Gettin' Down In the BDR!

[Want1Bad]

Okay, this one is for the tall folks in the audience. I own BDR #293. It is a daily driver that I have put over 10K miles on (so far). Then I wrecked it (really munched it!). You can see it at http://autoworksracing.com/gray%20cobra%20pg.htm.

Here's my problem. Three times since owning this car, I have run through red lights -- accidentally. I mean, I just didn't see them and found myself cruising right through them. The first two times, I managed to avoid accidents. The last time I did not -- hence the munched Cobra.

Now, I have never done this before owning this car and I was not speeding or wreckless driving -- I just didn't "see" the lights. The first two times, I had someone in the car with me and the last time, someone from outside the car was yelling something to me -- so distractions were present in each event.

Why is all this important? And what does all this have to do with being tall? Well, it seems that the top of the windshield frame cuts across my sightline at about the point where an approaching traffic light would be. If you were to look at a picture of me sitting in my car, you would see that from eyebrows up, my head is above the windshield.

More facts, I have a slider on the driver's side of the car that allows me to move the seat -- and this adds about three inches. But, as I use this car as a daily driver, I find that I use the slider frequently -- if I'm wearing a heavy jacket and heavy soled shoes, the seat goes back. If I'm in shorts and barefoot -- seat forward.

Another fact: an airconditioning ventilation duct is attached under the dashboard and protrudes about where my right knee is, meaning that without the seat adjustment, my knee would collide with the vent when clutching.

So, what I need is to get further down in the car (to make my ride safer) but to keep the ability to adjust my seat. As the car's frame runs right under the fiberglass and the seat (slider) is bolted right to the fiberglass too, there's no way to sink the slider down into the fiberglass.

I know this is a tall order, but anyone have ideas?

Thanks,
Gregg

[Dangerous Doug]

The slider on my ERA is only about 1" thick. That'd save you 2". You can find something similar from Summit Racing. If you didn't need a slider, you could do what I'm doing for my passenger seat: construct a seat bracket out of 1" square tube steel. I paint mine tonight, then press in the seat bolts and mount the seat. All you need is a sawzall, Dremel, and a bench-grinder/wire wheel.

Go with a dense foam, thinner padding in your seat to take some more thickness out.

Liposuction your butt. (Sorry, couldn't resist...)

Looked at your car. Bummer, dude, but at least it wasn't terribly destroyed.

DD

[Terry Stapley]

Greg, I am a bit tall for a Cobra also (6'3") and had my seats built with only half the bottom padding to get my eyes below the windshield. I know exactly what you are talking about because at times depending on how close I am to an intersection I have to lean over to see under the WS frame in order to see a traffic light!! That happened last Friday and I told myself to be more careful approaching traffic!
I also have my seat mounted to the floor to give me some more room so I do not have any slider adjustment!!

[cobrak]

Gregg;

I don't know how tall you are, but I am 6'5" (225 pounds). I had backdraft make me a wider seat, mount it on the floor and all the way back into the rear wall (custom fiberglassing to the rear wall). I also had them adjust the pedals so that I have a dead pedal for my left foot. I have so much room that my leg is straight out when using the clutch. I also had to put a spacer under the steering wheel because my arms were too short. My line of sight is not a problem, but if I had a seat slider it would be.
I also had an accident with my car (#266) a couple of months ago. My damage apears to be less then yours but the insurance company totaled the car. How much did it cost to have your car fixed and are you happy with the results? I now have a new one on order. I opted not to have the rear wall cut out this time because even though my leg fit was perfect, it is too much of a reach to the steering wheel for spirited driving.

CobraK

[madmaxx]

How much is that little repair costing??

[Want1Bad]

Okay, responses for all:

DD -- thanks for the Summit Racing suggestion. I'll check to see if I can buy lower profile hardware. If I can get 2" further down in the car, I'll take it! As for the liposuction -- the backside ain't that big yet!

Terry -- less padding is an interesting option, but my problem there is that I'm a daily driver, so comfort is also important. I'll check into the idea of a denser foam so that I can get a good cushion with a lower profile.

CobraK -- I've got the wider seat as well (still a bucket, just wider). I've got plenty of leg room with the seat all the way back, but that's not my issue. I need the slider AND I need to sit lower. (At least that's what I'm trying to do!)

CobraK and madmaxx -- Well, I munched on May 11th. The dealer I bought the car from was out of business, but his lead guy (the one who assembled my car and put in a lot of the customizations) went to work at a custom shop. So I sent my car there. It was estimated at about $31K (mostly labor!) and the insurance company paid (a "total" would have been closer to $50K, I think). It is now August and it is still not painted. Fiberglass work is done. Paint prep is done. Waiting on parts from BDR (and waiting and waiting and waiting). Supposedly shipped (or shipping) from FL this week. We'll see. Threw in some extra money to have the whole thing painted rather than blend the paint. Lost my whole Spring/Summer ride! Can't wait to get it back!

