I am a big guy and would like tp know what i could do to make it so i could fit behind the steering column rather than sit to the side....(other than the obvious---lose more weight :P)

 

jakey, Welcome to FTE. There wasn't much driver comforts added to our ol trucks. I have been kicking around taking 2 1/2-3" out of my steering column to have more belly room and my hands further away. The seat already hits the back of the cab, so no help there.

I like driving my truck for the raw power it delivers, and for the exhaust notes, but I really don't like to drive my truck just for driving. I had much rather drive my Taurus truck.



John

 

I consider the cab of my bumpside to be pretty roomy, but then, I'm kind of a small guy. But even at that, I drive with the seat all the way back. Just not a lot of room there...

I think I would swap in a tilt column from a later truck and replace the stock wheel with a smaller one, see what that does for you. If you still need more room there might be some changes that could be made to the seat...perhaps removing the in-cab gas tank and replacing it with a frame-mounted tank would allow you a little more seat room.

Oh, and Welcome to FTE!

 

I am in the same boat, all i did was put the smallest steering wheel i could find into my 66 and it gave me plenty of room. my belly was rubbing on the stock wheel and the new one is probably 4 inches away if not more.

 

My '70 High Boy Crew Cab isn't a problem for me even though I am 6 ft. tall and weigh in at 230. As far as that goes, my '70 CS fits me fine, also. Sorry guys, maybe when I grow up a little I will share your problem. One thing I did see, though, when checking into what I might do if faced with this problem was this. On my Crew Cab, it would be easy to remove the front seat and re-position the rear seat, (they are identical), more forward to a comfortable position. There would be a lot of room for creature comforts like a small fridge and maybe a nice little tv, etc. Wonder what the Crew Cab would look like with a pilot chair in a living room???...... Ideas, Ideas!!

 

Finding a tilt that you can adapt would be your best choice. Shortening your column would only put the steering wheel down on your legs more and that ain;t fun. Shrtened them plenty of times, it don't work. Sorry.

 

HMMMmmmmmmmm, thanks Rick.

Push the back wall of the cab out, and my feet wouldn't reach the peddles.



John

 

just get one of those slimming body shaping undergarments from the infomercials!

 

I have seen at least 2 guys adapt the 78 and 79 tilt column into these trucks or flamming river can make you a custom column for about 400.00.

 

I just put in a tilt from a 78 Bronco; I bought it on ebay. It was an easy swap. I bought a smaller wheel as well. I have removed the cab tank, and put a mid 90’s seat (with lumbar support) in it. The tank removal didn’t give any more seat room, just some extra storage. The tilt column and smaller wheel made it a lot nicer.

The wheel that I bought is flat then has an extension that pushes it out the same distance from the column as one of our steering wheels. I have been considering ways to shorten that extension a few inches, but after reading the post from our friends at Carolina Classics about just moving it closer to your legs; I may reconsider.

 

just go buy a smaller steering wheel and your fine. look at the grant wheels, they make some small but nice wheels.

 

is there no stock type wheel off a newer truck that would work? i know on the mid 70s chevys, you could take the wheel from a 90s model cavalier, and it would fit right on with no modifications, and was perfict.

 

Hello -- new here. Anyway, I too have the same problem on my 61. I am considering a new wheel, but am concerned if i go to a 14" grant or lecarra that I wont be able to grunt the wheels at a stop. But i guess its better than polishing the wheel with my belly.

i have just started to search this, so if this has been answered, i apologize -- can the steering column simply be tilted toward the dash more?

 

Exactly what I was thinking. Hope you have power steering if you put on the smaller wheel. Putting on the smaller wheel without power steering will pose a new problem after a while:
Now you will need extra room for your giant popeye arms!!!

Welcome from another semi-new guy.

 

i went with the ididit tilt colum. bolted right up and works nice.