26 touring seat height

[Dave1]

I have a 26 touring that I acquired a couple of years ago.
Prior to me buying it had been restored, as in paint, body work and upholstery.
The seat height is too high, with the top up you have to duck your head to see through the windshield, annoying !
It appears that the seat springs have been replaced, no doubt a product from the T parts suppliers.
Wondering if anyone else has come across this issue, and what is the remedy?

[Moxie26]

Let's face it, people back then were shorter than what we are now. Height was in the range of 5'2 to maybe 5'5... And Ford made his cars accordingly to fit into people that would purchase.

[Dave1]

Granted, however if I sit in a car with OEM springs the seat
“ sags “ with your weight on it, this is too hard

[Henry K. Lee]

Making a softer and lower cushion and making a less bulky back rest are a remedy but it is really depended about your stature. Taking about 4" of the steering column for folks with a larger waist is another remedy.

[Mike Silbert]

Dave,

I have a stock 1926 touring and the front cushion is 5 1/2" thick.
The backrest spring is 4" thick.
I do not have a top installed but I can get you other dimensions if I know what you are looking for.

Mike

[JohnM]

Dave, on my 26 touring the distance from floor to seat top is ten and a half inches. Unless it is over stuffed, you are just a big guy. The good thing is you can put the top down. That's why I sold my Tudor sedan.

[Dave1]

Thanks, I am not a Big Guy, at 5.10” And 165 lbs.
I also have a 26 Tudor with the OEM seat springs and it is fine for height.

[JohnM]

That's interesting, I'm six foot and had to squat down in the Tudor to see, I have great visability in the touring. Could it be just the thickness of the cushion padding?

[Dave1]

John, is your spring package OEM or aftermarket?
On my 26 it has the original original seat springs, and can see through the windshield just fine.

[Dave1]

My thoughts are that spring packages supplied by the vendors have a different gauge of wire used for the springs.
Not sure what the cure, or remedy is ?

[Mike Silbert]

Dave & John,

I just measured my 26 touring seat height from the floor to the cushion top and it is 12 1/2"
When I changed my seat springs they were the same dimensions, unless you measured the broken coils but...
I overstuffed my upholstery for a softer ride, the stock upholstery padding is very thin.
I was installing custom upholstery so extra height was not an issue.
Feeling under the padding it appears that the top of the seat should be @ 11 1/2" from the floor.

Mike

[DanTreace]

From floor mat to leading rear edge in the ‘27 touring, it’s 12 1/2”

Also have added by upholstery shop added cushion as we tour lots and seat spring cushion is the only shock absorber on the T! Only 5’ 7” so top up no issues ever.

[Dave1]

Measured from the floor to the top of the cushion,
It is 13 1/2”
Plus when you sit on the seat it does not “sag”

Two things wrong, the seat is too high and is too hard,
what to do?
It would not be a simple task cut down the seat support frame.

[DanTreace]

If the original owner used a wood frame, that could be the cause. Or put plywood over the spring? Or stuffed the spring coils with upholstery foam, some may do that for extra support to worn coil springs.

The '26-'27 front cushion is only the spring frame, covered with the upholstery.

The cushion then fits into the metal body seat frame. Have seen some use a wood base, but not original.

Perhaps your spring may be incorrect for the '26-'27.

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To fit the seat upholstery in the factory, the covering sewn assembly was fitting by compressing the spring, so that the hem of the assembly could be crimped into the channel of the spring.

seat spring compress uphol .jpg (105.53 KiB) Viewed 172 times

[Mike Silbert]

Dave,

If you send pictures of your seat frame and cushion underside then maybe we can figure out the best way to fix it.

Mike

[Dave1]

You are correct, the last owner used plywood on the bottom beneath of the springs, this in itself adds will add 1/2” of height.
Looks like I need to take the seat apart and see what is on the top side of the spring package

[Dave1]

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[Dave1]

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[JohnM]

Dave, your seat upholstery looks to be well done with more padding than most. It's a shame to take it apart, but the comfort from extra padding is pointless if you can't sit in it and drive.

Here is a picture of my front seat. It is showing some wear but you can see the difference in height.

[Mike Silbert]

What a shame to have to "fix" that, looks like a really nice comfortable seat.
The plywood underneath does not belong and the padding is overstuffed.
Sometimes switching the steering wheel from 17" to 16" will help get under the steering wheel but it won't raise the roof.
If the seat was "customized" is the roof still where it belongs?
It should have a curve to it and not be flat front to back

[Dave1]

“ I think” the roofline is correct, thinking I will talk to an upholstery shop.
Yes the seat is quite comfortable, but craning your head to see, not so much.
Thanks for help.