Any suggestions for increasing the leg room in a 1979 FJ40? I am 6'4" and it would be nice to gain about 3 inches of leg room so I can feel more comfortable when shfting gears. Ideas re: prior modifications would be appreciated. Please send email to neupsykat@cox.net I am also looking for a hard top with doors and half hatch for the back that would fit that model...
FJ40 leg room?
- Thread starter neumagic
- Start date
1911
Expedition Leader
I'm 6'2" and drive a 1980 40. You get used to it after while, it's worth it. 
I've been toying with making some intermediate brackets to go in between the tub and the seat bottom rails; if you could move the front bolts up by 1.5" you could then move the whole thing back 2-3", but the brackets require some fairly intricate small bends that I haven't yet figured out how to do them all with just a bench vise and a 2 lb. jeep wrench. I've seen a diagram for the brackets on IH8MUD, I'll see if I can find it again.
I've been toying with making some intermediate brackets to go in between the tub and the seat bottom rails; if you could move the front bolts up by 1.5" you could then move the whole thing back 2-3", but the brackets require some fairly intricate small bends that I haven't yet figured out how to do them all with just a bench vise and a 2 lb. jeep wrench. I've seen a diagram for the brackets on IH8MUD, I'll see if I can find it again.nuclearlemon
Adventurer
TwinCruiser
Observer
Spector sells a bracket to increase leg room up to 2 1/2" but it's pretty pricey @ $225.
You may wish to fab on up yourself.
http://www.sor.com/cat118.sor
You may wish to fab on up yourself.
http://www.sor.com/cat118.sor
RangeBrover
Explorer
Are you looking for something permanent or adjustable? One of the guys we wheel with is 6'3 and he ended up welding the seat to the floor in the spot that he likes. On the plus side it makes it a hard rig to steal because most of us can't reach the pedals.
1911
Expedition Leader
Those brackets are for '78 and earlier, with the gas tank under the passenger seat. Neumagic has a '79, with the later-style seats that have sliders bolted directly to the tub. To move these later seats back, you need to fab brackets like these (shamelessly liberated from a post on IH8MUD)
cruiseroutfit
Well-known member
x2, I'm running the Procar Elite's in my FJ40, I'm 6'1" and can take a nap with them scooted back
unistrut. Often called U-channel or superstrut.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Superstr...ing-Channel-ZB14HS10PG/100183826#.UX6dNJFvCAY
take seat out of truck.
unbolt sliders from bottom of seat.
cut unistrut to be length of slider plus your desired leg room.
bolt unistrut to bottom of seat with stock bolts.
bolt sliders to unistrut using the unistrut captive nuts
like this (thought not sure if this is correct nut size... i think i used 3/8, but had to drill out the holes in the sliders just a wee bit):
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Superstr...-ZA100-3-8EG-10/100179881?N=bm55#.UX6d9JFvCAY
I'm 6'5, and now there is way more legroom than i need. Also lifts the seat up 3/4" which aids in legroom.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Superstr...ing-Channel-ZB14HS10PG/100183826#.UX6dNJFvCAY
take seat out of truck.
unbolt sliders from bottom of seat.
cut unistrut to be length of slider plus your desired leg room.
bolt unistrut to bottom of seat with stock bolts.
bolt sliders to unistrut using the unistrut captive nuts
like this (thought not sure if this is correct nut size... i think i used 3/8, but had to drill out the holes in the sliders just a wee bit):
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Superstr...-ZA100-3-8EG-10/100179881?N=bm55#.UX6d9JFvCAY
I'm 6'5, and now there is way more legroom than i need. Also lifts the seat up 3/4" which aids in legroom.
1911
Expedition Leader
1911
Expedition Leader
Now that is a great idea! Thanks for posting; I'm going to have to do this now.
Finally got around to doing this today, and it worked great! The only extra thing I had to do was to grind down one edge (one side) of the Unistrut to clear the seat adjustment lever, so that the stock slider on that side would bolt flush to the unistrut.
After all these years of driving with less-than-optimal leg room, it's amazing how much difference another 2-1/2" makes. Takes a little getting used to!
Thanks again for the idea Gifu.
Rezarf <><
Explorer
Pics?
1911
Expedition Leader
Yeah, I should have taken some before I put the seat back in, but I will take some today with the seat in and maybe you can see enough to get the idea.
1911
Expedition Leader
OK, here are a couple of photos.
First one shows the Unistrut on one side, with the Unistrut sandwiched between the bottom of the seat and the stock seat slider/mount. The slider/mount bolts up to the tub just as it did from the factory. The Unistrut just moves the seat back on the slider/mount.
I was able to get an additional 2-1/2" of leg room, but then the seat hits my Con-Ferr tool box:
It's more than I need to be comfortable though. And as Gifu mentioned, it also raises the seat 3/4" which gives you more leg room too.
First one shows the Unistrut on one side, with the Unistrut sandwiched between the bottom of the seat and the stock seat slider/mount. The slider/mount bolts up to the tub just as it did from the factory. The Unistrut just moves the seat back on the slider/mount.
I was able to get an additional 2-1/2" of leg room, but then the seat hits my Con-Ferr tool box:
It's more than I need to be comfortable though. And as Gifu mentioned, it also raises the seat 3/4" which gives you more leg room too.