What are modifications to a 2.7 or and SC for a tall person?

[oly]

I'm 6'5" and have trouble fitting in stock 911 2.7 and SC coupes. But I still want a 911. Does anybody have modifications that they recommend? I'm thinking of the following possibilities:

1. increasing head room by using an aftermarket seat or racing shell
2. increasing head room by lowering seat rail
3. increasing knee room with a smaller steering wheel
4. moving the steering wheel closer to the driver
5. moving the shift knob closer to the driver
6. any other related modifications

BTW: I there are already posts on this subject, could somebody tell me how to find them?

[David E. Clark]

Here is one post with pretty good suggestions for improving leg room.

I really need an extra 2 inches !

Hope it helps.

David

[s_wilwerding]

I'm 6'4" and don't have any trouble fitting into my sunroof-delete SC. I don't even have the seat back all the way.

One solution is that you could buy mine - it's for sale. Shoot me an e-mail at stevew@creighton.edu if you're interested.

[TerryBPP]

Buy a racing seat and lower it. There are a few threads about this. I bought my 76' sunroof coupe off a guy that was 6'5". His hair rubbed on the headliner, but not his head.

[adamred]

So did you guy you bought it from resemble him perhaps....

[oly]

s_wilwerding,

What does "sunroof-delete" mean? I see that you don't have a sunroof but is that stock or a modification?

[TerryBPP]

He had more of a pompador look. Greased and poofy.

[s_wilwerding]

Originally posted by oly
s_wilwerding,

What does "sunroof-delete" mean? I see that you don't have a sunroof but is that stock or a modification?

You have to order a car with that as an option. I don't know of any way to turn a sunroof car into a non-sunroof car.

I've found that it saves a couple inches of head room, since there are no motors or anything in the roof that take up space. I can fit in the car, even with a helmet on, no problem.

P.S. Non-sunroof cars are prized by racers since it saves about 60 pounds of weight right at the top of the car.

[chrisp]

I have lowered my seat with custom brackets which put the seat only 1/4" above the factory rails. Basically the next step (I need another 1" of clearance) is to cut out the factory rails, weld in some two parallel pieces of 3/4" square tubing from center tunnel to the side sills. It's welded in just above the floor pan and then bolt the seat brackets to that and the seats to the bracket. I suspect new seating surface will be about 3-4" lower than stock when all is said and done. It's all for helmet clearance. I wish I had a sunroof delete car. I know people who have cut the roof off, bought a sunroof delete roof from a wrecked car and welded it back on.

[oly]

chrisp,

That is the kind of modification that I may end up doing for the seat. Have you looked into the cost of doing it? It seems like the labor would be the major portion of the cost since square tubing is pretty common. It sound like you have not done anything with the steering wheel. Can you reach it ok? Do your knees hit it at all?

[oly]

chrisp,

Also, how tall are you? How much does the helmet add?

[chrisp]

I have a 1" spacer on my wheel. With or without the spacer my knees clear fine. Tons of room. I am 6'3" but I have a long torso. My jeans are 33" inseam and I wear long shirts and ties.

Different helmets add differents amounts. Bell helmets are the worst in this sense. They have a forehead hump the gives them the worst clearance in tight situtations. Look at a Bell from the side and compare to another mfg and you'll see it. I have heard this is an inch. I have a Bell.

The cost for doing the seat rail mod is unknown. There is a guy in New York that had his done in which I copied some pictures from. I don't recall his name.

If you want to get an idea you can call CFR welding in Connecticut. He has done something like this before and builds 911 cages all day long. He'll give you an idea. Top quality and price. Find a local Nascar shop and give him really good direction and they can duplicate it for $25 an hour as opposed to $50-$60 at a P-car shop. Make sure you warn them about the fuel lines running through the center tunnel. It's not a hard job. Grinding off the existing rails is easy and the only issue is getting the new pieces parallel, square, and in the same plane but it's not hard.

[oly]

chrisp,

Is the steering wheel spacer an aftermarket part? Where did you get it?

Thanks for the seat mod information.

[dad911]

I need to use a smaller steering wheel. Also, cabriolets have more headroom.

[chrisp]

I made it myself. I wish I still had access to a machine shop or I could make you one. I could get one made for you if you need it. Let me know. It'll be aluminum and any length you want. I have to talk a friend into it and I do not know how much he would charge. Maybe $75. Mine is cool because I machined a wide groove in it so it's not just a big chunk of aluminum and it's neat because the bolts are exposed via the groove.

[oly]

chrisp,

What does it look like? I picture a thick walled tube with holes in it. Or is it just a solid cylinder with holes? Do the bolts thread down into a flange on the steering column?

[Teutonics]

I just got a quote today for cutting out, lowering, and then re-welding the mounting brackets..... about $200. However, after removing all of the carpet, console, and heater control box this evening in preparation to have it done, it looks like the sliders only have about 1/2" clearance to the center tunnel.

How is this obstacle avoided? Shift the seat more towards the door?

[Rob McKibbon]

6'4" and no problems with my cabriolet, especially with the top down.
One of the biggest reasons I drive a 911 is that it has the most room of any sports car I've driven, with exception of my '72 240Z?

I don't wear a helmet though? That could be a problem and would require lowering the seat. My new steering wheel (930S) gives some extra room too.

How much is 6 feet and 4 inches in cm? I'm 186,5 cm and don't really have any problems (non sunroof car, by purpose).

[oly]

6 feet 4 inches = 193 cm