Newest 34 is here, and the fun begins

Now that is exactly how I want the seat done in the T Roadster Don and I will be saving that photo with the one of the seat in the grey '32 Roadster Tim did for you so that the trim chap that gets to do mine knows exactly what I want. Interesting points also from you and Roger as I hadn't noticed so will go back and have a look but in saying that, Tim must have years of experience in the Auto Upholstery arena and having been your number one trimmer for many cars, I don't think he would want to place his testicles under the scissors by screwing up a trim job for you or anybody.

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Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Now that is exactly how I want the seat done in the T Roadster Don and I will be saving that photo with the one of the seat in the grey '32 Roadster Tim did for you so that the trim chap that gets to do mine knows exactly what I want. Interesting points also from you and Roger as I hadn't noticed so will go back and have a look but in saying that, Tim must have years of experience in the Auto Upholstery arena and having been your number one trimmer for many cars, I don't think he would want to place his testicles under the scissors by screwing up a trim job for you or anybody.

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Thanx Mark.
The trick is to get yer butt as low as possible, then kick the seat back @ a comfortable angle. Then cut the foam to support yer legs then do the back last for the depth (adding the lumbar helps also) Just remember yer not supporting your upper back but the lower. Sit in yer daily and you'll see that yer shoulder area hardly touch's the seat. Ole trick Ron Mangus (Probably 1 of the best custom trimmers in the US) taught me years ago.

It's done Pick it up in the am. Not bad for 8 days in and out

It's done and home ready 4 a new owner

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but kicking the seat bottom up at the knees like that cuts off the blood flow to my lower legs and makes them ache after just a short time behind the wheel, particularly with a manual trans. Worst stock seat to do that was a Corvair when I was a kid and I never forgot it.

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Originally Posted by techinspector1

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but kicking the seat bottom up at the knees like that cuts off the blood flow to my lower legs and makes them ache after just a short time behind the wheel, particularly with a manual trans. Worst stock seat to do that was a Corvair when I was a kid and I never forgot it.

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Thats U techinspector, I've driven x country many times in 32,33,34's with a seat setup like this and never had an issue. I'm 6'3" with 34" long legs size 12 shoe and 230LBs and as said never had a problem. R U short?

6'-0" / 32 / 12 / 210

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That seat style thing really comes down to experience. I'm about the same size as Richard and find a thigh bolster more comfortable, but suspect that would depend on the rest of the seat configuration. For years I'd heard folks rave about a Tea's Design seat that has that same pronounced thigh bolster as well as a pronounced lumbar bulge. I finally tried a ride on one of them and found that the lumbar bulge started causing me grief after only about 20 minutes of ride time. We're each built differently, and maybe some have had other lifestyle issues that result in back "problems", so I don't take others experiences as replicable to mine.

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Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

That seat style thing really comes down to experience. I'm about the same size as Richard and find a thigh bolster more comfortable, but suspect that would depend on the rest of the seat configuration. For years I'd heard folks rave about a Tea's Design seat that has that same pronounced thigh bolster as well as a pronounced lumbar bulge. I finally tried a ride on one of them and found that the lumbar bulge started causing me grief after only about 20 minutes of ride time. We're each built differently, and maybe some have had other lifestyle issues that result in back "problems", so I don't take others experiences as replicable to mine.

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Bob, have had a bad back since the 70's (had a car fall on me) and after Ron Mangus showed me tricks to set a seat up I've never had a problem with comfort on the "Long Hauls". I do agree a Tea's seat is all wrong for the long haul.

I would think that the placement of the pedals, transmission hump and whether the floor area has a foot rest for the left unused foot all comes into the it. I like the seat and trim job that Tim has done and in those last photos, one can see how the door card is finished to break a flat area with the insert. Looks damn cool to me.

I agree with the above. With a chopped top the seat needs to be designed with visibility over the hood for a given driver. Comfort for the long haul is one consideration but visibility for a given height of the driver is also important. My Chrsyler-desgned minivan middle seat is quite comfortable and the right width for an early Ford body but the critical height has to do with being able to see traffic lights at an intersection with just a 2" chop as well as long range view on the highway. This compromise is critical for a chopped top and will be different for every driver unless you have a very fancy adjustable mechanism. Your seat (and the rest of the car) looks GREAT but is the visibility optimum near and far?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientst/teen rodder

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Originally Posted by Don Shillady

I agree with the above. With a chopped top the seat needs to be designed with visibility over the hood for a given driver. Comfort for the long haul is one consideration but visibility for a given height of the driver is also important. My Chrsyler-desgned minivan middle seat is quite comfortable and the right width for an early Ford body but the critical height has to do with being able to see traffic lights at an intersection with just a 2" chop as well as long range view on the highway. This compromise is critical for a chopped top and will be different for every driver unless you have a very fancy adjustable mechanism. Your seat (and the rest of the car) looks GREAT but is the visibility optimum near and far?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientst/teen rodder

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Very well stated Don. @ 6'3" my line of sight is right in the middle of the windshield (where it should be) no problem seeing out across the hood or traffic lights. If the traffic light visibility is an issue you can always put a prismatic @ the top. In a roadster makes no difference unless the top is on.

I always thought you just put a small fuel tank in the uncomfortable cars, makes you get out and stretch more often while your filling up the tank!

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Originally Posted by Matthyj

I always thought you just put a small fuel tank in the uncomfortable cars, makes you get out and stretch more often while your filling up the tank!

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32/33/34's are NOT uncomfortable if ya set em up right. Have logged over 1/2 million miles in em over the years, and yes usually have 11 to 15 gallon tanks. Do the math 11 gals @ 19 MPG = 209 miles, so around 175 ya stop and top off. That's about 2 1/2 hrs drivin. Hell I get outta my new Dodge truck to stretch after about that far. So what the big deal with guys wanting a big tank in a hot rod? It about the journey, not the destination in a Hot Rod.
How many on here drive their Hot Rod more than 5000 miles a year anyway. Not too many I suspect. Most are "ZIP code Hotrodders" to me.

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Originally Posted by DA34GUY

How many on here drive their Hot Rod more than 5000 miles a year anyway. Not too many I suspect. Most are "ZIP code Hotrodders" to me.

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Your "ZIP code Hotrodder" term makes it sound like it's a negative thing. Just like seat structure and comfort, there's a lot of different circumstances and it's not a one size fits all world, at least in my opinion. What fits for you might not be right for another guy, but that doesn't make the other guy wrong, again in my opinion.