Jim, I remember the Berkley, and yes it was a very small car. I will
keep the lists advised of any success I make, with the seat change being
the first to try. I now have 2 different seat companies with different
style seats, within a 50 mile radius, that I will try in my car.
The manufacturer is interested in the results.
One list member wrote that if you heat and move the brake and clutch
pedal, that the metal must be re anealed to provide the streangth
necessary. This is a good reminder on any piece of metal that gets a
lot of stress.
James Barrett wrote:
>
> At 07:05 PM 3/13/2001 -0500, you wrote:
> ...
> >I am 6', with a 30" inseam, and my legs are really too long to be
> >comfortable in the car. When I sit, I have to splay my legs out,
> >instead of a normal straight forward position of the legs.
> ...
> >Larry
>
> Larry,
> May I suggest trying to drive a Berkley? A Berkley (British
> of course) has 3 feet from seat back to firewall. Seats are 3/4" foam
> with vinal covering. I am only 5'9" and with my Berkley I drove with my
> knees within 1 foot of my ears and the steering wheel rubbing
> my belly. After you drive a Berkley, a Tiger's space will feel
> like a Mack truck's space. The 1952 Berkley, (all fiberglass) was 8 feet
> long, 4 feet wide, 2 foot tall (excluding windshield) and weighed
> 750 pounds. Front wheel drive too. 1 1/2 turns lock to lock.
> 12" wheels about 3" wide. Absolute winner for every autocross in its class.
> Looked like a baby Cobra long before Cobras came along. I did put
> a 427 in the Berkley long before Shelby thought about putting one
> in a Cobra. (My 427 was a 4 cylinder 27 Hp Crosley motor 9-)).
>
> I moved my Tiger's firewall back 6 to 7 inches to clear a
> 351C. For a while the gas peddle was a pain ( literally ) because I
> could not move back far enough. I then modified the firewall again
> near the bottom to allow more foot space while still clearing the
> 351C which has a 1 1/2" set back. My seat is as far back as I can
> get it. It bumps into the sheet metal covering the front of the
> leaf spring of the rear end. If you find a seat that works well for
> you, let us all know.
>
> James Barrett Tiger II 351C and others
|