Need Help for installing Benchs on a Speedster

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Quickm007
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Need Help for installing Benchs on a Speedster

Post by Quickm007 » Fri Apr 24, 2020 9:41 am

Hello,

My speedster project is progressing well, I'm now ready to fix my benches. I would like to know how you proceed. How far from the fire wall you have installed the benches. I would like to know how to secure the benches on the car floor. If you can send me photos and explanations on this publication or by email it will be greatly appreciated.

Some photos of my project and also photos of other benches and another conventional speedster.

Thank you in advance.
1914 speedster.JPG
seat speedster 2.JPG
seat speedster 2.JPG (20.89 KiB) Viewed 4214 times
The Benchs I bought at Lang's
seat speedster.jpg
Another speedster I saw
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seat speedster 2.JPG
seat speedster 2.JPG (20.89 KiB) Viewed 4214 times
Super Mario Bross ;)

1911 Touring
1914 Speedster

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Craig Leach
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Re: Need Help for installing Benchs on a Speedster

Post by Craig Leach » Fri Apr 24, 2020 10:27 am

The nice thing about biulding a speedster is you have a lot of freedom where & how things go together, as far as placement put them where they are comfortable. My next speedster will have the seats staggered so we are not sholder to sholder( move the navigators seat back ) Also make sure the seats are the right size. Smaller is easy add more padding, larger is not so easy. A 70 mile stretch in the wrong seat takes some of the fun out of the event. Also consider a foot rest & hand hold for your navigator, just something I have heard the right side of mine. Looks like a nice speedster your working on, have fun. Craig.

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Quickm007
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Re: Need Help for installing Benchs on a Speedster

Post by Quickm007 » Fri Apr 24, 2020 11:26 am

Thank you Craig for your comments. I added an original handle on the passenger side. Look the photo bellow.

You can also see the step in comes from a carriage...
1914 handle & step.JPG
Super Mario Bross ;)

1911 Touring
1914 Speedster

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Henry K. Lee
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Re: Need Help for installing Benchs on a Speedster

Post by Henry K. Lee » Fri Apr 24, 2020 11:39 am

Mario,

A secondary note on seats is setting them at a leaning rearward angle. The ergonomics of the human body are paramount or driving fatigue kicks your butt. I also install a low profile adjustable seat track, everyone is comfortable! Just trying to help.

DSC01205.jpeg
DSC01201.jpeg

The black line shows where a brass knob is for the adjustable seat track. Bottom picture.

Hank

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Quickm007
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Re: Need Help for installing Benchs on a Speedster

Post by Quickm007 » Fri Apr 24, 2020 11:50 am

Thank you Hank. Perhaps did you have a picture below the car to see how it is fixed for the benchs?
Super Mario Bross ;)

1911 Touring
1914 Speedster


Jerry VanOoteghem
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Re: Need Help for installing Benchs on a Speedster

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Fri Apr 24, 2020 12:06 pm

I would attach the seats with 4 carriage bolts per seat, going through the seat bases, the supports beneath the seats, and the body decking. I would also seriously suggest adding brackets, braces, etc., to more securely attach the sheet metal to the seat bases. Can you imagine how easy it would be for the sheet metal seat backs to separate from their bases if you were ever rear ended?

As suggested by others, you might also consider tilting the seats back.


Dan McEachern
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Re: Need Help for installing Benchs on a Speedster

Post by Dan McEachern » Fri Apr 24, 2020 1:37 pm

Seriously consider staggering them, with the passenger seat somewhat behind the driver seat. Comments regarding tipping them back are also critical.
Best way is to put some padding in them- just some foam sheet and mock them up and sit in the car- can you reach the pedals, how is the reach to the steering wheel? Don't forget accounting for the cushion thickness- it will make a big difference how you sit in the seat. They look too far forward in your picture but hard to tell actual distance. A little farther away from things is much better than too close- far away can be solved with an extra pad or pillow, but too close is awful for all. 8 hours in an uncomfortable seat will seem like an eternity.
A hand hold on the outside rear of the drivers seat makes a great location for a passenger to grab. Your handhold on the firewall is great for getting in the car, but won't be very useful going down the road or around a corner on a windy road- more so when you are sliding sideways!

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Quickm007
Posts: 1198
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Re: Need Help for installing Benchs on a Speedster

Post by Quickm007 » Fri Apr 24, 2020 1:46 pm

Henry K. Lee wrote:
Fri Apr 24, 2020 11:39 am
Mario,

A secondary note on seats is setting them at a leaning rearward angle. The ergonomics of the human body are paramount or driving fatigue kicks your butt. I also install a low profile adjustable seat track, everyone is comfortable! Just trying to help.


