How to make more leg room in a coupe?

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules

Topic author
Graybeard77
Posts: 73
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:06 pm
First Name: Clyde
Last Name: Gibson
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Fordor Sedan, 1926 Roadster
Location: Springfield, MO
MTFCA Number: 32266

How to make more leg room in a coupe?

Post by Graybeard77 » Thu Oct 08, 2020 9:00 pm

Is it possible to move the driver’s seat back in a coupe for more leg room? One of our club members can’t use the peddles.


Norman Kling
Posts: 4072
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:39 pm
First Name: Norman
Last Name: Kling
Location: Alpine California

Re: How to make more leg room in a coupe?

Post by Norman Kling » Thu Oct 08, 2020 9:25 pm

Depends on what year. If before the 26-27 model, the gas tank is under the seat and you can't move the seat back. If a 26-27 you could do some work on the body to move the seat back, but not easy. It is also possible to remove some padding from the seat back and cushion, or modify the coil springs, but the seat will be less comfortable. Third option would be to have surgery to shorten the legs :lol:
Norm


Scott C.
Posts: 805
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:44 am
First Name: Scott
Last Name: Clements
Location: Waynetown Indiana
MTFCA Number: 49592

Re: How to make more leg room in a coupe?

Post by Scott C. » Fri Oct 09, 2020 1:21 am

The Ford service manual has instructions on how to move the seat back on a 26-27 coupe.


John kuehn
Posts: 3907
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:00 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Kuehn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 19 Roadster, 21 Touring, 24 Coupe
Location: Texas
MTFCA Number: 28924

Re: How to make more leg room in a coupe?

Post by John kuehn » Fri Oct 09, 2020 9:22 am

I have a 24 Coupe and it’s tight for a 6’3” guy like me. I don’t see how a big or may I say a ‘portly ‘person could get in one. Probably we are so used to using easily adjustable seats in our roomier cars and trucks it really seems real tight in a T. People back in the T era got use to driving a T did the best they could. The later Coupes had a provision to move the seat back but it wasent much for a big guy whether tall or just big. My 21 Touring to me is a tighter fit but the 3 black era T’s I have are tight. Just the way it is.

Instructions in the Ford service manual shows the improved 26-27 Coupes and the Tudor seats can be moved back approximately 2” or as the manual says you can make more room for the larger than average sized driver.


Burger in Spokane
Posts: 2251
Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2019 2:05 am
First Name: Brent
Last Name: Burger
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 TT closed cab flatbed
Location: Spokane, Wa.
Board Member Since: 2014

Re: How to make more leg room in a coupe?

Post by Burger in Spokane » Fri Oct 09, 2020 10:55 am

Buy a Packard ?
More people are doing it today than ever before !

User avatar

TRDxB2
Posts: 5412
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 4:56 pm
First Name: Frank
Last Name: Brandi
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Speedster (1919 w 1926)
Location: Moline IL
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: How to make more leg room in a coupe?

Post by TRDxB2 » Fri Oct 09, 2020 11:21 am

Graybeard77 wrote:
Thu Oct 08, 2020 9:00 pm
Is it possible to move the driver’s seat back in a coupe for more leg room? One of our club members can’t use the peddles.
It would help to better understand the problem that is causing the club member to not be able to use the peddles. Is it height or girth, something else in the way, physical issues? And as what was pointed out what year is the coupe?
Here are some ideas
1926 Coupe. http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/6/ ... 1040097214
1927 Coupe http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/41 ... 1404997642
other
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/41 ... 1400200545
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/59 ... 1478816336
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/70 ... 1491652667
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
Mick Jagger

User avatar

VowellArt
Posts: 542
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:44 am
First Name: Martynn
Last Name: Vowell
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1922 Touring, th "Lady"
Location: Sylmar, Commiefornia
MTFCA Number: 9908
Board Member Since: 2012
Contact:

Re: How to make more leg room in a coupe?

Post by VowellArt » Fri Oct 09, 2020 6:36 pm

You can do what I did in my 22 touring, I took (bound/tied) 2 inches out of the bottom of the back rest springs. This allows your bottom to sit further back making more leg room, yet not making it less comfortable to drive long distances in....worked for me and I'm 6'5". ;)
Fun never quits!

User avatar

Oldav8tor
Posts: 1930
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
First Name: Tim
Last Name: Juhl
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1917 Touring
Location: Thumb of Michigan
MTFCA Number: 50297
MTFCI Number: 24810
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: How to make more leg room in a coupe?

Post by Oldav8tor » Fri Oct 09, 2020 7:13 pm

I don't have a coupe but my '17 touring came with the back springs removed in the front. When I re-upholstered I did not replace them, opting for an inch of dense foam. The extra room makes a big difference.... I would not be able to drive my car comfortably otherwise.
1917 Touring
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor


John kuehn
Posts: 3907
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:00 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Kuehn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 19 Roadster, 21 Touring, 24 Coupe
Location: Texas
MTFCA Number: 28924

Re: How to make more leg room in a coupe?

Post by John kuehn » Fri Oct 09, 2020 8:05 pm

The original post mentioned that the driver had a hard time using the pedals. I started using the pedal extension for reverse and that helps. I also have the pedal add ons for the other two pedal to give me a little more wiggle room for my size 13’s so I don’t get my boots jumbled up using the pedals.

