The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop need more leg room

My legs are really long (38" inseam)and I need to make more leg room in my '51 AD to make it safe for me to drive.
As it is I have to angle my knee to the right to keep it from colliding painfully with the steering wheel and pushing on the brake pedal at an angle causes my foot to sometimes slip off. NOT good.
I considered extending the cab ala club cab but have decided that I lack the skill needed to pull it off. I checked with a couple body shops here and they both wanted a fortune to do the work.(fortunes are really scarce these days).
I will be moving the gas tank to under the bed which will gain me an inch or so which means I only need about 4" more.
I'm considering moving the steering column cut out in the dash higher (closer to the instrument clusters)to give a more vertical column, using the column from my S-10 doner and mounting it higher up to gain some more room. The 13" steering wheel should help as well.
If all else fails to get me the necessary leg room I will move the firewall (at least on the drivers side) forward a few inches. I'll be powering the truck with a V6 (either Buick or Chevy) and keep it as far forward as possible to give me the room. I'll be using an automatic trans so no problem with clutch linkage.
The master cylinder will also be changed to a firewall mounted unit.
Has anyone ever extended a firewall? Comments please, even if you think my idea is the dumbest thing you've ever heard of in your whole life.
Other ideas. If you have any other ideas to gain more leg room please post them here.
Thanks,
Cliff

Two thoughts come to mind Cliff. Don't know how practical they are but... 1) Replace/redo the seat so the back is thinner, 2)Different type of brake since you are going to automatic anyway

Dennis

*Smaller diameter steering wheel, with less dish
*Steering wheel closer to the dash
*Steering column up higher
*Moving the firewall forward

All logical. I especially like the firewall concept, mostly 'cause it's thinking out of the box

Surgery to shorten your legs would be cheaper. LOL! J/K

red58
Thanks. Fixed it.

DennisM
Good idea. Will have to see if the S-10 seat will fit.

Deve
Great idea. Shorten legs, remove some vertebrea, would make buying clothes a lot easier a cheaper too.
Sadly Medicare won't cover it.

I don't know when I will get to this. Since retiring my honey-do list has expanded exponentially.

I will keep posting here as progress advances.

Cliff

It will fit but it's not what you want. The S-10 seat is much too narrow for your cab. The ideal seat is a bench or split bench from a full-size GM truck. 88-98 works great, but newer may work as well (you'll need to measure). My dad's '52 has a bench seat from an 88-98, and it fits great, is comfortable, and I fit very well in it. I'm smaller than you at 6'2", but this is your best bet...

Try to keep the floor as flat as possible, that makes a huge difference.

I've been condidering the extended cab thing too. The best method would to be find a panel truck body and graft the rear of your cab to it.

I don't have the skill set, either. I'm not afraid of cutting and welding, it's the end result I'm worried about. I may end up with garbage for a cab.

Have you also considered adjusting the pedal throw?

It looks plausible to modify the brake and clutch pedal assembly so you don't have to lift your leg to your chin.

About moving the firewall, I did see a link awhile back where someon extended the cowell area for more leg room, I'll do some digging to see if I can find it.

Here's some eye candy in the meantime

https://48chevy.shutterfly.com/

I would think you could modify the seat, or find a AD seat frame and modify it, I.e maybe raise it up a little in the rear? or modify the seat so you can move it back further? But thats what i love about these trucks is that they basically stuck "couches" in them. I think with modifying the back cushion, or closing the angle on the seat frame, so its closer to 90 deg?

This may sound a bit crazy, many things I say do, but why not cut out the of the floor where the pedals go through to the frame and move the cab back? I know there would be problems, but could it be any worse than extending the other end?

Just my 2 cents!

Les

I have shortened brake/clutch pedals, easy. A repositioned, tilt and telescope column from a caddy, buick or other 60's-70's luxury car will go a long way.

My apologies for not replying sooner. I've been away.

46gmcpu
Thanks, I will look for one of those.

Whiedog / bartmos
I will be using a hanging brake pedal (the only pedal since I'm going to be using an auto trans) I will have to be careful not to shorten the throw too much and have it bottom out on a hard brake application.
The only way I would cut up a panel or suburban body (assuming I could find one) would be if the rear of the body was trashed.

bartamos
I will see if I can find one of those tilt/tele columns. Thanks

I have been doing some surfing and have come up with an idea that may solve all my issues and be WAY out of the box.

I have also had a love of the wood bodied trucks of the 20s and 30s since adolecence. Check out the peanut/popcorn truck pics I found. I could build something similar minus the roasters and popper.
My woodworking skills are quite a bit better than my sheet metal skills.

here are the links.

Popcorn truck

Popcorn-peanut truck

Let me know what you think,
Cliff

I like the woody wagons in the pictures.... John

Kind of a combination of an old Depot Hack and a Woodie Wagon, on more of a grand scale?

Hot Rod John,
That's the look I'm leaning toward.
Woody in front depot hack in back.
It will take a while to develop the patterns.
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.
Cliff