Hey, since I've got the pan stripped on my '72 I thought I might as well set it up to suit my body.
As I'm a little bit tall (Six feet three inches) I find that the gearshift lever is a little too far forward for my liking when the seat is right back. (Mind you, my legs are still cramped)
I know that Custom Off-Road set up their Buggy Pans with the 3 inch move, and I was wondering if anyone here has attempted the same.
It looks like I may have to shorten the handbrake lever too, but not by much.
Thanks in advance.
-Staggers.
malcolm ·
I can,t see a problem you will need to shorten the shifter tube and you could move the handbrake back as well.
Volkswagenboy ·
That's all I can see too Mal, just a matter of cutting the whole section out and moving it back.
Just thought there might be some little problems someone might've come across before.
-Staggers.
VWCOOL ·
yeah just move it all back and get some shorter handbrakle cables made
Volkswagenboy ·
😀 Should be easy.
-Staggers.
68AutoBug ·
what about the nylon support bush just rearwards of the gearlever??
A fellow in the US told Me He added to the seat rails so the seat could be taken back a few more inches..
as He was tall...
whether he moved the gear lever I can't remember...
maybe He had longer arms..??
A fellow in Muswellbrook has moved His gearlever towards the rear a few inches.. ... and He is tall too..
its an early model Beetle...
and He loves to Modify things... especially beetles..
Lee
Volkswagenboy ·
I'd be moving the whole section (Including the support inside the tunnel).
I'll wait until the pan's finished at the sandblasters, then I'll start looking into it seriously.
Thanks all.
-Staggers.
last celtic warrior ·
Mate there is another way...
Have a think about extending the gear lever about 6 inches, and putting a dogleg in it to place the knob further back. Then add a quickshift spacer kit so it still uses a respectably small amount of travel to change cogs. You can make the lever any shape really, either angle it straight back with a little kickup at the end for the knob, or bend it a few inches up from the base.
Actually, there's another way too, but it's almost as much trouble as cutting the tunnel. It involves cutting the gear lever off and welding on an eyelet. You then mount a new lever pivoting on a steering uni bolted to the tunnel, with a box linkage going forward to the original lever. This can work really well if all joints are pretty tight and it can be simply covered with a boot. This way doesn't allow for the Volksie handbrake though. Okay, scratch this thought, only take any notice of the first suggestion. LOL
Hang on a minute, there is yet another solution. Have your legs surgically shortened. This will allow you to fit into any VW, not just yours, and it'll get your head out of the clouds too...
Volkswagenboy ·
And stop the nose bleeds and popping ears when I bend down?
-Staggers.
Joel ·
the only problem with bending doglegs into the gear stick is that 12 volt beetles dont have a locating pin on the ball the sits in the notch in the cup to stop them spinning around
but it wouldnt be hard to put one in like 6 volt and semi auto beetles have