Elbow Room

[Jon Hallmark]

I'm looking for ideas for more elbow room. I previously owned a MK II with a mild 302 and hand over hand steering was not possible because my left arm was way over the door.

I'm not terribly big, but, I am 6'0" and 230 LBS with wide shoulders. I love to drive the heck out of something, not just in a straight line. To be able to hand over hand steer a roadster, I estimate I need 5 to 6" more room.

I'd definitely consider buying a body without the door panels cut out and stepping over the side, if I could shave enough off of the doors.
I'd consider using an ecoboost 3.5 v-6 if I could shrink the trans tunnel and move the seat over.

I'd really consider anything, if I could drive the car to it's potential, and have fun with it.

Does anyone have ideas?

Thanks in advance for your time!
Jon

[CDXXVII]

Just a thought.

Why not get a power steering rack with a tighter ratio. No hand over hand needed.

[edwardb]

5-6 inches is a lot. More than the thickness of the door. Not sure how that's possible. I personally haven't done it, but I've seen pictures where guys have cut the door back along the top, e.g. so they roll over less into the cockpit. I'm guessing 1-2 inches. Maybe someone will post a picture. Maybe a smaller steering wheel? But that raises other questions.

I'll be honest though, even with the pretty mild three turn rack in mine I've never felt like hand-over-hand was necessary. Not even close. It turns very quickly without taking my hands off the wheel. Guys who autocross or simply want it to turn more quickly use a quicker rack.

I don't see how a V-6 will help much either. Bell housing and transmission are what's taking up the room next to you. Not the engine. Aside from the very thought of putting a V-6 in there... :eek:

The Roadster is a relatively small car no matter how you look at it.

[Stillwater35]

I am building the truck and it has much more room than the roadster. The new Gen 2 hot rod might be even bigger yet.

They have inboard front suspension and handle great!

[wallace18]

Check out the door mods we made on these 2 MK4's

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?19828-Wallace18-quot-s-MK4-Build-Thread/page3 post #102

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?21008-Bill-amp-Laura-s-MK4-build-thread/page3 post#93

[mike223]

To be able to hand over hand steer a roadster, I estimate I need 5 to 6" more room.

I'd really consider anything, if I could drive the car to it's potential, and have fun with it.

Does anyone have ideas?



Jon,

Best you can do in a properly scaled car is:

Power steering (one form or another), quick rack (and or, steering quickener, properly applied - easier said than done), and a smaller steering wheel.

There is no getting 5"-6" more inches out of these small roadsters (without going to a wider basis).


But when you get down to around 2 turns lock to lock (or below) you'll find you don't have to hand over hand any more...


JMHO,

Mike

[Jon Hallmark]

Wallace, I love the door mod. That looks like you may have gained 1 1/2 to 2".

Mike, I had not thought of the smaller wheel, power steering, that is a great idea.

I should have been more clear about my goal. I'd like to be able to get my left elbow inside the car so I can steer quicker. With my elbow over the top of the door, it severely limits my ability to steer with my left arm. So I am steering and shifting with my right, which can be a little scary going sideways at speed.

I will attempt to upload a pic of me in my previous car so maybe someone will see something I could have done better. Maybe seats? I know my arm is inside in the photo, but, it is trapped against the door.

Thanks again for all of the help.

I'd like to build another roadster, but, I may have to follow the other advice given and build a truck. Decisions....

[Olli]

Jon,
Those seats that you had must have restricted your movement some. FFR's "big and tall" roadster seats would give you more movement. Power steering would help you too.

Olli

[mike223]

Those seats that you had must have restricted your movement some.



I agree - I think a Kirkey 55 series pro drag seat would allow the back of the seat to be closer to the transmission tunnel - of course this also gets your whole body turned toward the left front tire a little.

Additionally I've got mine installed about 3/4" higher on the outside edge (door side) - tilting the seat backs toward the center of the car slightly.


I feel kind of captured by the door too, and I'm considerably smaller - 5'8" 170.

But I'm pretty happy with electric power steering + a 1.5:1 steering quickener.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Just a thought.

Why not get a power steering rack with a tighter ratio. No hand over hand needed.

EXACTLY! No hand over hand with a 2.25/2.5 turn rack:


https://youtu.be/GMKAp9tMpCo?t=10s

Cheers,
Jeff

[Mark Reynolds]

I trimmed back my door overhang on the driver side and am very glad I did. Blended the curve into the stock dash meetup point and blended the cut from 1.5" to zero along the rear body radius. I'm just a regular 5'10 160lb person and needrd the room.