Tall drivers and older AC under dash

bostonaudi · 02-10-2009, 05:23 AM

Am looking at a 76 911, that has the under dash AC outlets. I'm 6'5", and fitting in these little Kraut rigs is bad enough (you'd think they built em for little rainforest pygmies or something, odd since most germans I've met are pretty tall). Anyone tall got experience sitting in a car such equipped? Any leg room issues at all hitting the lower dash? The car is remote, if I know I can't fit at all, no sense checking it out. I've considered doing something like cutting the seat rails off the floor pan and bolting the seat right to the floor directly. Since I love driving these cars and out of sheer frustration, perhaps I should also consider just doing away with front seats altogether and sitting in the back jumper seats with a steering wheel extension (probably look a bit clownish though).

Poor-sche Lover · Poor-sche Lover's Garage

It really depends on what "kind" of tall you are. Are you long in the torso, the legs, or both. I don't have any direct experience with the under-dash A/C in a 911, but I have an in-dash A/C 911 and I've had an under-dash A/C in a 914. I'm 6'4", and long in both (XXLT, and 34" inseam). I don't have ANY issue in the 911 (though I do have a smaller steering wheel). In the 914, I didn't have "much" trouble with headroom, but the legroom was awfully tight. I had to jam my knee into the steering wheel to make it into first gear. I hope this helps. I'm sure others will reply with their stories.

peon77 · 02-10-2009, 12:33 PM

I have the under dash ac vents and they don't bother me. The thing that I couldn’t live with was the 74-77 stock concentric steering wheel. I bought a nonconcentric 3 spoke from an sc and that got me the extra leg room I needed. (maybe up an inch) I also have a non sun roof car and thats worth a couple of inches in the head room department.

Talewinds · Talewinds's Garage

I'm 6'4", I test drove a 75' and one of the major reasons I decided against it was I could tell immediately that I would never find a comfortable, drive-able position with stock interior bits. I opted for an 88' because by then the cars had multi-way power seats allowing me to find an ideal spot. I'm disappointed knowing that the early cars and I will probably never get along.

SteveinTO · 02-10-2009, 10:14 PM

I'm 6'4", 34" in seam, so maybe a little longer in the leg. I drive an '82 comfortably. I'm told the Euro car w/o a sun roof have a little more headroom and I have seen a thread about lowering the seat rails a bit. When I had my seat re-done I had them leave out a layer of foam on the driver's side so I compress a bit more in the seat. Net net, I have an inch or two of headroom sitting normally, but I don't think a helmet would fit. Legs fit O.K. but good heel/toe function is impossible w/o pedal mods.

tomphot · 02-11-2009, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveinTO

I'm 6'4", 34" in seam, so maybe a little longer in the leg. I drive an '82 comfortably. I'm told the Euro car w/o a sun roof have a little more headroom and I have seen a thread about lowering the seat rails a bit. When I had my seat re-done I had them leave out a layer of foam on the driver's side so I compress a bit more in the seat. Net net, I have an inch or two of headroom sitting normally, but I don't think a helmet would fit. Legs fit O.K. but good heel/toe function is impossible w/o pedal mods.

I'm 6'6" with a 35" inseam - I have an '85 Euro with sunroof delete.
My headroom is just right (no way I could get in with a helmet though) - when I get in my friends '85 with a sunroof, my head hits the roof.
I've also put a spacer in the steering column that helps a lot with leg room.