Mk 4 room

[Captainmelo]

I'm looking forward to ordering a kit for fall delivery. I am concerned about my size. I'm not a huge guy, but I'm 6'3" and weigh 250. I really like the standard seats in leather. I don't like how some of the others stand out above the body. Do any other biggish guys have any input?

[David Hodgkins]

Cap,

You might want to think of form following function, depending on your torso or inseam. I have Kirkey Vintage seats and I gained 2" of "headroom" and legroom. I'm much bigger than you and I can't work the pedals in a roadster with standard seats. But with the Kirkeys I look through the windshield, and with the adjustable Wilwood pedals (another 2") I'm comfortable in the car.

My suggestion is to go to one of the many NE get togethers and try on some cars for size. Owners are generally very receptive to a newbie taking a seat to see how they fit.

BTW welcome to the forum!

:)

[jlfernan]

I'm 6'-1", 245. I have the standard seats in vinyl. I fit, albeit a little snug. Steering wheel is close, but not at all bad. I have the seats bolted to the floor as far as they go and leg room really isn't bad. High back racing seats I found were VERY snug around the hips almost being unbearable. Remember, these cars are like a woman's shoe, not very comfortable, but damn they look good! In the photo you can see where the steering wheel is. I also used Russ Thompson's turn-signals, which put the wheel a little further back.

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/240/dsc03328q.jpg


http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/2561/jorgec.jpg (http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=111)

[Captainmelo]

Thanks for the input, guys. I think I'm going to have to take David's advice and find some cars to sit in.

[3kcarbon]

I'm 5'10" and about 240 (hate to admit to that but it is what it is). I have a issue that may be hard to correct. With my standard seats installed pretty much all the way back my left leg is about perfect extension for the clutch. I was carefull to take that into consideration when installing the seat. Ok fine with that but since you sit at a angle the gas pedal (Russ Thompson, nice unit) as far forward as it can go puts my right leg and foot in less than ideal bent situation. I didn't expect it to be a issue and can't see much else I can do to change it. Guys with longer legs may need the sluminum shell type seats to gain all they can to make the best of what room there is.

[CraigS]

The seats are the key with the pedals a close second.I now have an Ultrashield seat which is near identical to the kirkey. But prior to that I had stock FFR seats and got some room by removing nearly all the padding from the back. Was also able to trim the bottom pad so it was maybe half thickness. You will find that you need almost no padding for your back so that can gain you 2-3 inches of legroom. Also forget any kind of slider for the seat. it will just make you taller.Kirkey also makes a vintage type seat which several builders have used.
http://www.kirkeyracing.com/index.php?link=browse&code=Series41V
The sides are kind of high so you have to step into the car and slide into them from above but thye add a lot of room.
The Wilwood setup wasn't available in 05 but the comment above is important.There is maybe 3-4 inches of space left forward of my pedals si, if that can be used w/ the Wilwoods, that would also help a bunch.

[Number 6]

Your not that far away in N.H., maybe arrange a factory tour of the Factory Five shop. I believe they have Roadsters in the show room that you could probably try for size. My Wife and I have a tour scheduled for this Friday and that was one of the things we wanted to try is how the fit is for the car.

[streetspeeder]

I'm 6'3"and 260lbs. I went out to the Carlisle Show yesterday to trial fit an MK4. The leather bucket was a tight fit for legroom, but the Kirkey Buckets were jest fine. i had what seem to be a comfortable driving position with reach to the steering wheel just right.The thin Kirkey Aluminum seat gave an additional 2" or so more legroom.