A tall guy with a Cobra

Krewton · #1 (**permalink**) 08-31-2009, 04:05 PM

I'm looking at several differnt kits and manufacturers. I am 6'5 and weight 250 lbs. Every company I talk with says they have the biggest cockpit and most legroom. Can someone give me some recommendations as far as best to look at? Also, I'm curious if anyone has made any modifications to accomodate for size and comfort.

Seagull81 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-31-2009, 08:50 PM

Have you talked to Lone Star in Dallas? Their car is longer and I believe a little wider than most.

Cashburn · #3 (**permalink**) 08-31-2009, 08:53 PM

I have 3 customers your size. We simply mount the seat directly to the floor without any slider. It works for them...

rustyBob · #4 (**permalink**) 08-31-2009, 08:59 PM

Krewton your search has ended call Shell Valley Custom Wheels and talk to Travis,what they can do for you is put the Cobra roadster body on their Daytona Coupe frame and it will lower you an additonial 4 inches their nimber is 1-888-246-0900.and tell them i sent you.

Tinker51 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-31-2009, 11:42 PM

At 6'5 and 235 I fit in my SPF just fine. My car is late enough that it does have the dropped foot box. If you don't want to go that route then I might suggest an Emerson. Custom built any way you want it.

Ron61 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-01-2009, 03:16 AM

Agree with Tinker about Emerson. He has lowered foot boxes, narrowed transmission tunnels, and made about any modification possible. He has even moved the cowl bar forward and opened up an extra 6" on some Classic roadsters. If you can't find one that fits you ok, he would be a good person to talk to. He built one car for a guy that was 6'6' and weighed right at 300 pounds and he had no problem with getting in or out and the pedals were custom mounted so they worked great for him.

Ron

1985 CCX · #7 (**permalink**) 09-01-2009, 05:53 AM

I agree with Jay

The backdraft has 2" more wheelbase (more room)
Drop the seats to the floor or even install a comp seat as it has less foam
Get a car with hanging pedals, BDR and others, as they offer more room. Floor mounted pedals will make everything tight.
Drop the footbox
Use a 15" steering wheel as the larger 16" makes the area smaller

Best of luck!

Bryan Anderson · #8 (**permalink**) 09-01-2009, 06:51 AM

the B&B cobra has a 4" steel dropped floor and still has the 90" wheel base you should try and sit in one the leg room is great I am sure you will fit .

lovehamr · #9 (**permalink**) 09-01-2009, 07:11 AM

Lots of us bigger guys are in BDRs because of the extra room. I chose BDR after trying several others including an SPF with their "Big Guy" mods. The extra distance between the wheels seems to help a good bit.

Steve

1bad66 · #10 (**permalink**) 09-01-2009, 08:12 AM

I believe Streatbeast has the longest wheel base at 98"

Double Venom · #11 (**permalink**) 09-01-2009, 09:04 AM

1bad66,

"I" have heard "StreetBeasts" is/has started their old NIGHTMARES all over "Again"!

Take your deposit, no parts, nothing on time when you do get it, technical support is nil to say the least.

If all the "rumors- because I haven't gotten the facts THIS time yet, If you know let me and others know! IF they have truly gotten their act straight then "We" need to know that too!

DV

1bad66 · #12 (**permalink**) 09-01-2009, 09:14 AM

Well my buddy and I built ours back in 2005 and had no problems with getting parts, there tech support total sucks (just like there manual). The only thing that I had an issue with is that we ordered our frames first to get them ready for the body and the shipping was about $300 for both frames. Then when we were ready for the bodies and the finishing parts, they said shipping would be $3000......I told them what to do with there price and found my own carrier to go get the bodies (for $400). They todl me to send some pictures of my finished car so I did. I get a call from my father-in-law in California one day telling me to get the latest addition of hot-rod magazine.....sure enough they had been using my pictures of my car for there own advertizing. My car was in every ad they had...web, mag's, you name it. It got pissed and had some words with them. So they sent me a free top for my car as payment. All in all I think they are a good company, they sent me the wrong motor mounts and the next day shipped out the right ones, so I think they may be trying to turn things around. Like I said though, this was 4 years ago, not sure what is going on today.

BigRed427 · #13 (**permalink**) 09-01-2009, 10:00 AM

I'm 6' 3" 200 lbs.

I had the seat cushion in my CSX shaved 2" and had no problems.

Dan Semko · #14 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 07:52 PM

Take a look on Cobra Country. Big Bob Evan's has his Unique listed which is well sorted and ready for exceptionally tall drivers.

It's listed mid page under the red "Garage Sale" listing.

http://www.cobracountry.com/cobrasforsale-cobras.html

mickmate · #15 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 08:23 PM

If you dimple in the rear inner fender as close as it will go to the tire that gives precious leg room. Seat track delete as mentioned. I just cut out and moved over a whole tunnel side on a CCX and made a custom header by the footbox. Also changed the shifter rods to go up and over instead of beside. That whole exercise gained a LOT of room. From there we pulled the wheel back about 1 1/2" and got a lot more knee room under it. The last trick was the owner (6'2" 280 lbs) took the seats right out and had a custom made cushion for bottom and back that goes right against the floor and bulkhead. He's a big guy that is racking up miles like crazy now.

Mark Brye · #16 (**permalink**) 09-04-2009, 02:21 PM

You really need to sit in each of the cars. I am 6'4" and all legs. Just because a car has a 96" base compared to a 90" does not mean its in the right spot. For instance, I have sat in several SPF cars and my knee hit the door hing/bolt, a Classic roadster has pleny of leg room but the dash sat two low for my knees to be able to drive. Buddy has a West Coast and my legs are to long for that car to drive as well.
I was originally going to get an SPF, but even with the seat mounted to the floor, I could not get the clearance needed to drive.
I ended up with a BDR. It's one of the few that fit me and my cursed legs.

Krewton · #17 (**permalink**) 09-05-2009, 05:08 AM

Thanks for all the advise everyone. I've been talking to Emerson Motorsport and they have been very helpful and see to specialize in accomodating very tall men in Cobras. I'll keep everyone posted.

lloyds1 · #18 (**permalink**) 09-22-2009, 02:04 PM

i dont understand why one guy who is 6'5 fits just fine and another guy who is 6'2 has the do all of these mods to fit?? Granted the guy who is 6'2 weighs a lot more than the 6'5 guy but why does that make such a difference?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickmate

If you dimple in the rear inner fender as close as it will go to the tire that gives precious leg room. Seat track delete as mentioned. I just cut out and moved over a whole tunnel side on a CCX and made a custom header by the footbox. Also changed the shifter rods to go up and over instead of beside. That whole exercise gained a LOT of room. From there we pulled the wheel back about 1 1/2" and got a lot more knee room under it. The last trick was the owner (6'2" 280 lbs) took the seats right out and had a custom made cushion for bottom and back that goes right against the floor and bulkhead. He's a big guy that is racking up miles like crazy now.

mickmate · #19 (**permalink**) 09-22-2009, 02:26 PM

Foot size (as in a size 14) takes some finagling in a car like this. The cars are all so different and a half inch less room on something like leg length is huge in one of these cockpits.

Cashburn · #20 (**permalink**) 09-22-2009, 02:57 PM

David, think inseam, waist, arm length etc. Sometimes it is like being a tailor at a tux rental shop.