Gregg

[BDR561]

Wouldn't it have been cheaper to buy a new roller...

[lovehamr]

Originally Posted by BDR561

Wouldn't it have been cheaper to buy a new roller...

That's exactly what I was thinking.

Steve

[Cashburn]

Originally Posted by lovehamr

That's exactly what I was thinking.

Steve

New roller = new VIN and new registration process, not to mention taking everything out and putting it all in the new chassis. It is "easier" in a way.

[madmaxx]

Holly crap on the repair price!!!!!!! I guessed 5K. The damage appears to be all fiberglass. Best of luck

[BDR561]

I'm surprised that the insurance company didn't "total" the car based on the $$ they paid out. Greg must have a stated value policy.

I would have taken the $$, purchased a new roller and then had a great track car in addition to my daily driver....

My second choice if registration was an issue (CA and smog exemption) and I had to rebuild would be a new BDR body.

Nothing saying he couldn't have bought a new roller, taken that body and put on his frame along with any of the needed suspension. The frame is what carries the VIN. The time to swap the components would be less that the repair and then he would have a 2nd car for future parts, a track car or just to sell cheap...

[madmaxx]

yea, i am confused on this one. SB100 is not that difficult, excellent idea on reusing the frame.

[jp65cobra]

We are getting off Gregg's original subject but here is what happened to me. You can check out my damage at the same site.

http://www.autoworksracing.com/johns%20cobra.htm

My damage was caused by hitting the side of a pickup truck at over 60 mph whose driver had decided to enter my lane from the side of the hwy.

Damage/Insurance: I don't think you get the choice of writing off the car. That determination is made by the insurance company. My damage was about 22K which is far less than the car is worth. Consideration was given to replacing the body but in the end I am happy we did not go with this as the delivery time from BDR on many of the parts is the longest lead time. I am sure the body would have taken months. The body work has been finished for over a month and they could have finished it in a few weeks. We are waiting for parts which in my case was front suspension, steering and new side pipe. I know my insurance company checked what these cars are worth. Yes I could have taken the 22K but I don't have the other 26K to build a replacement.

Have you looked at what is being charged these days to fix damaged cars? My neighbor recently had an accident in his pickup. Not his fault. Some minor damage to the rear and the front. 12K. They did not write it off. They fixed it.

BTW as I tried to avoid the idiot I remember shouting out You as&^^%$^. I got out of the car and was amassed there wasn’t more damage. Along with the strength of the BDR I was also amazed with the stability as the car stayed in a straight line and I didn’t get tossed into the other lanes which were jammed pack with traffic.

[RedEsprit]

Midwest...I find it a bit enlightening that someone in your profession is actually taking the time to get feedback from owners on this issue. Thanks for the warning and starting the thread.

Since I have already put in my 2 cents worth earlier in the thread, I'll add just a little more "change". I think it is consensus (and rightfully so) that learning to control a high power-to-weight ratio car like a Cobra by attending a REAL high performance driving school should be recognized by any insurance company as a statistical characteristic that would likely reduce claims. I have attended Skip Barber twice. In 1982 (a little known named Michael Andretti was in that class) and again last year, as a refresher course simply because I was building an big block ERA. My opinion (don't butcher me for this), anyone that drives a high power-to-weight ratio vehicle (Cobra, Ferrari, Viper, etc) should be trained in car control for their own safety if nothing else.

Since drivers of Cobras (and other high performance vehicles) are all over the board regarding skill levels and capabilities, why classifiy them all the same....and why insure them all the same. If someone is willing to spend the bucks (and its not cheap) to attend a high performance school to protect themselves, the car, and others, they should be recognized for that fact...plain and simple. Insurance companies certainly should. But in the end, it is always about money.

Again, my opinion. Insurance companies have two jobs. First to write policies and collect premiums. Second, to avoid, minimize, and deny claims at all cost regardless of validity. If anyone doubts that for a second, take a trip to any town on the Gulf Coast that was leveled by Katrina and poll the residents regarding claims. Nothing else needs be said. For cities, counties, and insurance companies, tickets you receive for minor violations are nothing more than revenue enhancers. A great reason to raise a premium for vitrually no reason. I have been driving (legally) for 42 years. I have only had one claim where my insurer took a loss on me and that was the theft of a 1970 Z-28. Really not my fault. Tickets? There have been a few. And the insurance companies have definately milked me for them.

Insurance companies only understand statistical (actuarial) risk. What enthusiasts need is an entrepreneurial company that understands the cars, their owners, and the hobby. Again, here is the policy. An ENTHUSIASTS POLICY. I'll buy it now. Where do I sign? Where do I send the check?

