The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Cozy Cab!

Well I have been sitting in my cab, trying to get the feel of the controls etc., looking forward to the day I drive it. I must say that it is a pretty small space. If that steering wheel had an airbag, it would be a killer. I am only six feet tall but I notice with the four speed in reverse, the shift knob and my knee want the same space! I can either position my knee for using the brake or the gas pedal but the transition is difficult. I am going to have to take Yoga classes to solve this one.

5'8" here Fred and reverse is a close one for me. The pedals are comfortable for me when the seat is all the way back, I can’t imagining what it would be like if I were any taller. I think back in the day I was about the average height, today the average is taller.
Just think what it would be like trying to climb into the cab of an Art Deco. They were 7 inches shorter and 8 inches narrower in the cab, so they must have been made for little people.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I feel your pain. I'm 6'4" and my '66 is a tight fit for me (I've actually hit my head on the roof when going over large bumps and dips). I can't imagine trying to squeeze into the older (and tighter) cabs.
But you know what, it's something I'm willing to live with to drive the type of truck I like.

Believe me, I will endure a lot to be in the old bolt! I think that I may remove the shift and use some heat to bend it a little. But I also don't want to intrude too much into the space where my dog is going to ride!

For those of us that are circumferencially challeged, the AD cab and steering wheel setup allows for a unique steering stablizer and automatic steering wheel polisher, if you follow my drift.

Is that how the paint gets worn off the front of the steering wheel?

i've discovered that the muscle on the front of my right leg, between my knee and ankle, has become somewhat over-developed from the reoccurring contortionist act that must be performed on a daily basis while driving around.

wouldn't want it any other way

I'm 6'2 and don't have that much of a problem with my stock AD interior. I bent my shifter a bit to make it more comfortable.

I can't even drive my neighbor's '46, though. Its tight.

I sold my '55 CJ-5 after I fixed it up for the same reason- I couldn't enjoy driving it with a stiff ankle.

I'm 5'11", and I haven't noticed a problem. For what it's worth.

yeah, my 49 was pretty tight. I had an aftermarket blinker that i put on the wrong side of the steering wheel so that i could run the clutch. And bent the shifter of course.

my 58 is a whole lot better!!!!!!!!

Brian 6' 10"

When I got my 51, I noticed it was a bit cramped and the pedals are a bit high LOL. My 48 CJ2A is a bit tight too, but the ride is too much fun to notice it much. I'm 6'2" incase you wondered .

Take an actylene torch & heat the shift lever a few inches above the tower. Put a slight bend to the right in the lever. Bend it enough to move the knob to the right a few inches but not enough to make it obvious that you made the bend. It won't take much to give you a few more inches of wiggle room.

GM should demand a kickback from the tilt column and under bed gas tank people since their cab design has led to so many sales.

I cut three inches off my brake pedal and boy does that make a difference. I'm only 6' but I was tired of smacking my knee cap on the steering wheel every time I had to "panic break." The leverage works in my favor now too. I'm pushing the pedal down instead of forward/down. It's almost like power brakes (not really but it is much easier.)

I have noticed that the brake pedal is quite high, quite a transition from the gas pedal. I will have to get used to that.

you just have to remember when driving you and the truck are one.

The first time I sat down in my "new" '53 2 years ago I was shocked by how tight the space was. I'm six', I felt my head near the ceiling and my knees up tight, I kept trying to get the seat to go farther back, I still can't figure out how those old dudes could keep a hat on in the cab. Now after two years I don't feel it at all tight, it feels just right. Maybe I am shrinking in the later half of life. But I still can't wear a hat in the cab.

We put another hundred miles on the old gal this week end (’50, 3604) and just like in the three bears, this one is jussst right! Here's one of those few times it pays to be only of AVERAGE stature.
Oh and Karl, this is one short old dude that feels like a real “Dapper Dan” with my period bib overalls, brogans and Fedora hat pushed back, on the trip into the mercantile. Plenty of head room!
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I'm 6'3" and my eyes are level with the top of the side window on my 36' low cab. I actually have to hunch over to see out the front window...........wouldn't change it for the world.

I took my steering shaft to a machinist and had him take four inches (4") out of it, which made a huge difference. Then I shortened the brake pedal by a couple of inches, moved the back rest of the seat to the other side of the seat frame by flipping the brackets (cut and reweld). You can also take out some of the foam from the seat bottom to get some headroom. All in all, the biggest difference was in shortening the steering column and the pedals.

Nifty50 said

"For those of us that are circumferencially challeged, the AD cab and steering wheel setup allows for a unique steering stablizer and automatic steering wheel polisher, if you follow my drift."

And boy is he right. I'm not huge but I'm no skinny runway model either. But I noticed that sliding into the cab, if one were very big, the steering wheel would definitely cut you in half if you had to stop fast.

Guess a person gets used to that. I remember my Uncle John getting into a truck of this era and he seemed ok and he was a BIG MAN. 6ft 40 with a belly. I guess you just learn how to bend, huh?

I have had the chance to drive mine now and I am used to everything, it is great. All the stories about the horrible Huck brakes didn't seem to be true in my case. I am also very happy with the steering with no pulling or wonder or vibration. Now if the rear main seal would only listen up!

I got to drive Niagara's '50 last year and it was a rather tight squeeze. I'm just under six feet and tip the scales at around 240. I recently got my '48 to the point where I could put the steering wheel in, and when I slid in behind the wheel, I was very pleasantly surprised.

Did I lose weight? Nope. The '48 has the tank under the bed instead of behind the seat, and I think I have about six inches more gut room.