Rmach1
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2019
- Messages
- 98
- Reaction score
- 2
- Location
- Ky
- My Car
- 1971 Mach 1 351c H code
[url=https://ibb.co/xFgFn66][img]https://i.ibb.co/PDWD2gg/BB339-FB4-2-E55-42-B6-A6-AB-490-B03-BEDC84.jpg[/img][/url]
Ahh you have it bad!! Ha ha ....Nice job - lookin' good!
I've not heard of any track extenders, as of yet, specific to our cars. I've seen them offered for other cars, but still not ours so far.
I'm 6'5" and wanted a little more legroom as well. While I was replacing the floor pans, I moved the seat platforms back from stock about 2", which helped, but created other issues (such as, the molded carpet didn't quite fit right when I was installing... but it settled in and is fine now), and even with the 6'4" wingspan, it feels a little weird having to reach so far to the steering wheel, compared to my other cars.
One other thing I did was to remove the hard plastic 'bumpers' from the seat cushions and seat backs. Doing that has the seat backs leaned back an extra 5-6 degrees or so - that's helped immensely with headroom as well... I don't feel my head rubbing the headliner material.
I'm also contemplating one of the TIM Products one-piece headliners. https://www.cjponyparts.com/tmi-headliner-molded-one-piece-vinyl-black-fastback-1971-1973/p/HL92B/?year=1971&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqZaHtY-O5wIVB9bACh2f5gQoEAQYAyABEgK6DfD_BwE They're kind of pricey at $350+s&h, but really the only thing I'm not looking forward to is replacing the sail panels, since they actually do need to be installed with the rear glass out. They're supposed to offer about another 1" of head room. I know when I installed my factory style headliner, I messed up and used the lower holes for the ribs, which cost me probably a half inch of head room I could've had. Oh well, live and learn, right?
Hope this helps!
This winter, I pulled my interior to better insulate my interior ahed of doing a Class Ait install. Since i had it all out, and needed to insulate the rood/headliner area, i took the dive on the TMI one-piece. I like it, it does hug the roof line and offer added headroom. It also looks good (not stock obviously) but I have no regrets......
I'm also contemplating one of the TIM Products one-piece headliners. https://www.cjponyparts.com/tmi-headliner-molded-one-piece-vinyl-black-fastback-1971-1973/p/HL92B/?year=1971&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqZaHtY-O5wIVB9bACh2f5gQoEAQYAyABEgK6DfD_BwE They're kind of pricey at $350+s&h, but really the only thing I'm not looking forward to is replacing the sail panels, since they actually do need to be installed with the rear glass out. They're supposed to offer about another 1" of head room.
....
Very nice! Yeah we have to try everything we can to make it comfortable so I’m going to remove those stops tomorrow! So good luck with that headliner..This winter, I pulled my interior to better insulate my interior ahed of doing a Class Ait install. Since i had it all out, and needed to insulate the rood/headliner area, i took the dive on the TMI one-piece. I like it, it does hug the roof line and offer added headroom. It also looks good (not stock obviously) but I have no regrets......
I'm also contemplating one of the TIM Products one-piece headliners. https://www.cjponyparts.com/tmi-headliner-molded-one-piece-vinyl-black-fastback-1971-1973/p/HL92B/?year=1971&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqZaHtY-O5wIVB9bACh2f5gQoEAQYAyABEgK6DfD_BwE They're kind of pricey at $350+s&h, but really the only thing I'm not looking forward to is replacing the sail panels, since they actually do need to be installed with the rear glass out. They're supposed to offer about another 1" of head room.
....
Definitely have a helper - it was a bitch wrangling that thing into place by myself. The pre-cut holes for the visors and the overhead cabin light were well placed. In fact, I found that the easiest way to align the headliner was to use the screw holes for the light. I also kept my existing sail panels, I did not need to entirely remove the old ones. Just a tip in case you take the plunge.
HiNice job - lookin' good!
I've not heard of any track extenders, as of yet, specific to our cars. I've seen them offered for other cars, but still not ours so far.
