mreid, I was thinking about doing that but it may be the apples to apples thing. Some companies did not respond exactly to the questions I asked. This is the e-mail I sent to the companies:
I am looking for my next project . Can you give me some measurements of your 427 cobra?
Length and width of the cockpit at the top of the cowl.
Height from the floor to the top of the door at the latch point without carpet.
Length from the brake pedal to the intersecting point on the floor where it meets the back panel without carpet.
Height from the floor to the bottom of the dash.
When I got into this and after seeing the Youtube video Lone Star did for me I realized I should have asked for some additional measurements.
LS427CockpitMeasurments.mp4 - YouTube
One thing that I just remembered, a lot also depends on how the body is mounted to the frame. I have a similar frame to what Barry is building but not with his new modifications. My body comes down on the frame more than my friends Kirkham, about 2" down. So the body on the Kirkham actually sets higher on the frame than some. Plus the fact that the Kirkhams rear cowl ramps up higher and quicker than mine. I give that as an example becasue the fit in the Kirkham is better than my car and from looking at the others measurements, better than most. So, it's not just the frame, or if the frame drops where your are seated, but also how the body is mounted on the frame. I have been saving pictures of all the manufactures frames I can to compare and see how that affects the seating. It's interesting to me how it all comes together. For example may friends Kirkham roll bars are 14" high at the center of the rear cowl, mine is 15". But from the floor mine is actually a 1/2" lower than his. From the floor to the cowl at the center of the seat his is 1 1/2" higher than mine.
Where the body mounts on the frame also affects wheel opening design. You can see how they vary a little on ERAs site.
Compare car profiles
Good seating design appears to be a little here and a little there and it all works. It appears on this issue, some few may have it right on, but most don't have it all coming together just right. It is amazing to me that some of these cars have been built for sooo many years without trying to improve on this seating height issue. Then there are all the other design and quality issues. I think if more buyers ask the companies about this issue more might try to improve on theirs.
John and G-Pete thanks for the pictures. I really respect guys that do their own fabrication.
My evaluation continues!
Wayne