doing so for the same reasons!

James

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Kitlooney1000

posted on 23/1/04 at 09:10 PM Reply With Quote
I'm 6'2"

with a standard size chassis and westfield seat pads, an 11" steering wheel, pedals are floor mounted, and the chassis is fine. just need to loose some weight of my arse..
"I think I've got 'duck's disease'
(my @rse is too close to the ground)
"all locosters have this disease!


[Edited on 23/1/04 by Kitlooney1000]

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TPG

posted on 24/1/04 at 05:23 PM Reply With Quote
Length wise my car is as book.I put 4" extra on the copit width.I've used seats from a suzuki carry/bedford rascal van,recovered.These are very comfortable and recline and slide.I've a standard Sierra pedal box in and at 6' & wearing rigger boots have no trouble in fitting in and driving.
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David Jenkins

posted on 24/1/04 at 08:37 PM Reply With Quote
I've been thinking about this, and came up with a suggestion - sit in the car with no seats whatsoever. If you're stretching for the pedals a lot then an ordinary seat will probably be OK. If you're only stretching a little bit then you may want a thin seat (drop-in seat pads), but if you're still feeling cramped then you want a bigger car!

rgds,

David






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stephen_gusterson

posted on 25/1/04 at 12:44 AM Reply With Quote
my suggestion is make getting seats one of the first things you do. dont even think of making pedals and stuff until you chan check space in the car is right.

if you srew up before the chassis is panelled and floored you can correct it with a grinder/cutter and welder fairly easily.

atb

steve






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