Cars House

Hi all, just picked up a 79 CJ7 and was wondering if anyone could give me tips on how to make it more drivable for a short person :)

I'm 5'-4" and find that with the seat fully slid foreword the steering wheel is basically in my lap and still cant reach the pedals without a pillow..funny it may be but I am being serious.

There is a riser under the seat and it is leaning back. I plan on working on the seat and steering column issues and ideas on how to go about this would be greatly appreciated.

...please don't bash me to bad...

Thanks all,

-Keith
Sell the seven and get a five... haha Im the opposite in my CJ5. My girlfriends sister in around 5' and she has to have a car that the pedals move or she has to have pedal extensions. What you could do, instead of messing with seats and the steering, is lop of the pedals and modify them so that the pedal is off of the original swing arm but extended towards you some. It makes sense in my head but that happens alot and other people dont get it...

Let me know if i should draw a picture or something to clear it up.

Hales
Maybe new seats and a smaller steering wheel. Or cut and weld the seat riser so that it is shorter.
I have to admit, I know lots of ways to do it the other way around, but this is the first-time I've seen this come up where there's too much room!

the riser you describe should be stock, but a pic (or two) never hurts.

I assume you don't have tilt steering?

Hoss
I don't know much about 7's but make sure you have power steering if you're thinking of getting a smaller steering wheel.
Best I could do for pictures

http://www.t2drafting.com/Jeep/

I thought about modifing the pedals and riser but didn't want to go at it without some feedback.
well, your seats suck, (for starters):D

do they slide all the way forward? sometimes longer bolts or lack of use can prevent that.

second, check for cracks in the steel around the mounting base/ especially the back bolts. this can cause the seats to lean back too far. yours appear OK in the photo. I would not recommend shortening the brackets, at 5'4", you want to see as much over the hood as you can.

third, you could install spacers/longer bolts in the back to help bring the seat up, so that your not practicing the 'gangster-lean'

finally for the leg clearance, your going to want either;
1. smaller diameter after-market wheel (if you have PS); or
2. tilt column

Hoss
I literally just got the Jeep yesterday, I planned on replacing the seats (along with everything else) I just didn't want to drop a load of cash now if it was going to leave me with the same "reach" condition.

Is there a way to shorten the column to allow more clearance if I do tilt the seat forward?

And again thanks for your help !
I thin that shortening the column would be too much work and probably cost a lot but im not an expert. Id think since your solution only needs to be shot term, you should fab up some extensions. could be free if you have enough materials already. And sport those until you can get a tilt column.
also, a new wheel with less 'dish' would/could hep, along with the smaller diameter.

Hoss
Thats a good idea....I could save 2 to 3" that way. Do you happen to know the "dish" and diameter of an OEM wheel?
Thats a good idea....I could save 2 to 3" that way. Do you happen to know the "dish" and diameter of an OEM wheel?


you don't want oem, you'll want flat aftermarket, probably 13"-15"

Hoss
At least your driver's seat is adjustable. Mine doesn't slide forward or backward, and luckily it's at just the right spot. :)
Hey, I had the same exact problem. I have a 1983 CJ7 and I am 5'4" and I had to sit on the edge of the seat to get to the clutch and pedals with the seat all the way forward and fixxed seats. My fix cost me $10 and "some getting used to". I bought an outdoor square pillow and slid it in under my neoprene seat covers and taped it to the seat. That pushed me 2 - 3" forward and I could get to the pedals easier. Then I just had to get used to the clutch and how far I had to push it in to engage it. If U can I would have the clutch adjusted so that it engages "high" instead of "low" (which makes you have to extend your foot to the floor). Another tip would be to play with the throttle linkage and return spring to let the gas pedal out as far as possible. Other than that you could buy a Grant steering wheel which is shallower than the stock one and has a smaller radius. The steering wheel is like $30 - $50 for a cheap one (make sure you get a steering wheel removing kit and DON'T throw it away or you will end up buying two of them like me!). I also added the removable steering wheel kit (~$120) so that my CJ couldn't be stolen (I live in Las Vegas). I hope this helps! Good luck!

Dustin.
If you know a good welder have them cut a wedge out of the clutch and brake pedals bend to close the gap and weld everything back up.
This will move the pedals forward and make them easier to reach.

Make sure they are good welders first though, you don't want those welds o fail.

Dwayne
I ended up scabbing on a few pieces of angle to risers to scoot
the set forward and take out the rearward lean.

http://www.t2drafting.com/Jeep/IMG_4795.JPG

I put it in and works good, still have to get the pedals closer
but it will work for now.

Thanks to all that responded.

-Keith