Thread: 53 Is back from the Body Shop

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Originally Posted by NTFDAY

Lord, you've created a Volkswagen.

Awww...that's smart.
I could've pushed the 'like' button twice for that.

Leave a vent window cracked open to release the air pressure.

You must have sealed that thing up real good. I know newer cars have flappy vents in the doors for that.

I think for the time being, we will pop open the air vent on the cowl. I think I'll end up putting a flapper door in it somewhere, I really don't want to cut another hole in it but ya.

I decided to add some " 3rd " brake lights to Rita. I hated to do it like poison because it ruins the old school look in the rear but I'd rather have that than a clown corn hole me in the rear because he didn't notice my brake lights. I couldn't see spending the $140 or so for the custom made ones that fit in the bed roll, so I spent $8 on some bright 3/4 inch ones and put them in the tailgate chain holder hole that I wasn't using anyway. I had to drill it out a bit but it worked well. They should be more noticeable now.

Nice! For other viewers there is a kit that places the brake light in the hole formed by the roll of the bed sides right above that. No cutting.

Put a couple hundered miles on Rita today, first time out this year and the weather was beautiful! We went to Gavins point dam in Yankton SD where it dams up the Missouri River, I was my first time there. Now the real reason I'm on here, Rita's seat kinda sucks. It's the rear seat out of an Astro van and I can't seem to get it set where we don't need to get out every hour to get the feeling back in our legs. Any tips or advice?

Have you tried shimming the floor mount so it leans? Is the back to seat at an angle ? and can it be changed?

Originally Posted by 34_40

Have you tried shimming the floor mount so it leans? Is the back to seat at an angle ? and can it be changed?

I sat in it tonight and I'm not really sure I can change much. I have moved the front of the seat up once before and it's all the way back as well. If I shim it up more I don't think I have the room to tilt the back anymore than it is but I might try a bit more. Installing cruise helped a ton so I can move my legs around more. I think I might have to accept the fact that it seems like people were shorter back then and they made vehicles accordingly. I'm not going to be able to stretch out like in a modern vehicle. I can always find something to complain about, maybe my body isn't as forgiving as it was when I was 20 LOL:

Seth, unfortunately the typical 3rd row seats I've looked at just don't appear to be built for comfort. They are built to fit in the space that is there, be light enough to either fold up or be removed and generally fit children.

I briefly considered 3rd row buckets for my Healey project since I'm very space limited, but decided my back wouldn't like them very much. I finally settled on a set of MX5 (Miata) buckets. They are compact and seem to be very comfortable. Mine came out of a retractable hardtop version (that I didn't even realize they made) and were leather covered. I'm sure that's not what you were hoping for, but I don't think you will ever get the 3rd row seats to be comfortable, unless you manage to turn back the clock 30 years.

And yes, people were smaller when that truck was new. I once found a really nice 34 Ford truck that had been rodded. A well built turn key truck that I could pick up for a very good price. I went to look at it and managed to get in it, but was afraid then that they were going to have to remove the steering wheel so that I could get out! Of course, I passed on that deal.

I think we all can sympathize with ya Seth. It's that same deal in my uncles 48 F-1. It had a 3rd row seat in it and he wanted an original, so we found 1 and we re-did it completely, all new everything so the only original part is the frame. And while he says he likes it, I HATE IT! It puts me to close to the wheel and it won't go any further back. I was actually thinking of gutting the back and going with a thinner foam that was more dense but thinner, but that would maybe gain us between 3/8 to 1/2 inch. A lot of work for little gain. The problem with the seat that was in it was it was to narrow so 2 guys sat shoulder to shoulder but you both barely had your butt in full contact. Sheesh!! But it was so thin, it gave you more space to the wheel. And the original has terribly soft springs so you sink into the seat, you don't ride on this seat. Sorry - not much help. Just my experience.

See if you can find a pair of Fiero buckets. They're narrower than most, have great support, and sit really low so adapting them to the truck should be EZ.

We're both pretty stuck on keeping it a bench seat, I know buckets would probably be more comfortable, but it just doesn't look right to me. We're going to get it recovered in cloth one of these years, maybe they can do something with the butt pad then. From what I can tell and from what I'm hearing, it is what it is, I guess the older I get, more I don't mind getting out every hour and half to stretch my legs anyway.

Try these to see if padding is the issue;
https://www.frugalhotspot.com/2018/0...-seat-cushion/

Originally Posted by 36 sedan

Try these to see if padding is the issue;
https://www.frugalhotspot.com/2018/0...-seat-cushion/

Oh no, old people pads! I'll check them out, I always can slip them under the seat vinyl.