I'm 6'5" and wanted a little more legroom as well. While I was replacing the floor pans, I moved the seat platforms back from stock about 2", which helped, but created other issues (such as, the molded carpet didn't quite fit right when I was installing... but it settled in and is fine now), and even with the 6'4" wingspan, it feels a little weird having to reach so far to the steering wheel, compared to my other cars.
One other thing I did was to remove the hard plastic 'bumpers' from the seat cushions and seat backs. Doing that has the seat backs leaned back an extra 5-6 degrees or so - that's helped immensely with headroom as well... I don't feel my head rubbing the headliner material.
I'm also contemplating one of the TIM Products one-piece headliners. https://www.cjponyparts.com/tmi-headliner-molded-one-piece-vinyl-black-fastback-1971-1973/p/HL92B/?year=1971&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqZaHtY-O5wIVB9bACh2f5gQoEAQYAyABEgK6DfD_BwE They're kind of pricey at $350+s&h, but really the only thing I'm not looking forward to is replacing the sail panels, since they actually do need to be installed with the rear glass out. They're supposed to offer about another 1" of head room. I know when I installed my factory style headliner, I messed up and used the lower holes for the ribs, which cost me probably a half inch of head room I could've had. Oh well, live and learn, right?
Hope this helps!
Glad to hear it worked for ya! ::thumb::HiNice job - lookin' good!
I've not heard of any track extenders, as of yet, specific to our cars. I've seen them offered for other cars, but still not ours so far.
I'm 6'5" and wanted a little more legroom as well. While I was replacing the floor pans, I moved the seat platforms back from stock about 2", which helped, but created other issues (such as, the molded carpet didn't quite fit right when I was installing... but it settled in and is fine now), and even with the 6'4" wingspan, it feels a little weird having to reach so far to the steering wheel, compared to my other cars.
One other thing I did was to remove the hard plastic 'bumpers' from the seat cushions and seat backs. Doing that has the seat backs leaned back an extra 5-6 degrees or so - that's helped immensely with headroom as well... I don't feel my head rubbing the headliner material.
I'm also contemplating one of the TIM Products one-piece headliners. https://www.cjponyparts.com/tmi-headliner-molded-one-piece-vinyl-black-fastback-1971-1973/p/HL92B/?year=1971&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqZaHtY-O5wIVB9bACh2f5gQoEAQYAyABEgK6DfD_BwE They're kind of pricey at $350+s&h, but really the only thing I'm not looking forward to is replacing the sail panels, since they actually do need to be installed with the rear glass out. They're supposed to offer about another 1" of head room. I know when I installed my factory style headliner, I messed up and used the lower holes for the ribs, which cost me probably a half inch of head room I could've had. Oh well, live and learn, right?
Hope this helps!
i removed the bottom stops and it’s already made a difference!!! Thanks for that great solution!!! Those 5-6 degrees makes a big diff.!!!
now for the tracks.. the way it feels now I may not need to do anything there... we’ll see!
Ha ha that’s a good one Geof! Yeah today’s cars have so many adjustments we take it for granted. I’m six feet and really feel for the really tall guys like Eric.You "tall guys" have it made, minor problems. Try being 5'4" in a car made for 6 footers! For my 'comfortable driving position', I have to have the seat far more forward than I'd like just to be able to get the clutch in as needed. Then I feel like I'm hugging the damn steering wheel. I like my arms almost straight or at least minimally bent. This is not possible for me. I hate being so close to the wheel as I'm going to be kissing it if I ever hit anything.
If I were ever to drop in a T5 or similar, I think I'd look seriously at constructing a new pedal support to bring the pedals forward 2". This is not possible with the factory rod style clutch linkage, but with either hydraulic or cable, may be doable. Chance of me changing the gearbox is slight to zero. Then there's the side mirrors. I have to tilt my head backward slightly just to see in the drivers side mirror. Bet you don't have that problem!
I often joke with some of my taller friends that if I had legs that long, I'd cut 6" off them!!
Geoff.
