The height of the roadster bodys is this correct ; Vertical height of the door at the front door gap. Measurement taken to the sill plate - or call it the body's frame support for the body and not the chassis proper: 29 = 22" 31 = 24" 32 = 26 3/8" I has a ongoing body parts from B-ville for a 29 roadster but my height 72" make me sit tight even if a thin near vertical sof, and I do like has some rest for legs. ( this is a traditional style roadster/hot rod ) I could maybe extend the 29 body 3" as I heard some do it but is that only on doors or just on rear panels or little on both. I saw a 31 roadster Bobby Hilton made ( old style ) and he made the body taller by 1.5" and that could not be seen but rather cool idea. I'm not into a 32 body as I like the A-Ford on a 32.
So you have a '29 Roadster and are 6' tall and are looking for ideas for legroom? Stretching (extending) the body is a cool idea, but is a lot of work. How skilled are you in metal fabrication?
I has payed for a 29 body in parts at Snyders A-Fords, but missed the container to Sweden at spring ( as the parts was not ready ) so a new container will go out in fall so I can go for a 31 roadster in parts. I has a buddy that run a hot rod shop here that can do all metslwork as ex extended body. But right now I get more into a 31, but the 3 29 on 32 is of course classic. Was just into inches of the bodys.
I have a '28 AV8 on a '32 frame. My buddy has a '32 roadster. With the two cars sitting next to each other, it was shocking how much smaller a '28/'29 is to a '32. I now can see why guys preferred '28/'29's to '32 at the lakes back in the day. Taking the seat pan out and having the seat on the floor gives you tons of leg room. I'm 5'10" and use the stock seat pan and stock seat springs and moved the pan back approx. 2". This gives me plenty of room. Your choice of steering box is also going to contribute to leg room. I'm using a '32 box with a 2" drop on the stock Model A tank mount. That said, I am going to make a different seat bottom since I do sit above the 2.75" chopped & laid back windshield.
I had a chance to check height from lower body to upper and my info above ( I read here ) is not correct ( at least ) how I measure it. A 32 roadster is 28.5” and the 29 is 4.5” less so the 29 is at height 24”. Both was Henry cars by the way. Land speed shore did like the lower body but for a street car its not that nice has legs straight and sit on near floor ( if one not like has near full upper body above upper rail ) I tested sit in a ’decent made’ sofa in a 29 but back of sofa was minor made ( not Mr Maggo style ) and I has issues on get in the car ( 37 steering wheel ) and legs was not comfortable ( 32 pedals ) I like the 29 on a 32 frame but they shore is not tall.
How you construct the seat will make a huge difference in your comfort. There have been many tall guys in 28 roadsters over the years. I thought you were all about period authenticity? If you are considering lengthening bodies, either upward or lengthwise, you have thrown that "period perfect" out the window. Nobody did that back in the day.
Mount the seat low and way back so it's under the tulip panel, steering column angle is key also. When you need to fit, you'll find a way
Yes, I guess no guys back then did anything to their 29 body on a 32 frame. History is there on why they picked up a 29 body. As I see it, I like the time capsel but if it look Ok and its 2022 maybe streching can be done. I has seen only this pictures of Jerry Robinsons 29, but its streched 3” ( according to text ) but no clue how he did it. Its classic style. Would like see the looks in reality and compared to stock. Any more photos, info on this car ? My gusss with his seats and +3” it should be no issues inside for legs. I has been into bomber seats but not anymore. Another 29 I think might be extended is Brian Brennans roadster. He has a pinched in frame anyway and I seen thoose frames form SoCal etc ( huge pinched in ) but a 29 on a 32 cowld is at each side maybe a max 3/8” off frame but as I got it this frames is pinched in a full frame at each side ( can’t get that to work ? https://www.throttlextreme.com/brian-brennans-1929-model-roadster-highboy/
I find the door width on the 1928-29 is the biggest issue with the entry and exit of the roadster. The doors are the smallest and once in side they are all 28-29,30-31 and 32 are only a inch or two difference. As said seat placement is key for a tall person along with column height. I know on my 29 roadster I cut the seat platform to just a mounting edge so it’s only 1 inch tall total. I also removed the package tray and moved the seat back all the way. I am still using the original seat springs . I fit very comfortably in the roadster. My issue is size 13 feet 6 foot 3 body frame and squeezing my big butt out a small door opening. My 31 roadster is better but not much and did the same treatment with the seat . Also it might be just me but I have a tendency to rip my pants pockets and belt loops getting in and out lol
You do not need a pinched frame and, in my opinion, adding length and pinching the frame starts to deviate from your "traditional" goal. A slight pie cut at the base of the cowl gets the body to sit correctly on top of a '32 frame.
