The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Being vertically blessed...

At 6 foot 6, with a 40" inseam, I will be looking at ways to eek out every inch of legroom in this 53, WITHOUT hacking up the truck.
I'm a mechanical designer, so I see it as a challenge.
I'll post up when I get to that point.

Good luck. I am 6' with a 32" inseam and struggle with having no leg room. I hope you come up with a solution.

Mike, one solution; a thinner seat back, several have found bench seats from late 80's early 90's Chevrolet trucks help. Another option, move the fuel tank out of the cab, then make use of the new room and fab a new seat mounting system.

Good Luck,

RonR

I raised the stock seat 1.5” on my ‘54, helped a lot.

Ed

Removing the tank may give you more room, but only by sliding the seat bottom back. This then makes the seat back very vertical and uncomfortable to sit against as the top of the seat back is already touching the cab at the top in stock form.

Mike B

6' 5" and I can't wait for the day that my trucks far along enough where I have to worry about it.

Skilled body shops have extended cabs 4” and 6”.

Ed

One ‘bolter after receiving his seat from the upholsterer, found himself too close to the wheel. His upholsterer said he could tie wrap some of the springs and remove some of the back padding to give him more room. Just another possible option. Here is the link to that post. https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...eat-recover-stock-bench.html#Post1393825

I'm one of those guys that used a mid 90s full size Chevy pick up seat in an AD cab. I'm only 6' tall but with the original seat my head was only about 4" from hitting the headliner and I'd strike my knees on the back of the steering wheel. With the newer seat I can straighten my left leg all of the way out if my foot is next to the dimmer switch and I have lots of headroom.And as Mike B pointed out you will gain nothing by removing the fuel tank from the cab. The seat moved all of the way back will rest against the cab before it will contact the fuel tank.

I noticed removing the tank would have no effect.
Have been blindsided by a two week deadline, so I'll resume looking at it then.
Thanks.

I second TwoTone. I removed my original riser, welded in a 1” riser on the floor and bolted down a 1990 GMC Sierra bench seat using its pedestal. It sits just below the rear window, moves you back and down a lot, gives ample head room, and you can use the stock tank. I have had my bro in law and a buddy (both 6’3”) get in and they can’t believe that it has as much room as it does. I’m 6’ and it is the perfect “hang my elbow out the window and cruise height”. It does fill the cab from door to door with about 3/8” between the door and bench seat side at the backend (front touches), but I can overlook that. It’s not modern comfortable but the steering wheel isn’t in your stomach, you’re not pushed forward, and you can lean back and relax. Plus, the seat folds forward for access behind the seat. The gas tank is still in the cab, too. It’s been a great choice in my mind. I’m doing it again on the 1/2 ton project. And if you’ve taken your time during removal of the spot welds, you could even reinstall the original seat riser again to convert it back to stock if you wish.

I love this seat.

For, nice job. I'll remember this if I do another AD truck! looks good.

Fox, I like your setup a Lot. I notice the seat is split. Does the seat have individual side adjustments?

RonR

Ron,
It’s not split, it is a full bench. The darker material is where the arm rest folds down onto the bench. It only has 1 slide adjustment for the whole seat.