[b]Rate[b] Charge me a fair rate with a realistic mileage option 5,000, 10,000, 15,000
Deductible Give me a $500 comp. / collision deduct. for damages caused by any incident that is not my fault including fire, theft, uninsured motorist, etc.
Give me a higher deductible of $10,000 if the accident is my fault. My fault... I pay. No problem here with me. You will never see a frivilous claim.
This policy is underwritten only after the REQUIRED ATTENDANCE a 3 day HIGH PERFORMANCE CAR CONTROL SCHOOL. I guarantee you that if an insurance company contacts Barber or Bondurant with that request, they would build or create such a course.
Give me a SAFE DRIVER DEDUCTION for one minor violation (10 miles over) or less. Pay me nothing if I damage the car on the track and experience "that's racing" damage.

This may not be the policy for every Cobra owner out there, but it definately works for me. "If you build it, they will come"--Shoeless Joe

[Naumoff]

Originally Posted by Want1Bad

Okay, this one is for the tall folks in the audience. I own BDR #293. It is a daily driver that I have put over 10K miles on (so far). Then I wrecked it (really munched it!). You can see it at http://autoworksracing.com/gray%20cobra%20pg.htm.

Here's my problem. Three times since owning this car, I have run through red lights -- accidentally. I mean, I just didn't see them and found myself cruising right through them. The first two times, I managed to avoid accidents. The last time I did not -- hence the munched Cobra.

Now, I have never done this before owning this car and I was not speeding or wreckless driving -- I just didn't "see" the lights. The first two times, I had someone in the car with me and the last time, someone from outside the car was yelling something to me -- so distractions were present in each event.


Why is all this important? And what does all this have to do with being tall? Well, it seems that the top of the windshield frame cuts across my sightline at about the point where an approaching traffic light would be. If you were to look at a picture of me sitting in my car, you would see that from eyebrows up, my head is above the windshield.

More facts, I have a slider on the driver's side of the car that allows me to move the seat -- and this adds about three inches. But, as I use this car as a daily driver, I find that I use the slider frequently -- if I'm wearing a heavy jacket and heavy soled shoes, the seat goes back. If I'm in shorts and barefoot -- seat forward.

Another fact: an airconditioning ventilation duct is attached under the dashboard and protrudes about where my right knee is, meaning that without the seat adjustment, my knee would collide with the vent when clutching.

So, what I need is to get further down in the car (to make my ride safer) but to keep the ability to adjust my seat. As the car's frame runs right under the fiberglass and the seat (slider) is bolted right to the fiberglass too, there's no way to sink the slider down into the fiberglass.

I know this is a tall order, but anyone have ideas?

Thanks,
Gregg

Gregg sell the Cobra before you kill someone or get killed yourself. This is obviously not the right car for you to be a daily driver. If you put a comp windscreen on the car and use it for recreational driving it might work for you.

[Want1Bad]

Okay, responses for the rest of you...

Yup, considered buying a new roller. Talked to Reg about it and he even offered to buy my existing wreck for the parts and would sell me a brand new roller. I was loving the idea -- especially since it would give me some of the upgrades that have been put in the car since 293, like rattle-free doors and header flanges.

But, I had boatloads of extras (including and air conditioner/heater, custom heated seats, glove box and much more) and the cost of moving them from the wreck to the new roller plus the cost of the roller was more than what it's going to cost to fix the car.

The car is insured for $50K, so they wrote a check for $31.5K and I am to put out the $1K deductible.

As for the "sell the car" suggestion -- right! Good idea, I should have thought of that, I'm such an idiot. Oh well, guess I'm committed to getting it fixed and driving it now. When I get into my next accident, I reconsider the idea. As it has been over 25 years since my last accident, I don't expect to be facing that decision soon (heehee).

Well, I think I've heard all I'm going to hear about getting lower in the car and I appreciate the comments from those trying to help. Keep the rubber side down, folks,

Gregg

[SkipB]

Gregg,

I know I am weighing in kind of late on this, but what about asking Miguel to lower your seat? I think he might have actually done this for another customer. I could be wrong, but you might ask him.

I visit Autoworks on a semi-regular basis as I do some business with them and have seen both John's car and yours in the shop. The work they do there is terrific and Miguel is kind of a perfectionist. So ask him for his opinion. He might have an answer no one has thought about yet.

I hope you are happy with your car when you get it back. It shoudl be great. Just keep your head up or down!

SkipB

[uncltodd]

Gregg, consider buying an older BDR at roller price, PM me.

UT

[Want1Bad]

SkipB

Met with Miguel on Friday. He's going to take a closer look at the seat issue once the paint is done (which may be today?!).

Gregg

[cbreez]

hey don't listen to that rude, insensitive, insulting comment to "sell your car", "this may not be the car for you"....amazing how judgemental folks can be from afar...Dude you deserve to drive this type of car...just be a bit more careful!
sorry for your misfortune, good luck on repairs!