ferretfixer Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 Good Morning Erstwhile fellow Members! I have just acquired a very nice example of a Willys MB. This is the third Jeep I have owned over the years. It has been 20 years since I last owned one, & I have discovered an 'Alarming Difficulty'!...….. 😨 Do these Vehicles 'Shrink' with age? Because my Attention got VERY focused when I 'slipped' behind the Steering Wheel!... I recall getting in the drivers seat VERY easily. But upon receiving the Vehicle & climbing in. I was 'Disconcerted' to discover that the Steering Wheel protruded into my Stomach!..... Although I can Obviously drive the Jeep. It is not as 'comfortable' to drive like this! As all Owners & other affectionardo's will know already. There is no facility to Adjust the drivers seat forwards, or indeed rearwards. My question being: How have others who have encountered this problem overcome it. WITHOUT having to Cut into ANY of the Body Tub rear wheel arches? There may be a simple 'conversion' that I m not aware of? I look forward to your advice ( Not on Dieting though! ) 😁 Cheers! Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Johns Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 (edited) MB/GPW Jeeps are one size fits all, as you say apart from cutting a notch into the wheelbox to move the seat back there is no other way to improve driving position, I have owned Jeeps that the driving position was different it was because the backrest of the seat was bent back a bit that gave bit more room, perhaps try some spacer washers under the two front mounts that would tilt the seat back a bit, thin backrest padding too. The later CJ Jeeps had a notch pressed into the dashboard to raise the angle of the steering column Edited July 11, 2019 by Nick Johns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted July 11, 2019 Author Share Posted July 11, 2019 Yes that is a couple of good points Nick, Thanks. Also a slightly smaller steering wheel would do the trick. But it's finding one that 'Looks' right!..... Cheers! M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 You could cut the seat frame where the side rails curve upward and extend them perhaps an inch or two without cutting into the wheel arch. Mine shown below is standard, but leg length, not belly size is my problem. Since I have very long lower and upper legs compared to my torso size, I drive with my thighs almost parallel to the steering wheel to get my feet on the pedals, with all my weight taken by my spine and coccyx, rather than supported by my thighs. I have to climb in putting one knee under the steering column and sliding across because my knees extend too far beyond the column once seated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted July 11, 2019 Author Share Posted July 11, 2019 I was thinking along the lines of a 'quick fix', by bending the seat rails forward approx an inch. Or making A couple of short extention plates, bolted to the floor front seat mounts. And then into the original drilled floor holes, to push the seat back that extra bit. But still Ridgely Secured? Or washers added to give a little extra rake, as He also suggested. Washers would be the better Option I think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon king Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 Look on the bright side, stick your stomach out and you’ve got cruise control. Been there; got the XXL t-shirt. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbayonetww2 Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 12 hours ago, Jessie The Jeep said: You could cut the seat frame where the side rails curve upward and extend them perhaps an inch or two without cutting into the wheel arch. Mine shown below is standard, but leg length, not belly size is my problem. Since I have very long lower and upper legs compared to my torso size, I drive with my thighs almost parallel to the steering wheel to get my feet on the pedals, with all my weight taken by my spine and coccyx, rather than supported by my thighs. I have to climb in putting one knee under the steering column and sliding across because my knees extend too far beyond the column once seated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbayonetww2 Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 Hi, Had the same problem myself. I modified the seat and found the seeting position comfortable. Fate had it the I had a health problem and lost a lot of weight, so I bought a replacement. I've still got the modified seat if your interested. Wouldn't want much for it, but being a odd shape, i'm not sure how much shipping would be. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigduke6 Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Maybe time to lay off the doughnuts ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted July 12, 2019 Author Share Posted July 12, 2019 2 hours ago, bigduke6 said: Maybe time to lay off the doughnuts ? Geoff, Ill have you know. I havent eaten Doughnuts for over 3 years. I did change my eating habits a year ago. & have lost 2.5 Stone though! However, it's still not enough...… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted July 12, 2019 Author Share Posted July 12, 2019 (edited) 11 hours ago, welshbayonetww2 said: Hi, Had the same problem myself. I modified the seat and found the seeting position comfortable. Fate had it the I had a health problem and lost a lot of weight, so I bought a replacement. I've still got the modified seat if your interested. Wouldn't want much for it, but being a odd shape, i'm not sure how much shipping would be. Hello Buddy! I would be most interested it getting that seat. Shipping would be VERY easy via Hermes. How much would you like for it? If you go onto the Hermes website. There is a facility to give you a price for carriage. When you put the weight of an item in. Thank you so much. Go to PM if you wish on this? Unless you are coming to W&P this year? In which case I could pay you & collect the seat there? Edited July 12, 2019 by ferretfixer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbayonetww2 Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 pm sent 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasshopper Posted July 15, 2019 Share Posted July 15, 2019 Recently had an older chap (over 6ft 2) sit in my M151A2 which has greater leg room than a Jeep due to the lack of chassis. Unfortunately he found he was unable to operate the clutch pedal due to his girth preventing his leg from coming up far enough! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted July 15, 2019 Author Share Posted July 15, 2019 A snippet of info. I heard that a WWII Era Steering Wheel. Is a smaller Diameter to a Hotchkiss one? Can anyone confirm this? Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monty2 Posted July 15, 2019 Share Posted July 15, 2019 (edited) it is not the jeep shrinking it is you belly slowly extending through the years :-) Edited July 15, 2019 by monty2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted July 15, 2019 Author Share Posted July 15, 2019 (edited) 4 hours ago, monty2 said: it is not the jeep shrinking it is you belly slowly extending through the years 🙂 I thought my Initial post was stating this, but in an 'Amusing' way? Obviously everyone else got the Humour in it....You obviously didnt pick up on it? Must be a Dutch thing?... 🙄 Edited July 15, 2019 by ferretfixer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 On 7/15/2019 at 7:56 PM, ferretfixer said: I thought my Initial post was stating this, but in an 'Amusing' way? Obviously everyone else got the Humour in it....You obviously didnt pick up on it? Must be a Dutch thing?... 🙄 I am Dutch too and did get it.☺️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted July 29, 2019 Author Share Posted July 29, 2019 On 7/17/2019 at 3:47 PM, Enigma said: I am Dutch too and did get it.☺️ He was not correct. It is my Clothes that have shrunk!...…… 😎 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 7 hours ago, ferretfixer said: He was not correct. It is my Clothes that have shrunk!...…… 😎 Could have been, especially when washing wool on high temps. 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1950 Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Washing the jeep to much makes it shrink. Or leaving it out in the rain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted July 30, 2019 Author Share Posted July 30, 2019 11 hours ago, john1950 said: Washing the jeep to much makes it shrink. Or leaving it out in the rain. Cold weather dosent help either, so Im told!.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 I was wondering. Couldn't it be possible to remove seat backrest altogether and affix something similar directly to the wheel arch behind the seat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted August 4, 2019 Share Posted August 4, 2019 On 7/29/2019 at 7:20 PM, john1950 said: Washing the jeep to much makes it shrink. Or leaving it out in the rain. The rain has made most of my Jeep disappear not shrink. I have a little floor left and lost about 30% of the sides. It it were smaller I’d have less welding to do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1950 Posted August 4, 2019 Share Posted August 4, 2019 You could make a micro jeep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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