Yeah, it seems like no-one considered us "regular sized" people when these cars were designed. Another mod I would do if I were building a non totally correct 71-73 with sport mirrors would be to move them forward by 2" or so. In fact I did consider doing that, but then I'd have to blend paint the doors and the Light Pewter with metallic in it would be tough, so I dropped the idea...... 'til next time I have to repaint the car!! Should have thought about that last time.Ha ha that’s a good one Geof! Yeah today’s cars have so many adjustments we take it for granted. I’m six feet and really feel for the really tall guys like Eric.You "tall guys" have it made, minor problems. Try being 5'4" in a car made for 6 footers! For my 'comfortable driving position', I have to have the seat far more forward than I'd like just to be able to get the clutch in as needed. Then I feel like I'm hugging the damn steering wheel. I like my arms almost straight or at least minimally bent. This is not possible for me. I hate being so close to the wheel as I'm going to be kissing it if I ever hit anything.
If I were ever to drop in a T5 or similar, I think I'd look seriously at constructing a new pedal support to bring the pedals forward 2". This is not possible with the factory rod style clutch linkage, but with either hydraulic or cable, may be doable. Chance of me changing the gearbox is slight to zero. Then there's the side mirrors. I have to tilt my head backward slightly just to see in the drivers side mirror. Bet you don't have that problem!
I often joke with some of my taller friends that if I had legs that long, I'd cut 6" off them!!
Geoff.
I'm going to modify his suggestion to shaving down both stops to equal the position the seat leans to now so that I have plastic stops on both so it doesn’t dig into the seat base or seat back... thanks for your perspective because all the differentiations opinions help me affect a solution!!!
Totally see that... yeah I know a couple guys who can blend metallics well and I’d still probably hold off on that... so the next project you’ll go all-out. My Mach1 isn’t a totally OEM example intentionally as I had a look in mind when I started so I have that latitude. It’s close but I’m using 1970 Lincoln dark green paint and correct to VIN interior but darker carpet. I’ll post final pics soon I hope.Yeah, it seems like no-one considered us "regular sized" people when these cars were designed. Another mod I would do if I were building a non totally correct 71-73 with sport mirrors would be to move them forward by 2" or so. In fact I did consider doing that, but then I'd have to blend paint the doors and the Light Pewter with metallic in it would be tough, so I dropped the idea...... 'til next time I have to repaint the car!! Should have thought about that last time.Ha ha that’s a good one Geof! Yeah today’s cars have so many adjustments we take it for granted. I’m six feet and really feel for the really tall guys like Eric.You "tall guys" have it made, minor problems. Try being 5'4" in a car made for 6 footers! For my 'comfortable driving position', I have to have the seat far more forward than I'd like just to be able to get the clutch in as needed. Then I feel like I'm hugging the damn steering wheel. I like my arms almost straight or at least minimally bent. This is not possible for me. I hate being so close to the wheel as I'm going to be kissing it if I ever hit anything.
If I were ever to drop in a T5 or similar, I think I'd look seriously at constructing a new pedal support to bring the pedals forward 2". This is not possible with the factory rod style clutch linkage, but with either hydraulic or cable, may be doable. Chance of me changing the gearbox is slight to zero. Then there's the side mirrors. I have to tilt my head backward slightly just to see in the drivers side mirror. Bet you don't have that problem!
I often joke with some of my taller friends that if I had legs that long, I'd cut 6" off them!!
Geoff.
I'm going to modify his suggestion to shaving down both stops to equal the position the seat leans to now so that I have plastic stops on both so it doesn’t dig into the seat base or seat back... thanks for your perspective because all the differentiations opinions help me affect a solution!!!
Sounds great, looking forward to the pics...……… we love pics don't you know!Totally see that... yeah I know a couple guys who can blend metallics well and I’d still probably hold off on that... so the next project you’ll go all-out. My Mach1 isn’t a totally OEM example intentionally as I had a look in mind when I started so I have that latitude. It’s close but I’m using 1970 Lincoln dark green paint and correct to VIN interior but darker carpet. I’ll post final pics soon I hope.Yeah, it seems like no-one considered us "regular sized" people when these cars were designed. Another mod I would do if I were building a non totally correct 71-73 with sport mirrors would be to move them forward by 2" or so. In fact I did consider doing that, but then I'd have to blend paint the doors and the Light Pewter with metallic in it would be tough, so I dropped the idea...... 'til next time I have to repaint the car!! Should have thought about that last time.Ha ha that’s a good one Geof! Yeah today’s cars have so many adjustments we take it for granted. I’m six feet and really feel for the really tall guys like Eric.
