Headroom Needed!

[alphaenvirmgt]

I'm new to this site. I sat in a GTM yesterday at Charlotte (NC) Auto Fair and had negative headroom. I'm 6'2" tall. Plus, there is no forward vision. Are there any plans to make a slightly taller GTM? I love this car!
Conrad

[Roger Reid]

Changing to 19"front wheel and 20" rears is a bad choice when keeping the 4 1/2" ride height because it changes the suspension geometry. Typically you don't want to go larger than low profile 18 front and 19 rear. What if you used the larger diameter wheels then raised the ride height by the same amount neccessary to maintain stock geometry. Then you could make a lowered floor pan to lower the seating position. You also might be able to lower the engine mounts by the same amount if you chose to. Then taller drivers might fit better and or have better visibility. What do you all think?

[The Stig]

Changing to 19"front wheel and 20" rears is a bad choice when keeping the 4 1/2" ride height because it changes the suspension geometry. Typically you don't want to go larger than low profile 18 front and 19 rear. What if you used the larger diameter wheels then raised the ride height by the same amount neccessary to maintain stock geometry. Then you could make a lowered floor pan to lower the seating position. You also might be able to lower the engine mounts by the same amount if you chose to. Then taller drivers might fit better and or have better visibility. What do you all think?

These things may gain you a bit more head room, but it doesn't change the fact that Speed Bumps are different heights... I'd be careful about how much you drop the floor for the seats, and especially the motor mounts. In some areas (Like Charleston SC) man hole covers can stick up as much as a couple of inches. There have been others who are in the 6' 2" range that didn't seem to have too much problem.

Alphaenvirmgt, did the car that you sat in have seat sliders? If so, the seat was probably mounted another inch higher. Some guys mount the seats directly to the floor to get that inch back. Dave Borden also makes a set of brackets that allow you to use seat sliders (mounted to the sides of the seats instead of below), while still mounting the seats as low as possible.

There have been quite a few conversations about ways to pick up a bit more head room. You can search this forum, but you may find more information at (www.ffcars.com). The previous Factory Five based forum. Quite a bit of info there.

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

I'm 6'2 and I fit just fine. It all is going to depend on how the seat is installed. Luckily most of the cars I've built have been for customers of similar height, but I can assure you that for someone 6'2, there is room to get the seat installed so that you have a very comfortable seating position with good head-room. No, you're not going to be able to wear a cowboy hat in there as you do want your head pretty close to the roof for visibility of the road, but as I said, there's definitly room to get the seat into a comfortable position.

[Matt's]

What if you're 6' 5 1/2" :(

[fact5racer]

What if you're 6' 5 1/2" :(

sawzall with a fleshcutting blade.

[Matt's]

Maybe a pinkie toe but otherwise I'll have to check with the wife ;)