DSC01205.jpeg

DSC01201.jpeg


The black line shows where a brass knob is for the adjustable seat track. Bottom picture.

Hank

Any idea about the Angle degree ?
Super Mario Bross ;)

1911 Touring
1914 Speedster

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Henry K. Lee
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Re: Need Help for installing Benchs on a Speedster

Post by Henry K. Lee » Fri Apr 24, 2020 2:45 pm

Look at modern cars you like. The lower cushion pan approx 12-15 degrees, with the top back rest being another 4-7 degrees leaning to the rear. As Dan mentioned stagger that passenger seat by at least 3 1/2- 4”
Will help big time. Make sure you keep your padding low enough not to allow your shoulder blades above the metal on the back of the seat. Or you will hate your ride!

Hope this Helps,

Hank

Take your time in mocking up and test fit in a temporary fashion to get it right.


Jerry VanOoteghem
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Re: Need Help for installing Benchs on a Speedster

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Fri Apr 24, 2020 5:23 pm

My guess would be 10 - 15 degrees. But, you should mock it up so that you can sit in it and try it out for yourself. The only "correct" angle is the one that makes you comfortable.


Allan
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Re: Need Help for installing Benchs on a Speedster

Post by Allan » Fri Apr 24, 2020 7:15 pm

The buckets also need to be stiffened, like the body panels on a normal T. An easy way to do this is with strips of 3 ply approx 3/4" wide, cut to the shape of the curves. They don't need to be all in one piece. Once you have a set made, another set should be cut, with the joints between the pieces staggered. Then the two layers can be glued and clamped, using the bucket as your former. Once two layers are glued, they will largely hold their shape. Then subsequent layers can be added, joints staggered, until the tack strip is some 3/4" thick. This will hold the buckets in shape and give your upholsterer something to work to.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.


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Re: Need Help for installing Benchs on a Speedster

Post by DHort » Fri Apr 24, 2020 7:39 pm

Mario

I did not build this car, but I did modify the seating. I wish there was a way for me to angle the seats. It does get very tiring on long journeys over 50 miles. The front of the seat base to the rear pedal is 25 1/2 inches. 24 1/2 inches might be better, but it gives me a little more foot room. When you are cruising you do not touch the pedals anyway. I have a 32 inch inseam.
seat 1.jpg
seat 1.jpg (35.45 KiB) Viewed 4004 times
I attached my seats to a solid oak board with 4 bolts. Then I put a hinge all the way across the front of the seats so I could lift up the seats and now I have storage underneath them. The hinge is solid brass, not plated brass, so it will not rust.
seat 2.jpg
seat 2.jpg (22.33 KiB) Viewed 4004 times
In this second picture you can see how I attached a clasp that will hold the seat down in the event of a front end collision.There are a couple of neoprene gaskets to keep it tight and cover up the rattle. Just a mild safety feature. I know it will not hold if I crash, but it is better than nothing.
seat 3.jpg
seat 3.jpg (44.9 KiB) Viewed 4004 times
In this photo you can see how the seats are bolted to the oak board. The board is sealed with urethane. I also placed a battery holder, the kind you use in a boat, to hold my optima battery. This really works well and you can also see how much storage I have for parts and all the legal paperwork. Extra key, goggles, etc. go under here.

These are the same seats you have. From the photos, it looks like my seat risers are attached with bolts from underneath. Carriage bolts?

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Henry K. Lee
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Re: Need Help for installing Benchs on a Speedster

Post by Henry K. Lee » Fri Apr 24, 2020 7:51 pm

More Ideas with a flip up system and adjustable tracks (1970-1987 Ford F-100- F-350 bench seat tracks) using a tool tray under the seat.

IMG_1336.jpeg
IMG_1337.jpeg
IMG_1304.jpeg

Hope this Helps,

Hank


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Re: Need Help for installing Benchs on a Speedster

Post by Playswithbrass » Sat Apr 25, 2020 11:35 am

Mario. One thing I did when install my seat was to put a strenghtner in the seat,then you can use both hands/arms to lift yourself up to reposition yourself in the seat without bending the sides of the bucket or cutting the leather on the metal edge
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85A34C55-30F8-407B-98BA-C1690A10313E.jpeg


Russ T Fender
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Re: Need Help for installing Benchs on a Speedster

Post by Russ T Fender » Sat Apr 25, 2020 6:47 pm

I wanted storage under the seats so I used a piano hinge in front and repurposed some old spindle bushings and tappets to guide and stabilizes the seats when they are down. Worked out great.
AFBD3F92-44C8-4CAA-BEF0-11D75970E23A.jpeg
A53CD9E9-9C46-415F-9F67-0BBBC896700B.jpeg

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