I'm going to modify his suggestion to shaving down both stops to equal the position the seat leans to now so that I have plastic stops on both so it doesn’t dig into the seat base or seat back... thanks for your perspective because all the differentiations opinions help me affect a solution!!!
You could modify the clutch pedal so the pad sits further out. The pedal may look to far up but it will be practical.You "tall guys" have it made, minor problems. Try being 5'4" in a car made for 6 footers! For my 'comfortable driving position', I have to have the seat far more forward than I'd like just to be able to get the clutch in as needed. Then I feel like I'm hugging the damn steering wheel. I like my arms almost straight or at least minimally bent. This is not possible for me. I hate being so close to the wheel as I'm going to be kissing it if I ever hit anything.
If I were ever to drop in a T5 or similar, I think I'd look seriously at constructing a new pedal support to bring the pedals forward 2". This is not possible with the factory rod style clutch linkage, but with either hydraulic or cable, may be doable. Chance of me changing the gearbox is slight to zero. Then there's the side mirrors. I have to tilt my head backward slightly just to see in the drivers side mirror. Bet you don't have that problem!
I often joke with some of my taller friends that if I had legs that long, I'd cut 6" off them!!
Geoff.
Yeah Tony, that has been mentioned before, someone posted a pic of a wooden block attached to the pedals!!!. Then the problem is the gas pedal, not sure what could be done about that. I get jokes like "put blocks on your pedals" all the time, so it's old hat to me now.You could modify the clutch pedal so the pad sits further out. The pedal may look to far up but it will be practical.You "tall guys" have it made, minor problems. Try being 5'4" in a car made for 6 footers! For my 'comfortable driving position', I have to have the seat far more forward than I'd like just to be able to get the clutch in as needed. Then I feel like I'm hugging the damn steering wheel. I like my arms almost straight or at least minimally bent. This is not possible for me. I hate being so close to the wheel as I'm going to be kissing it if I ever hit anything.
If I were ever to drop in a T5 or similar, I think I'd look seriously at constructing a new pedal support to bring the pedals forward 2". This is not possible with the factory rod style clutch linkage, but with either hydraulic or cable, may be doable. Chance of me changing the gearbox is slight to zero. Then there's the side mirrors. I have to tilt my head backward slightly just to see in the drivers side mirror. Bet you don't have that problem!
I often joke with some of my taller friends that if I had legs that long, I'd cut 6" off them!!
Geoff.
Geoff, just get some 70’s style platform shoes and you will be all set, lolYeah Tony, that has been mentioned before, someone posted a pic of a wooden block attached to the pedals!!!. Then the problem is the gas pedal, not sure what could be done about that. I get jokes like "put blocks on your pedals" all the time, so it's old hat to me now.You could modify the clutch pedal so the pad sits further out. The pedal may look to far up but it will be practical.You "tall guys" have it made, minor problems. Try being 5'4" in a car made for 6 footers! For my 'comfortable driving position', I have to have the seat far more forward than I'd like just to be able to get the clutch in as needed. Then I feel like I'm hugging the damn steering wheel. I like my arms almost straight or at least minimally bent. This is not possible for me. I hate being so close to the wheel as I'm going to be kissing it if I ever hit anything.
If I were ever to drop in a T5 or similar, I think I'd look seriously at constructing a new pedal support to bring the pedals forward 2". This is not possible with the factory rod style clutch linkage, but with either hydraulic or cable, may be doable. Chance of me changing the gearbox is slight to zero. Then there's the side mirrors. I have to tilt my head backward slightly just to see in the drivers side mirror. Bet you don't have that problem!
I often joke with some of my taller friends that if I had legs that long, I'd cut 6" off them!!
Geoff.
I did modify the clutch pedal stop so it comes up as far as possible, then adjusted the linkage to achieve the highest clutch release position, but......
I know, it sucks to be short!!
Thanks for your suggestion though my friend.
Geoff.
Enter your email address to join: