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Awkward driving position

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azzatron Seriously Crusin Dubber

152 posts · joined Feb 2011 ·

#834051
Hi there. I'm not very tall but the driving position of my '65 notch feels quite cramped. I've moved the seat back as far as possible and it seems ok, but the problem I'm having is with my knees hitting the steering wheel. If I have to hit the brakes in an emergency there's a very good chance I won't get my foot there in time.
Has anyone had to deal with this before and found a solution? I think if my steering wheel was smaller or higher then things would be improved. Don't want to put a modern looking wheel on there though.
Any suggestions?
Cheers
__my '65 1500s notch project__

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#834057
Surgery?
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

dubnbass Commited Dubber

66 posts · joined Mar 2011 ·

#834058
i also have found this problem with my 71 square👎, im quiet tall and i cant even use the breaks with my right foot while still being comfy so i use my left foot, took a bit to get used to but i got the hang of it😵‍💫

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#834060
did you have to post in both forums?

😂

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

azzatron Seriously Crusin Dubber

152 posts · joined Feb 2011 ·

#834063
HappyDaze wrote:Surgery?
Last resort! Haha

dubnbass wrote:i also have found this problem with my 71 square👎, im quiet tall and i cant even use the breaks with my right foot while still being comfy so i use my left foot, took a bit to get used to but i got the hang of it😵‍💫
Yeah it's weird. I'm less than 6ft but I must have long legs or something. You learn something every day.

Thanks for your constructive reply vlad. What's the problem?
__my '65 1500s notch project__

hellbugged 48's and straight cuts

5,080 posts · joined Apr 2003 ·

#834072
azzatron wrote:Thanks for your constructive reply vlad. What's the problem?
rust free and regoed type 3 jealousy, thats all 😂

bushed Wolfsburg Elder

3,541 posts · joined Dec 2006 ·

#834108
this is a safety issue Vlad in case u r not sure here so one tries to find an answer for lifesaving!
not only for the driver and passenger(s) but other road users AND a rare vw!!! lol
want any vw bits old but like me, Made in Germany!!!

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#834111
bushed wrote:this is a safety issue Vlad in case u r not sure here so one tries to find an answer for lifesaving!
not only for the driver and passenger(s) but other road users AND a rare vw!!! lol
awh geez, have to spoil my fun hey lol

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

Flintstones Custom Title Time!

1,077 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#834135
Get a smaller steering wheel. (i'm guessing you have a stock steering wheel?)

Cheers
D

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#834152
yeah thats a possibility. Grant steering wheel?

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

azzatron Seriously Crusin Dubber

152 posts · joined Feb 2011 ·

#834263
Cheers. I like one of those Grant wheels actually.
Does anyone know off the top of their head what the diameter and dish size of a standard steering wheel is?
Cheers
__my '65 1500s notch project__

Flintstones Custom Title Time!

1,077 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#834281
gee, there's not much to choose from 😉😵‍💫

Cheers
D

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#834353
yeah I know, thats why I in the end decided to stay stock. All of them are NQR in a type 3 imho.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#834364
Hi

Put some different seats in it and you can choose your driving position. My son is 6' 7" and I had to fit different seats and steering wheel to his bug.

Steve

azzatron Seriously Crusin Dubber

152 posts · joined Feb 2011 ·

#834409
Yeah. Changing seats is a bit drastic and never look correct afterwards, but I can understand why people would do it. If I was a little taller I'd probably have to resort to that.

There's a couple of wheel designs on that site which suit the period and style of the car. One in particular I like though only comes in 15" though. I think stock wheel size is 16" is it? The aftermarket one might be small enough if the dish is a little bigger than stock, making the wheel stick out further and giving more room for knees. Could be worth a try I guess.
Wish the bloody brake and accelerator were further to the right!!
__my '65 1500s notch project__

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#834467
stock is 14.96" 😀

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

azzatron Seriously Crusin Dubber

152 posts · joined Feb 2011 ·

#834505
vlad01 wrote:stock is 14.96" 😀
Ahh!
Where were you when I asked that question 6 posts ago?😂
I measures the wheel quickly yesterday and it seemed bigger than 15". Must of got it wrong. Are the early wheels the same size as the fat chicks?
Cheers
__my '65 1500s notch project__

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#834507
Hi

Are your seats going all the way back, the runners are pretty crappy on VWs.

Steve

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#834519
azzatron wrote:
vlad01 wrote:stock is 14.96" 😀
Ahh!
Where were you when I asked that question 6 posts ago?😂
I measures the wheel quickly yesterday and it seemed bigger than 15". Must of got it wrong. Are the early wheels the same size as the fat chicks?
Cheers
fat chick as in?

you probably have a steering cover? VW didn't do inches and the measurement is 380mm which = 14.96"

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

azzatron Seriously Crusin Dubber

152 posts · joined Feb 2011 ·

#834522
vlad01 wrote:
azzatron wrote:
vlad01 wrote:stock is 14.96" 😀
Ahh!
Where were you when I asked that question 6 posts ago?😂
I measures the wheel quickly yesterday and it seemed bigger than 15". Must of got it wrong. Are the early wheels the same size as the fat chicks?
Cheers
fat chick as in?

you probably have a steering cover? VW didn't do inches and the measurement is 380mm which = 14.96"
Oh sorry.
People call late model cars fat chicks. It's not derogatory.
Nope, no steering wheel cover. I must of just measured it wrong.
Looks like I need to find a 14" wheel if I want to gain some extra leg room.
Cheers
__my '65 1500s notch project__

benjicon Officially Full-On Dubber

266 posts · joined Aug 2009 ·

#834523
;-)

No i'm not repainting it.

azzatron Seriously Crusin Dubber

152 posts · joined Feb 2011 ·

#834532
Hopefully I don't have to resort to that... But you never know :P

Flat4 make original spec steering wheels here: http://www.flat4.co.jp/english/dtail-in.html#IN-213
It's lists their diameter as 15-1/2" unless I'm mistaken?

It says they're made exactly the same as stock. Where did you get your information from Vlad?
I'm just trying to figure out what the sizes of these things are and am finding conflicting info. It's confusing.
Cheers
__my '65 1500s notch project__

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#834548
?? that's odd? I swear it was 380mm.

maybe that was another car I got that from? maybe late model?❓ I also recall the same 380mm dimension from flat4.

hmmm🥷

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

azzatron Seriously Crusin Dubber

152 posts · joined Feb 2011 ·

#834554
Yeah, 400mm seems to be a measurement used quite often also. Who knows.
I'll get a tape measure and find out for sure tomorrow.
__my '65 1500s notch project__

rebel Seriously Crusin Dubber

181 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#837970
Take the front seat out and sit in the back😂

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#838022
milk crate, just like Ben, the Ben that had the fasty auto from Werribee.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE