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Just been out with 001ben, no leg room..help
Jasmcauley - 19/3/14 at 10:46 PM

I went to see 001bens r1 Stuart Taylor

With intentions of leaving a deposit.

The only problem being I'm a little over 6"1 and have quite long legs

I couldn't get my leg on the brakes with squashing against the steering wheel.

I'm gutted as it was a lovely car.


I was meant to go see an mk indy blade, but as it's 4 hours away I'm worried the same issue will arise.


Am I correct and saying the mk indy and Stuart Taylor are the same size

Ben_Copeland - 19/3/14 at 10:52 PM

What seats did he have? Might make a difference to leg room

BenB - 19/3/14 at 10:57 PM

Seats make a massive difference. I have a ST and I am 6ft4 with everything in the legs. Pair of Kirky layback seats and its all good

BenB - 19/3/14 at 10:58 PM

Ps is this the "ben" thread or something

Ben_Copeland - 19/3/14 at 11:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by BenB
Ps is this the "ben" thread or something


Too many for my liking..... And I was the first to join lol

Jasmcauley - 19/3/14 at 11:19 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Ben_Copeland
What seats did he have? Might make a difference to leg room


Jk composite?

Ben_Copeland - 19/3/14 at 11:27 PM

Were the seats right back? As benb says he's just as tall as you and can fit with his seats

[Edited on 19/3/14 by Ben_Copeland]

Jasmcauley - 19/3/14 at 11:31 PM

Seats were as far back as they would go. The passenger seat went back slightly further, the wheel was the biggest issue, my knees were hitting it.

I genuinely couldn't have driven it home if I wanted to

phelpsa - 19/3/14 at 11:45 PM

What size is the wheel? I'm 6'2" and have no trouble with the Aries / ST chassis with a 10" Mountney.

Jasmcauley - 19/3/14 at 11:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by phelpsa
What size is the wheel? I'm 6'2" and have no trouble with the Aries / ST chassis with a 10" Mountney.


www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stuart-Taylor-Aries-Motorsport-R1-Turbo-Kitcar-not-MK-/131143377869?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1e88c123cd

Not sure on wheel size..

Thanks all

Browny - 20/3/14 at 05:23 AM

As far as I am aware, Stuart Taylors have more in common with the original locost concept, thus a smaller chassis. I am 6'4", I've had two MK's, they were designed to accommodate standard Sierra running gear and thus the bigger driver, be it taller or wider.

Best person to talk to is Paul Fisher, he's a approx 6'4", he has had both a Stuart Taylor and numerous MK Indys. When looking for kits years ago, I found the Stuart Taylor to be too small, thus ended up buying a kit from MK.

snapper - 20/3/14 at 05:59 AM

If there is space behind seat to rear bulkhead the seat can be moved back
If not the pedal box can be moved forward
There are plants of people on here that do fit

jeffw - 20/3/14 at 06:22 AM

Looking at the Ebay pics the wheel looks to be a 320mm Momo or similar. You can certainly get smaller wheels (250 or 270) but you are likely to need a new boss as they will be motorsport wheels. The other thing to look at is the angle of the seat, if your knees are the issue then a more upright seating position will help. An hour with some tools should get you comfortable...

scudderfish - 20/3/14 at 06:22 AM

I had a similar problem with my Fury when I bought it, although not to the point it was undrivable. I just raised the steering column a bit.

daveb666 - 20/3/14 at 06:53 AM

I raised the steering column of my locost when I bought it as my knees hit the wheel too.

I'm 6'4 and have a locosr based on the Ron champion book.

twybrow - 20/3/14 at 08:29 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Jasmcauley
I went to see 001bens r1 Stuart Taylor

With intentions of leaving a deposit.

The only problem being I'm a little over 6"1 and have quite long legs

I couldn't get my leg on the brakes with squashing against the steering wheel.

I'm gutted as it was a lovely car.


I was meant to go see an mk indy blade, but as it's 4 hours away I'm worried the same issue will arise.


Am I correct and saying the mk indy and Stuart Taylor are the same size


I have a Stuart Taylor, and I am 6 ' 6" with a 38" inside leg - so it is not the basic car that is the problem...

- pedal box - floor mounted gives extra legroom
- seats - I have GRP seats, on runners, set back as far as they go (although not actually against the bulkhead)
- steer wheel - small enough to get my knees under, as well as passing my hands around
- steering column - sat highish to create more knee room
- shoes - where small shoes that dont take up precious room around the pedals

bimbleuk - 20/3/14 at 09:42 AM

Just a bout every car I own unless it has a decent adjustment on the column angle. I bring the wheel back with a boss extension to allow me to straight my legs more.

Depending on the boss you should have a choice from the Demon Tweeks catalogue for example. You might have to consider steering effort if you go much smaller than a 300mm wheel.

In my Striker I had the whole pedal box raised to help with my big feet too! The seat was a composite shell type back against the bulkhead.

[Edited on 20-3-14 by bimbleuk]

INDY BIRD - 20/3/14 at 09:57 AM

Link to Ian's car for sale as you can see Paul fisher had this car and adapted it to fit him and he is around 6 ft 4 and made it work with these seats and a D shape wheel,

Pics may help on adver

Cheers

Link
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=189468

russbost - 20/3/14 at 10:35 AM

I'd say the wheel is 13" or thereabouts so if you swap to a 10" wheel you'll immediately gain 1 & 1/2" knee room.

If you like everything else about the car I wouldn't let the issue stop you as you can always gain some extra legroom with a bit of thought

Jasmcauley - 20/3/14 at 11:35 AM

quote:
Originally posted by russbost
I'd say the wheel is 13" or thereabouts so if you swap to a 10" wheel you'll immediately gain 1 & 1/2" knee room.

If you like everything else about the car I wouldn't let the issue stop you as you can always gain some extra legroom with a bit of thought


I bloody loved the car but I wouldn't be able to get it home and it was very very tight.

I think I'll go see this MK on Saturday.

It has a D Steering wheel which will give me a little extra clearance.

the bottom of steering wheel to floor on bens was 360mm to give you an idea

twybrow - 20/3/14 at 01:38 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Jasmcauley
quote:
Originally posted by russbost
I'd say the wheel is 13" or thereabouts so if you swap to a 10" wheel you'll immediately gain 1 & 1/2" knee room.

If you like everything else about the car I wouldn't let the issue stop you as you can always gain some extra legroom with a bit of thought


I bloody loved the car but I wouldn't be able to get it home and it was very very tight.

I think I'll go see this MK on Saturday.

It has a D Steering wheel which will give me a little extra clearance.

the bottom of steering wheel to floor on bens was 360mm to give you an idea


Could you trailer it home? It depends how much you like the car/spec, but you will be able to fit into it with some choice changes... It is down to whether you want to find a car that fits you already, or whether you want to find one with th eright spec, that you can tweak to make your own...

As said before, I am taller than you, and I fit in my Stuart Taylor no problem.

Jasmcauley - 20/3/14 at 01:51 PM

I don't have a trailer unfortunately nor a vehicle with a tow bar.

I can see you point, I do think that there would be a bit of work on Bens to get it to fit.

Yes you are taller than me, BUT.... are you 80% legs as I am?

If I was in proportion I think i would be 6"12

twybrow - 20/3/14 at 01:56 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Jasmcauley
I don't have a trailer unfortunately nor a vehicle with a tow bar.

I can see you point, I do think that there would be a bit of work on Bens to get it to fit.

Yes you are taller than me, BUT.... are you 80% legs as I am?

If I was in proportion I think i would be 6"12


My inside leg is somewhere between 36-38"..... I cannot buy trousers off the shelf, I have to go to tall man/fat man shops!

It will never be as comfortable as my tin top, but I can happily drive for 2 hours at a time without needing to get out for a stretch.

BigLee - 20/3/14 at 06:38 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Jasmcauley
quote:
Originally posted by russbost
I'd say the wheel is 13" or thereabouts so if you swap to a 10" wheel you'll immediately gain 1 & 1/2" knee room.

If you like everything else about the car I wouldn't let the issue stop you as you can always gain some extra legroom with a bit of thought


I bloody loved the car but I wouldn't be able to get it home and it was very very tight.

I think I'll go see this MK on Saturday.

It has a D Steering wheel which will give me a little extra clearance.

the bottom of steering wheel to floor on bens was 360mm to give you an idea


I fitted a D steering wheel to my MNR for that reason. Great until you get to a corner! Even the slightest bend means the flat section is no longer playing to your advantage. As previously said, the adjustment in wheel size, wheel height, change of seat and wear racing shoes (I wore Vibram Five Fingers as I have huge feet) make all the difference. Take a small friend with you to pick it up!