Hello to the group. I live in SE Michigan, and have been fortunate to see an 818

[PeetyInMich]

Thank you to Blitzkrieg for showing me the car prior to the body installation. I appreciated opportunity to do a trial fit since I am on the 818/33 fence due to my size (6-5"+", 285#). I am at a quandary, I find a very light (I know, ironic considering my size) car, and a "classic" hot-rod (considering my age) to be equally appealing. The 818 checks a lot of the same "must have" boxes that the 33 does. I must finish (and start) the pole barn first, but I don't want to be caught flat footed when I need a project (unless I settle for a couple cedar strip kayaks, until the F5R is ready.

[gwarden]

So did you fit in the 818? did it have a smaller fuel tank?
I grew up in East Lansing and the one thing I miss from Michigan are the rivers, go for the kayaks and the car

[Goldwing]

Welcome! I think you're my lost twin, lol. I finished my cedar strip kayak (Nick Schade's Guillemot) just weeks before my 818 kit showed up. I built an okoume plywood kayak (Pygmy Osprey) previously which goes together faster. Driving a pair of wood kayaks to the water in your custom Factory Five 818 sounds like a great day indeed! If you're ever near Cleveland, stop by. I certainly understand the difficulty of the decisions you're facing, but I really don't see any bad choices here. :)

[EricScottZehnder]

Hey, I too live in SE Michigan. I'm 6'4" and 200 pounds. I was hoping to check out Biltkrieg's build as well if I got invited. Did you try to fit in it? What did you think?

I previously tried a Type 65 Coupe but I couldn't get both my legs in the car. :(

[Bob_n_Cincy]

If any of you big guys get near Cincinnati. I have one of my 818s set up for a wookie! You are welcome to stop by and see if it fits.
Bob

[PeetyInMich]

My first wife was from Medina Ohio, the Guillemot is a beauty.

[PeetyInMich]

Its not roomy, but I guess an optimist would call it snug. I think it was the larger tank, and the factory Subi seats, Craig mentioned that it looks like there are a few inches available by going with a thinner seat (I need it to get my knees out of the steering wheel)

[riptide motorsport]

Welcome...I say go with the 818.

[68GT500MAN]

Welcome to the forum. Any of the builds will be a lot of fun for you.
Doug

[Goldwing]

On the 818 side, keep poking around to see some of the legroom ideas. The straightforward are the Boyd gas tank for 3", and a few more by modifying the stock seat or going aftermarket. I think newer frames have what sounds like an easier setup to modify the pedal box and move it forward as well. A few tackled that with older frames, but I don't quite have the fabrication skills for that yet. I could see the pedal box forward move helping a lot.

[Blitzkrieg]

Its not roomy, but I guess an optimist would call it snug. I think it was the larger tank, and the factory Subi seats, Craig mentioned that it looks like there are a few inches available by going with a thinner seat (I need it to get my knees out of the steering wheel)

Just ordered Corbeau Seats. They should give a lot more room. Kirkeys siting on the floor would give you the most room, but they don't look as comfortable. Hoping for tires this week. When I get back from Cali ill let you know how the seats fit. Once you take a ride in the 818 you will go with it. The brutal acceleration and the amazing sound of no exhaust. And my driving :).

[EricScottZehnder]

I think newer frames have what sounds like an easier setup to modify the pedal box and move it forward as well. ..... I could see the pedal box forward move helping a lot.

Is that confirmed that there's a newer version of the frame with a moveable pedal box? This would be great to get a few more inches. When people talk about fitting in the 818 but getting 4"+ from a Boyd tank, another inch from thinner seats plus possible another couple inches from a different pedal box - what that says to a big guy is that you really weren't fitting in it to begin with. If you will gladly eat up 6"+ that you didn't have before you've gone from "technically" fitting to actually fitting and being comfortable.

The wookies in Michigan Thank You, btw.

[Jaime]

Is that confirmed that there's a newer version of the frame with a moveable pedal box? This would be great to get a few more inches.There's not much room to move the pedals forward. In the stock location, the brake pedal is very close to the lower control arm at the bottom of its stroke. On the driver's side, the firewall is so far forward that many of us had to cut down the end of the LCA bushing bolt so that it wouldn't interfere.

http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab273/jaime398/818%20Build/20140516_214719_zpswcyabw5c.jpg

The firewall is on the forward side of the steel. That's only about 1/16th of an inch rear of the LCA nut. The black piece at the top of the picture is the pedal box mount. It's already two inches forward of the rear of the LCA.