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BlueWeasel
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2018
Posts: 29
Location: Bellaire, TX
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 Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2018 3:37 pm Post subject: Short driver woes |
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I've got a '68 that I'm restoring from the ground up. If you object with me not restoring it to stock then just scroll on past because Tiki Bus is gonna be customized to our wants and needs.
Seats and floor panels still need to be replaced.
I'm 5' and my wife is 4'11" and due to human bodies being human bodies I reach (where the pedals should be) just fine but the best she could probably do is pretty short drives.
I understand that the seat track will help with this a bit (We've still got to decide on what seats we're replacing stock with).
I understand we can use a smaller steering wheel to help with seat travel.
What are the options for an adjustable one though? Shorter shaft? Tilt?
Somewhere in the middle of this I realize that the shifter is going to have to be adjusted as well. |
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Starbucket
Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2007
Posts: 4026
Location: WA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2018 3:43 pm Post subject: Re: Short driver woes |
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| Make or buy some thicker peddle pads and leave the rest alone. A smaller wheel will make steering harder. |
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jakokombi
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 779
Location: Milwaukee
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| Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2018 4:25 pm Post subject: Re: Short driver woes |
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They make a shift rod extension that bends rearward. I don't know if that would be at all helpful to you, but I think I have one around here that you could have for the cost of shipping.
How about a thick backrest cushion to move you forward some on the seat?
I remember my sister driving mom's '68. At five foot two she had to stand up for a shift into reverse. I find this funny because at six foot six I get out and walk around rather than use the walkthrough. 
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85 Motherfukinvanagon
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BlueWeasel
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2018
Posts: 29
Location: Bellaire, TX
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| Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2018 5:15 pm Post subject: Re: Short driver woes |
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| jakokombi wrote: |
They make a shift rod extension that bends rearward. I don't know if that would be at all helpful to you, but I think I have one around here that you could have for the cost of shipping.
How about a thick backrest cushion to move you forward some on the seat?
I remember my sister driving mom's '68. At five foot two she had to stand up for a shift into reverse. I find this funny because at six foot six I get out and walk around rather than use the walkthrough. |
I'd gladly pay the shipping to have an option on hand... |
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jakokombi
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 779
Location: Milwaukee
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| Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2018 7:40 pm Post subject: Re: Short driver woes |
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Ok, let me find it. 
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70 Sunroof Kombi
85 Motherfukinvanagon
73 Thing
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Tcash
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011
Posts: 12844
Location: San Jose, California, USA
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Tcash
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011
Posts: 12844
Location: San Jose, California, USA
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Tcash
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011
Posts: 12844
Location: San Jose, California, USA
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jakokombi
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 779
Location: Milwaukee
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| Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2018 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: Short driver woes |
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...Ok, found it, this one is straight, no bend.
P.M. sent.
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70 Sunroof Kombi
85 Motherfukinvanagon
73 Thing
72 Baja |
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Volswagon
Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2009
Posts: 299
Location: Knoxville, TN
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| Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2018 6:27 pm Post subject: Re: Short driver woes |
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I find that Japanese vehicles are better suited for smaller people.
Germans tended to be taller.
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I know the pieces fit, cos I watched them fall away.
Wanna hear God laugh? Just talk about your plans.
'75 Bus https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=697183&highlight= |
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BlueWeasel
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2018
Posts: 29
Location: Bellaire, TX
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| Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2018 6:29 pm Post subject: Re: Short driver woes |
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| Volswagon wrote: |
I find that Japanese vehicles are better suited for smaller people.
Germans tended to be taller. |
My solution is going to be using Japanese car parts to resolve the issue.
Custom dash, tilt steering, and maybe even seats from a Subaru...plus engine, transmission and so on. |
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SGKent 
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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| Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2018 6:42 pm Post subject: Re: Short driver woes |
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| BlueWeasel wrote: |
| Volswagon wrote: |
I find that Japanese vehicles are better suited for smaller people.
Germans tended to be taller. |
My solution is going to be using Japanese car parts to resolve the issue.
Custom dash, tilt steering, and maybe even seats from a Subaru...plus engine, transmission and so on. |
absolutely - keep going on those parts and it will look, feel and ride like this. What you really need to decide is how much money you want to put into your VW bus. It may be that you want to buy one that needs some work and really customize it - or it may be more economical just to get one of these:
btw - my ex-wife was just over 5' and had no problem driving our bus.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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BlueWeasel
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2018
Posts: 29
Location: Bellaire, TX
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| Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 6:05 am Post subject: Re: Short driver woes |
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| SGKent wrote: |
absolutely - keep going on those parts and it will look, feel and ride like this. What you really need to decide is how much money you want to put into your VW bus. It may be that you want to buy one that needs some work and really customize it - or it may be more economical just to get one of these:
btw - my ex-wife was just over 5' and had no problem driving our bus. |
I'm at 5' and I have no problem. 4'11" for her seems to be a huge difference. And yeah, it's (conceptually) trending to be Subaru inside a VW Bus shell...but that's okay with me. The '68 is structurally sound enough that I'm currently on a better track cost wise than some of the other higher priced ones to then customize.
I look forward to the finished product, but the journey to get there is going to teach me a lot. When I take a pic of anything but the dash or engine compartment the purists...I think... will applaud my vision. |
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