87 Teach's Pet

The biggest problem I have with my 87 T/A is that I can't get comfortable on long drives. The seats hurt my lower back because I have set the seat so far back, to make my long legs comfortable, that I have to lean forward to use the steering wheel which puts a strain on my lower back and makes it sore. OR, if I don't move the seat closer so my arms are comfortable and back doesn't hurt, my knees are bent and stick up so high that they smack the steering wheel.
I can't get both my arms and legs comfortable. I have acquired a set of inflatable lumbar seats from a wrecked GTA, but also want to install a telescopic steering column so the steering wheel doesnt' bang my knees.
Anyone ever modify their existing column or install a telescopic column?
If so, what was the column out of, what modifications were needed to install it?
I was wondering if a mid 80's C4 Vette column might be close enough to make work by changing the mounting plate which attaches to the firewall, possibly moving the under dash mounting bracket, but having the rest be close enough to be able to have the wiring be correct.
Hope to hear to some news on this dilema I currently working on.
TEACH


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Diabolical

how tall are you?

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87 Camaro LT
bone stock 305 w/ 700r4 0-60: 3 minutes
mods to come:
ground effects
93 camaro seats
99 camaro center console
91 z28 rims
white 145mph iroc gauges

87 Teach's Pet

I am 5' 11".

9D1BURD

Heck, i am 6'4" and i actually am comfortable in my 91. fits me like a glove

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1991 Firebird
3.1 Liter
T-Tops

scott's85T/A

I,m 6.4 too and am usually comfortable in my T/A.but would like a little more knee room.Dose anyone with 4th gen seats know if you lose any leg room with them ,,I'm thinking of getting some but would hate to lose leg room.

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okfoz

I was thinking about making some pieces for my car to move back my seat about 2 inches. What I would do is take a piece of rather heavy sheetmetal, something about .100" thick, and drill 2 sets of holes in them, 2 inches apart. make 2 of them, and have one from the front & one for the rear. have them the width of the seat track.

The front holes you would leave alone, the back holes you would stuff bolt through & weld it to the underside of the sheetmetal. Then you bolt the bracket on your existing holes, & with the new bolts you would place your seat.

As for getting a steering wheel that is closer to you, my wheel from a Bonneville, which looks almost identical to an 88-89 firebird wheel is about 1" closer to the driver.

John

John

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G O D BLESS AMERICA

http://www.3rdgenformula.com
87 Formula 5.1 TPI Auto Modified (Yellow/Black)

87 Formula TPI (5 Speed) Yellow/Gray STOCK

14.8sec 1967 Buick Riviera
1990 Buick Riviera (driver)
83 Camaro
83 T/A

JPrevost

I'm also 6'4" and I fit perfect. A little tight with the djsexay kicks but that might just be because I have a size 14 foot! On long trips I take off my shoe and fits right under without hitting the brake.

Jza

I'm 6'2" and fit fine. Maybe you're "too short", not "too tall"! lol j/k

Maybe you should see if you can get a hold of some power 6-way adjustable seats.

87 Teach's Pet

Guys,
Regardless of how tall I am, when my arms are adjusted to be comfortable, my knees bang the steering wheel. If I adjust the steering wheel up the angle hurts my wrist. The point is that I need to get the steering wheel closer to me, so my knees don't bang the steering wheel.
Just this past weekend, I installed a GTA power lumbar seat, which I added to my already existing 6 way power seat track. The power seat helps alittle and the lumbar support seems like it will help, but my knees still are tight to the steering wheel.

If you have ever driven an early C3 Corvette with a tilt telescopic steering column, then you would know and understand the kind of comfort and room and I am trying to acheive in my F-body. Even though I prefer to drive my tri-power Stingray over my fuelie T/A, it's not that practical, or smart for the matter, to drive a plastic classic in the winter, hence my T/A is the source of my problem and winter blues. Not to mention the withdrawl I go through from not being hypnotized by the sweet sound of the Stingrays chambered exhaust side pipes.

So, can anyone answer my request for information about about a telescopic column installation?

I would be surprised if I am out in left feild all by myself on this one, but I was a loner on the Vette forum asking for small block tri-power help, so I can handle going the distance alone and share my knowledge with "ya'll" when I get to the other side so no one else has to walk the firery path by themselves.
Be cool
"TEACH"
86 & 87 T/A
73 Stingray
55 Chevy 2Dr Sdn & 2Dr Wgn
40 Ford Cpe.