Anyone in North Alabama with a '35 Truck I can sit in, to make sure I fit?

[Mirage775]

Hello, it's been a while since I asked a question on here, but it seems I'm more and more closer to actually owning/building one of these! That being said and this is a long shot, but is there anyone close to Huntsville, Alabama that has a completed truck that I can sit in, to see how well (or not well), I fit in it? I'm 6'5" and about 250lbs.

I'm planning on ordering a 306 or 347 fuel injected engine with an auto trans. If any of you think I'll fit fine, I'd rather have a 5 speed? I'll also have creature comforts ie: AC and heat. That shouldn't affect foot/leg room, but I just wanted to add that.

Thanks!

[edwardb]

At 6'5" and 250 pounds you won't fit in the current truck model. There's really no point in you searching out a current model to try on IMO. Factory Five is in the process or releasing a new version with a 4 inch extended cab. Showed the prototype chassis at the open house in June. That will be better for you and everyone else. One caution though. I purposely put an automatic in mine because (1) that's what I wanted, and (2) the area for your feet is quite narrow. With a clutch, your left foot likely won't go past the pedals. Just FYI and don't expect that will change with the new version.

[Mirage775]

That's pretty sorry of FF not to make more room for us taller folks... I fit just fine in a 2000 Miata for 6 years... Guess I'll build something else then...

[edwardb]

That's pretty sorry of FF not to make more room for us taller folks... I fit just fine in a 2000 Miata for 6 years... Guess I'll build something else then...

Maybe you didn't understand my response? The new version should fit you. I agree it's unfortunate the current version doesn't fit taller folks. But they've addressed that with an updated version. While I haven't seen a specific timeline or release date, I heard second hand that it will be in the next "couple months" and any new orders, based on current delivery lead times, will be the extended version. As they said at the open house, the truck went from having the least amount of space to the most. If you're really interested in the truck (it's cool, I like mine...) don't give up yet.

[mkassab]

I've just ordered my '35 truck about 4 weeks ago.... and I can tell you that anyone putting in an order now will get the new 4" longer cab (that's direct from Dave Smith himself).

Mark

[wallace18]

I am 6'3" tall and have lots of headroom in Chassis #4 of the hot rod P/U. Legroom is a little on the side. The new 4" longer cab will be a great mod IMO. I plan on raising my seat some to get my legs in a better position. Unless you have small feet, Automatic is only way to go. Very tight foot-box.

171360

[Mirage775]

Maybe you didn't understand my response? The new version should fit you. I agree it's unfortunate the current version doesn't fit taller folks. But they've addressed that with an updated version. While I haven't seen a specific timeline or release date, I heard second hand that it will be in the next "couple months" and any new orders, based on current delivery lead times, will be the extended version. As they said at the open house, the truck went from having the least amount of space to the most. If you're really interested in the truck (it's cool, I like mine...) don't give up yet.

No, I understood you, I don't like these "extended" things. It's like when I was looking at doing a T-bucket, they all said I had to get the one that was stretched, 10" longer and I think 6" or 8" wider... That totally screws up the look of them, so I never built one. I saw a '35 for sale yesterday in, I believe Arizona, where the owner stretched the back of the cab 4"-6" longer and I understand why, but I don't like how it looks... :(

[jayguy]

Has anyone taken/posted a picture of the new stretched truck from F5? I've read the build of the customer-stretched one, and personally think it looks great, but I would also like to see the official stretched version.

[edwardb]

Has anyone taken/posted a picture of the new stretched truck from F5? I've read the build of the customer-stretched one, and personally think it looks great, but I would also like to see the official stretched version.

At the open house in June, they showed only the prototype stretched frame. Dave said they were working on the fiberglass mold pieces. He said only changes were the cab and optional running boards. May see pictures from Factory Five soon. Hopefully. No customer pictures yet.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Here is a spy shot Dave sent me back in April or May. This one is a rough hand built mock up but the cab is dimensionaly the same as the new production bodies (I saw one of those in June and they are much cleaner than this). This particular mock up took the extra 4' out of the bed but they decided against that and instead will also extend the chassis and leave the bed at the original length. If you aren't specifically looking for the stretch it really doesn't jump out at you.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=171367&d=1661109945

Jeff

171367

[jayguy]

Yeah, I can live with that. I still haven't sat inside a Truck, have been in a couple of the hotrods tho.

Many years ago there was a company selling '35 Truck bodies to put on a Ranger chassis, and they offered 3 different cabs. The standard, with no extension, then a middle one with a similar extension to this (not how much it was extended) and then a longer one which they added side windows behind the doors. I can't remember the company name any more, but unfortunately I do know the builder passed away and at one point his molds were up for sale.

Obviously less of a performance truck than the F5, but it was still cool looking, and probably a little more useful as a real truck (as much as a 90's Ranger was anyway).