Haha. Same here thought not as tall. I'm 5'10" with size 12 feet. I've become quite flexible in my entering and exit routine of my '28 roadster.
Banjorer, You are correct. Even not flex out the cowld it fit a std 32 frame nice, and back in the days no one did that. I brought it up as they sell A-Ford 32 frames that are huge pinched in to fit the 28/29 cowld ( and as I heard a full widht as the frame is ? ) I seen many 29 and a std cowld to a std 32 frame is max off inboard 1/2" so I can't get it pinched in that much from ex SoCal etc. I guess doors are extended on this black classic 29 on pictures. But it can be 2" on doors and 1" on rear body to ( no idea ) But it might look strange ? I guess even at std doors one find the way in.. Key is seat. Got it ( thank's )
I've built a few 30/31 roadsters and one 28/29 and I always use the caravan middle seat because it's got a short enough back to easily slide back under the tulip panel and that gives you plenty of leg room. I've had a couple of guys sit in my 30 and they were both 6'5" and they were shocked that they had plenty of room, and that car has a stick.
I'm 6"6" and fit in a 32 with careful consideration to pedal placement, seat placement and transmission tunnel offset... https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/built-lots-of-cars-but-never-a-32-roadster.1244478/ A buddy has a model A on a 32 frame and there's no possibility of me safely driving it, simple too tight (especially in the foot-box area.
Not the best picture and this is on an A frame but notice just like @Mo rust and @continentaljohn - middle row minivan seat mounted low and back. Mine even folds down for storage behind the seat. Also note my steering column is stood up abit which is a little Guffey but I am 6'5" and I needed the legroom
It was on a 31 A coupe…but Loudpedal here on the H.A.M.B. lengthened his 31 coupe body by using the doors off of a 2 door sedan, and then lengthening the roof and floor to match. Then when doing lower body rust replacement, added a inch or two to the body height. Looked very slick and IMHO had perfect proportions, and for sure lots of extra interior room!
The ’caravan middle seat’ look great. Did like the neat back and that gives room. What car/year is it in ? Shore its tradition not to lenght/height body ( A on a 32 ) but done nice I think its Ok. I has not get my body parts yet but order a 28/29 - so I can go for a 30/31. I really get to like 31 roadster on a 32, but some of my friends said I will regrett that from a 29. As more tradition, more hot rod and a neat body. I think it will be a 29 std body on my std 32 frame ( not pinched ) as that is just to much street rod. -And need work on my seat design at mock-up. Thanks on Inputs !
I'm using a van middle seat of unknown (to me) origin in my '29. I have it shoved under the tulip panel as far as I can given how I braced the body, and it's a tight fit for even my 5'4" frame. I don't know how you big guys fit in these cars.
Yes I tested a 29 with seat lay back and I did not fit that good ( I’m 72” and 200 lbs ) but might be Ok for shorter rides. Here in Sweden use s roadster with keather interiour one cant go that far anyway... As few real nice roadster days and rain almost each day.
When I built my 29 I dropped the seat pans down between the frame rails, I’m six foot four inches tall so it was necessary to sit low so I look through the windshield not over it
The bottom seat cushion should angle up higher in the front to support and encourage slightly bent knees for those long legs.
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