User avatar

Susanne
Posts: 1045
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:06 pm
First Name: Susanne
Last Name: Rohner
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Late '15 touring, "Angel".
Location: Valfabbrica, (central) Italy
MTFCA Number: 464
MTFCA Life Member: YES
Board Member Since: 1999
Contact:

Re: How to make more leg room in a coupe?

Post by Susanne » Sat Oct 10, 2020 1:57 pm

Not a coupe, but my touring, and that reverse pedal add on is probably one of the best things I've put on the car since side curtains in the winter! One of those things you don't realize how useful it is until you experience it...


Topic author
Graybeard77
Posts: 73
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:06 pm
First Name: Clyde
Last Name: Gibson
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Fordor Sedan, 1926 Roadster
Location: Springfield, MO
MTFCA Number: 32266

Re: How to make more leg room in a coupe?

Post by Graybeard77 » Sat Oct 10, 2020 6:28 pm

We started taking bolts out today. It is a 1926 coupe. We are trying to get it back about 4 inches. Will let you all know how we come out. Thanks for all the ideas. Clyde


Topic author
Graybeard77
Posts: 73
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:06 pm
First Name: Clyde
Last Name: Gibson
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Fordor Sedan, 1926 Roadster
Location: Springfield, MO
MTFCA Number: 32266

Re: How to make more leg room in a coupe?

Post by Graybeard77 » Sat Oct 10, 2020 6:29 pm

We started taking bolts out today. It is a 1926 coupe. We are trying to get it back about 4 inches. Will let you all know how we come out. Thanks for all the ideas. Clyde


Burger in Spokane
Posts: 2251
Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2019 2:05 am
First Name: Brent
Last Name: Burger
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 TT closed cab flatbed
Location: Spokane, Wa.
Board Member Since: 2014

Re: How to make more leg room in a coupe?

Post by Burger in Spokane » Sat Oct 10, 2020 8:09 pm

Another option is calf removal. With your feet stuck directly to your knees,
you can anticipate a gain of some 12-16 inches.
More people are doing it today than ever before !

User avatar

FreighTer Jim
Posts: 1724
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:50 am
First Name: James
Last Name: Jarzabek
Location: Dayton, OH
MTFCA Number: 29562
MTFCI Number: 24398
Board Member Since: 2008
Contact:

Re: How to make more leg room in a coupe?

Post by FreighTer Jim » Sat Oct 10, 2020 9:48 pm

Burger in Spokane wrote:
Sat Oct 10, 2020 8:09 pm
Another option is calf removal. With your feet stuck directly to your knees,
you can anticipate a gain of some 12-16 inches.
Too bad we couldn’t connect yesterday but
by the time I unloaded it was dark 🧐

I was really tired too 💤

Catch you another trip Da Burger 😉


FJ
Google “ Model T Transport “
MTFCA - MTFCI - MAFCA Member

User avatar

Hap_Tucker
Posts: 365
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 4:58 pm
First Name: Hap
Last Name: Tucker
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 cut off touring; 1918 touring; 1922 Speedster
Location: Sumter, SC
MTFCA Number: 100
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Re: How to make more leg room in a coupe?

Post by Hap_Tucker » Mon Oct 12, 2020 6:56 pm

Clyde,

This may be posted too late to help you, but perhaps it will be of help to someone else with a 1926-27 coupe in the future. I had tried posting this as a link to an earlier posting. But when I click on the link it gave a 401 error or something similar. Since I had it saved, I will repost it here. It all deals with moving the early 1926 and 1926-27 Coupe seat back.
More room in 1926-27 coupe Service Bulletin
More room in 1926-27 coupe Service Bulletin
More room in 1926-27 coupe Service Bulletin part 2
More room in 1926-27 coupe Service Bulletin part 2

User avatar

Hap_Tucker
Posts: 365
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 4:58 pm
First Name: Hap
Last Name: Tucker
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 cut off touring; 1918 touring; 1922 Speedster
Location: Sumter, SC
MTFCA Number: 100
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Re: How to make more leg room in a coupe?

Post by Hap_Tucker » Mon Oct 12, 2020 7:08 pm

(continued)

The following is from the Jul Aug 1981 Vintage Ford page 43 used by permission to promote our hobby:

From Don Ball – answering in the column “Questions and Answers”

The [1926-27 Coupe Package] tray was made of wood and was covered with the
same material as used around the rear window area of
the body. …. The holes were not for ‘drainage”
but rather were for the retaining screws which held
the shelf in place. (They used large washers to allow for
the usual lack of precision in body construction.)
Ford had realized by 1926 that people don’t all come
in the same size and had allowed for the seat back to be
moved back for more leg room. The job was not easy;
you had to remove the package tray, saw off a couple of
inches; unbolt the seat and move it back, then reinstall
the whole mess. This procedure is detailed in the Ford
Service Bulletins and is reprinted in Ford Service Bulletin
Essentials (Post Motor Books, 1966) on pages
367-370 and 463. [note page 463 was how to move the seat closer to the steering wheel - so not included]
A drawing of the shelf, as well as the rain gutter is
reprinted here.
26-27 Coupe Package tray
26-27 Coupe Package tray
1926 - 27 Coupe Package tray Jul - Aug 1981 VF pg 43.JPG (34.3 KiB) Viewed 2259 times


See also the posting at: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/81912.html

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic