Dropped centre dash (289FIA) - does it work OK for tall guys?

[tkb289]

Glen,

Bob, Peter and the crew ERA are very creative, great to work with and will likely come up with a solution for you. I realize you are in Australia, so a trip to New Britain, Connecticut for a 'fitting' is likely out of the question.

Easiest solution is to find an ERA nearby that has the setup you are looking for and asking the owner for a 'test sit'. Probably not many in your neighborhood … so here are some thoughts …

Putting the dash aside for a moment, a Kirkey bucket seat is a great place to start to get lower in the car and ERA has installed them in their cars.

The foot pedals can be move forward a bit as well, and I believe there is some adjustment in the steering column / wheel as well.

My suggestion is to order your car with the dash layout you want and ERA may very well be able to tweak it a bit to where it still looks correct, but will give you a bit more room.

At the same time however, order a bare FIA dash and have it shipped with the car, that will save on separate shipping costs, that would probably exceed the cost of the bare dash. That way once you have the car, and if you don't fit, then plan 'B' is to go with the FIA dash … same great car, with a period correct dash, it just gives you more room.

You will wind up with a spare dash, that you can hang up in your garage and it will make for a great conversation piece.

There would be some differences in the wiring harness and probably gauges as well, but that would be easier to ship and the guys at ERA are excellent at figuring these things out. I would also order the door pockets, that would give you a place to put stuff, important if you wind up with the FIA dash.

Hope this helps, I suspect Bob will comment soon with an expert opinion.

- Tim

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by tkb289

Glen,

Bob, Peter and the crew ERA are very creative, great to work with and will likely come up with a solution for you. I realize you are in Australia, so a trip to New Britain, Connecticut for a 'fitting' is likely out of the question.

Easiest solution is to find an ERA nearby that has the setup you are looking for and asking the owner for a 'test sit'. Probably not many in your neighborhood … so here are some thoughts …

Putting the dash aside for a moment, a Kirkey bucket seat is a great place to start to get lower in the car and ERA has installed them in their cars.

The foot pedals can be move forward a bit as well, and I believe there is some adjustment in the steering column / wheel as well.

My suggestion is to order your car with the dash layout you want and ERA may very well be able to tweak it a bit to where it still looks correct, but will give you a bit more room.

At the same time however, order a bare FIA dash and have it shipped with the car, that will save on separate shipping costs, that would probably exceed the cost of the bare dash. That way once you have the car, and if you don't fit, then plan 'B' is to go with the FIA dash … same great car, with a period correct dash, it just gives you more room.

You will wind up with a spare dash, that you can hang up in your garage and it will make for a great conversation piece.

There would be some differences in the wiring harness and probably gauges as well, but that would be easier to ship and the guys at ERA are excellent at figuring these things out. I would also order the door pockets, that would give you a place to put stuff, important if you wind up with the FIA dash.

Hope this helps, I suspect Bob will comment soon with an expert opinion.

- Tim

Thanks Tim. Elsewhere Bob had already volunteered that ERA had just done a dashboard that had the bottom edge raised by an inch. The floor can be dropped, and by losing the slides, it sounds as if the seat can go down enough to make a decent difference.
As far as Kirkey seats go, I have seen comments that they can be uncomfortable, lacking enough padding.....yes/no/maybe, anybody?
Good suggestion about the spare dash.
Glen

[jeffy]

Originally Posted by xb-60

As far as Kirkey seats go, I have seen comments that they can be uncomfortable, lacking enough padding.....yes/no/maybe, anybody?

I liked mine, snug but well padded and comfortable, but have only sat in it at ERA going "vroom, vroom!" Won't know what it feels like under battlefield conditions for two or three months.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by jeffy

I liked mine, snug but well padded and comfortable, but have only sat in it at ERA going "vroom, vroom!" Won't know what it feels like under battlefield conditions for two or three months.

Anybody else have comments on Kirkey seats (comfort wise)?
Jeff, I can't remember, do you have a dropped floor for your seat?
And do you - or anybody else out there - know if a locally dropped floor affects space for the undercar exhaust?
Cheers,
Glen

[jeffy]

Originally Posted by xb-60

Jeff, I can't remember, do you have a dropped floor for your seat?

Don't think so.

[tkb289]

Originally Posted by xb-60

As far as Kirkey seats go, I have seen comments that they can be uncomfortable, lacking enough padding.....yes/no/maybe, anybody?
Glen

Originally Posted by jeffy

I liked mine, snug but well padded and comfortable, but have only sat in it at ERA going "vroom, vroom!" Won't know what it feels like under battlefield conditions for two or three months.

Glen,

I am 6'-4" and going with a Krikey seat, slightly raised FIA dash, pedals as far forward as possible and 14" steering wheel.

Peter and crew mocked everything up when I visited ERA in August 2009 and I'll be able to give you some feedback in a few months as well, once 2136 arrives in California.

- Tim

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by tkb289

Glen,

I am 6'-4" and going with a Krikey seat, slightly raised FIA dash, pedals as far forward as possible and 14" steering wheel.

Peter and crew mocked everything up when I visited ERA in August 2009 and I'll be able to give you some feedback in a few months as well, once 2136 arrives in California.

- Tim

Excellent, Tim. I will look forward to the update. So just in time for your summer? Good timing.
Glen