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Fender Well Mod For Seat Room

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by mickeykelley, Apr 5, 2016.

  1. Apr 5, 2016
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

    Republic of Texas
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    At 6'1" and 230 and not as nimble as I once was, I'm considering doing the drivers side rear fender well mod for extra seat room. When I got the 58 CJ, the seat was in the middle position. Moving it back to the last hole helped, but especially with the softtop on, the steering wheel forces me to slide out sideways as apposed to twisting my hips to get out. I don't want to change too much originality, so tilt wheel is not in play. My question is how much do those that have done this cut out? Does an inch make much difference? Two?
     
  2. Apr 6, 2016
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    If your going to cut , make it enough to be comfortable........there is plenty of room in that corner of the wheel tub.......even for a little bigger tire.......as the axle moves rearward from there during compression......The tilt wheel will help to get that steering wheel off your legs also........both options work nicely together.
    I started to do this in my CJ5 prior to making it into a CJ6 but I never finished it.............. but this will give you an Idea.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    With the seat pushed back
    [​IMG]
     
  3. Apr 6, 2016
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    I think you'll still have to slide out sideways. The tubs in the way of your left hip. I'm 6'1" and 180 and I lift up on the roll bar and slide out trying to avoid yanking on the steering wheel.
     
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  4. Apr 6, 2016
    Rozcoking23

    Rozcoking23 RUN & GET BIT! 2024 Sponsor

    Stockton, CA
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    I'm 5'10"-200lbs and the tilt wheel helps quiet a bit even with the wheel tubs cut.
    I believe I took 3" out of my tubs.
     
  5. Apr 6, 2016
    Rick Whitson

    Rick Whitson Detroit Area 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    I live South of...
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    I am 5' 6.5" and I kept hitting my butt trying to put both feet out and sliding out, now I learned how to "Dismount" with dignity. My wife, a little "Fluffy" has to stand on the stirrup I made on her side and back in. I found a set of re-popped Jeep steps, something I didn't want when I was 60, for a good deal and plan on putting them on this summer.
     
  6. Apr 6, 2016
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

    Republic of Texas
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    The tilt steering wheel is definitely out of consideration. I personally think the contraption ruins the look and feel of the older jeeps. The vintage feel is more important to me. What I was trying to accomplish is not totally twisting to get both legs out, but left leg on ground then twist torso as right leg follows behind, if that makes any sense. I think an inch or two will allow that to happen. I guess I need to try to mock it up some how to see because if it doesn't make a big difference then no sense even messing with. I DON'T have a stomach rubbing the wheel issue, it's purely a hip bone catching as I twist.
     
  7. Apr 6, 2016
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    I just do the sideways Jeep Hop, no hip twist - left leg on the ground, slide out, then extract right leg. Reverse to climb in.
     
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  8. Apr 6, 2016
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

    Republic of Texas
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    That's pretty much what I've been doing but I've got left knee issues (2 surgeries later) and if I get a little twisting the wrong way, that knee has issues.
     
  9. Apr 6, 2016
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Do you have steps? They can help quite a bit.
     
  10. Apr 6, 2016
    Don X

    Don X The Prodigal Moderator Staff Member 2023 Sponsor

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    Steps can cause side clearance issues. I've appreciated the narrow width of my heap more than once. If I had steps they'd be gone by now...and not by choice.
     
  11. Apr 6, 2016
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Invert jeep & release hold on steering wheel, people have been doing it for years. :D

    FWIW I'm 58, 5'10", 230lbs & with the stock "single piece" seats all the way back (3rd hole) I have no problem (once I winch my right foot up into the tub) getting in & out with no rubbing on the bus wheel (which I did have with the non-stock seats)

    I'm working on a fold away/flip up step to eliminate the foot winching.

    H.
     
  12. Apr 6, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I put tilt steering in my jeep a couple years ago. I set it once and never changed it. Kind of defeats the purpose. i am putting in a stock style column now. I don't have the seat issue as I have lengthen my 2a 12" in body and frame.
     
  13. Apr 6, 2016
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

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    I think what everyone's trying to say is moving the seat back probably isn't going to help with mount/dismount, but I'm a believer it will provide more leg room. IMO the mod is for the leg room.

    In tarry's picture the tub is more prominent. It looks like you'll have to slide your body up towards the steering wheel in order to exit, therefore, putting you back to square one? I have no idea what's it's like in the flesh...I've never been in a Jeep that's had the wheel well mod.
    [​IMG]
     
  14. Apr 6, 2016
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    I agree with the clearance issue, of course it depends on what you're using the Jeep for and what area you're in. No matter what though I don't see how to get away from sliding over in order to get in or out.....the body curve is just plain in the way. I do agree with notching the wheel well for not being cramped while driving it.
     
  15. Apr 6, 2016
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Sounds like a clever Jeep guy could sell a lot of these, modified appropriately. :D

    UpliftSeat.jpg
     
  16. Apr 6, 2016
    Don X

    Don X The Prodigal Moderator Staff Member 2023 Sponsor

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    Moving it back will also help a tall person's sight line through the windshield. As for me, I live with the Jeep hunch. I'm not overly tall (6') but I only have a 32" inseam so I get s disproportionate amount of my height from my upper body. It put's my eyes almost to the top of the windshield.
     
  17. Apr 6, 2016
    PierreDnepr

    PierreDnepr Member

    Barrie Ontario
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    My jeep came with the wheel well mod... my NDT tire on 16" rim don't usually rub but if I load the jeep and take a sharp right corner, then they rub a bit. One of these days, once I learn to weld learn to weld, I'll smooth out the sharp angle visible inside the wheel weld. It would have not significant effect on the space gained by the mod but would prevent the occasional rubbing.
     
  18. Apr 6, 2016
    mike stg

    mike stg Member

    gilbert AZ
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    I cut 3" out of my tub to move the seat back. you can get nice generic seat tracks on ebay pretty cheap. moving the seat back does NOT help with the windshield sight line (at least for me) I can't live with the 'hunching over' to see through the windshield so I am going to have to sell the CJ :(
     
  19. Apr 6, 2016
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    Get a newer windshield with the bottom mount wipers...makes a big difference.
     
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  20. Apr 6, 2016
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    When you move the seat back the extra room can allow you to tilt the seat back which can lower your line of sight. Using a '68-'75 windshield with bottom mounted wipers and arched top glass makes a huge difference also. Probably the easiest modification to minimize or eliminate the "Jeep-hunch".
     
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