How to make more room in the drivers seat

[Pooldog99]

I am 6'4" and I like to autocross my DSM.

This is like saying I like to play golf at night. The math just doesn't add up. It is almost impossible to wear a helmet and correctly sit in the seat /hold the wheel while racing.

You hear these guys spew about reclining the seat or some other crap that you know won't work right.

Here what I did to try to cope with my dilema.
I first put in a smaller steering wheel. This was a huge help in getting more knee room. I also removed the shims/spacers that attach the steering column to the firewall. I replaced them with some large washers. I was able to raise the wheel about .5". Those two together gave me the leg room to move my feet, heel-toe etc.

The plan was going well until I bought a racing seat. What a pain. The bracket was so far from being where I needed it to be, my wife had to drive my car to my buddies house where the welder was. We butchered the mounting bracket so that the racing seat was almost on the floor pan. There wasn't any more room than the stock seat

I sold the racing seat and decided to make more room the cheap way. While the stock seat was out, I pounded the floor pan down with a sledge. I don't necessarly advise this. It is modifying the seat attachment point and could be considered unsafe. I kept smashing it down until it was flat. I used shorter "hardened" bolts of the same grade as the originals. This gave me total of 1.5" more seat base to ceiling. You may have to drill the lower floor pan to get bolt clearance once you get the two pieces to almost touch. I did and then put RTV around the exposed bolt to keep water from entering. I then did some small bends to the factory seat frame to allow it to take full advantage of the new found space. I didn't get much differince from that.

I can now put both hands on the wheel while wearing my helmet. It's not quite enough room yet, but it makes a huge differnece from before.

I supppose my next step will be to remove the sunroof mechanicals and roof felt. Once I do that I plan to get a 4-pt harness to make up for the lack of side bolstering that the racing seat would have given me. I am almost tempted to get one of those roof scoop panels and cut out a bunch of the roof for clearance. Can you just imagine the flaming one would get for asking if anyone has installed one of those roof scoops. You would need welding mask just to read the post.

I think they just want to get back at me for teasing them about the neon lighted exhaust tip or the chrome curb feelers.

 

[S_Ranger]

This should be a tech article. Really good post, do you have any pics so we can see what it looks like?

 

[DSMjrv]

heh... my head is about 1.5 inches from the roof in my dsm and im only 5'8"...

but ya taking out the headliner might add a half an inch or so...

 

[midnght]

You need to take a page out of "Hightowers" script.

Remove front seat....sit in rear seat. Hell, there is even a nice bucket to sit you tight. O, you might want to get on of those "Mr. Fantastic" claw toys to shift.

 

[RamenPride]

http://www.2gnt.com/www/files/modseatlower.htm

 

[bzzzt]

no no no, no roof scoop, the answer lies right in front of you (if you're in your car) graft another hood bubble into your roof right where your head is. Tell me that wouldnt be the best thing ever. !

 

[Defiant]

I'm 6-1, most of it in my spine. The damned edge of the sunroof hold has walloped my head pretty well on California freeway divots. I've even been clubbed by the window on occasion.

I think the key isn't in moving the driver's seat back, but in moving the rear seat forward.

 

[napkinthief]

how funny would that be to look into an eclipse window and see no driver and people in the back seat smiling at u, removing the front seats and moving the bucket seats up adds some nice weight reduction for autocross good thinking Defiant

 

[Pooldog99]

I like the post on the 2gnt page. Believe it or not, it isn't really a leg room issue after I did the steering wheel mod.

The two "power blister" approach does actually sound cool. Unfortunately dont have the patience to be a metal worker. I guess the 8lb sledge was the first give away.

I will post some pics when the digital cam is charged up.

 

[Pooldog99]

Here is the pic of the steering wheel that was a necessity. The pics didn't come out well. You almost have to get in the car and then sit in a stock one to feel the difference.