Ok. I`ve decided I`m not comfortably in a Model A roadster.Is it possible to go to a `32 body and use my high dollar TCI chassis? Thinking a roadster or coupe. Wheelbase the same? Give me some help guys.
First off, how is your car set up? Why aren't you comfortable? Is there seating or steering alterations that can be made to make things more comfortable?
Just sell your TCI chassis and get a proper deuce frame if you're gonna build a '32. The '32 has about a 3" longer wheelbase than an A, plus a '32 will just never ever look right on an A chassis.
I have a `31 sedan body but don`t like the highboy look. The chassis is a prostreet style so I didn`t feel the sedan body could be used. The only other option would be to find a coupe body to gain some additional space or find some other seat to fit further back.Not much room in a `29.
Looking at the pic of the roadster, I'd say you've got a way to go to be complete, which isn't bad. What's your issue with comfort? The minivan seat? That's easy enough to ditch. Edit: seeing your comments now, I'd say find some room with a different seat... OR, get out of the street rod project get to work on the Sedan.
What got me going was I sat in a `30 this past weekend at Barrett-Jackson and felt thoroughly stuffed in it. It did have a plush seat so maybe that`s it. The firewall setback was about the same as mine. I need to try out some other roadsters before I give up. I just hate to finish the build then dump it due to comfort. I`m 6 ft and 225# and I`m not planning to diet. LOL.
Did you sit in a stocker? A stock upholstered seat sits you way up high and will feel pretty tight but by lowering the seat frame and moving the seat back clear back to the rear belt rail you can gain alot of room. I wouldn't give up yet.
i got a friend that rolls in a T and he is over 6' and over your 225..sure it looks like a monkey fucking a foot ball, but sometimes you have to suffer to be cool..
Thanks for the help guys. Now one option is ruled out. I`m going to try to find a few Model A roadsters to sit in with different seats/firewall/column setups and see if any are acceptable. If not, sell the roadster project and build the Sedan unless I can find a 5w coupe body. The roadster I checked out did have the seat up off the floor quite a bit and was fairly thick. Carl, the `glass body is pretty nice but I would prefer to use steel. Might wind up with a Brookville body before it`s all said and done. That`ll double the cost of the roadster. Don`t have a coupe body laying around do you? Bill
You'd be surprised how much "wasted" space there is in an A roadster. My 31 had the stock seat riser in it and I was WORRIED being 6'5". I sat in a stocker and could barely get my size 13's in between the seat pan and A pillar. I removed the riser, flattened the floor out, removed the little package tray, sectioned the seat pan 2" and moved it back 6". With 4" of seat spring and padding, I got more room than a 77 Lincoln!
Is it a 28 -29 or a 30 -31 body? The 30 - 31 body should be dimensionally about the same as a 32 roadster and there should not be any issues if the interior is set up properly. Anyway, a 32 on a model A would be going backwards since the old timers dumped the A chassis for the deuce because it was structurally better. Plus the deuce chassis looks better in my opinion.
Carl, PM me if you`re interested in letting the `29 go. I`d prefer to have a metal car. I can weld better than I can glass. Hate the mess and itching. Might part with the `31 sedan body.
If you absolutely have to have the channeled body, I'm afraid that even going to a coupe isn't going to offer any real degree of comfort. Since this isn't a traditional build, you can go with a much smaller modern steering wheel and gain some room there, but I'm still afraid it ain't enough.
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