1930 Model A Sport Coupe Seat Adjustment Question
 

Hi Everyone:
I am a gearhead (50's American Cars and early Honda Motorcycles) but I need some help with my Dad's recently purchased Model A. It's a Sport Coupe as noted above. He lives a couple hundred miles from me so i can't see the car in person. He says he can't move the seat back far enough for his long legs. He says there is a package tray type of cover or fiberboard piece that the top of the backrest bumps into when he trys to slide the seat back. Even though he is 86 years old, he is new to the hobby and is not a gearhead like me. The last time he had a model a was when they were only a few years old. Can this piece that is blocking the seat back be popped out? Thank you for your help.
Steve
Portland Oregon

Re: 1930 Model A Sport Coupe Seat Adjustment Question
 

Yes, you can remove the package tray, a lot of tall folks do it when they resto-Mod an A, but I'm not sure the seat would go back any further without more work to the seat and it's mounting system.

You often see the Deuce Coupes and Roadsters with the seat narrowed and pushed farther from the dash when the package shelf is removed.

If he is 6 feet or taller, its always gonna be cramped in a Coupe/Cabriolet/Sports Coupe body.

Re: 1930 Model A Sport Coupe Seat Adjustment Question
 

The seat on a '30 coupe will go back a little farther if the package tray is modified, however it does not just "pop out". Its a structural part of the car and shouldn't be removed completely. However, you can cut it and remove about an inch to allow the seat to go a little farther back. The length of the seat track is a limiting factor.

Re: 1930 Model A Sport Coupe Seat Adjustment Question
 

Re: 1930 Model A Sport Coupe Seat Adjustment Question
 

Thankyou Roccass, lindy and Bill. Now if I can just get him to slow down. He thinks he going out to the shop in the morning, move the seat AND tighten up the steering box in time for the 11 am memorial day parade tomorrow. Nothing like learning from your mistakes.

Re: 1930 Model A Sport Coupe Seat Adjustment Question
 

Leg room is cramped in them. My cabriolet has adjustable seat but from full forward to full back is not much difference. One bad thing about them is room.

Re: 1930 Model A Sport Coupe Seat Adjustment Question
 

Re: 1930 Model A Sport Coupe Seat Adjustment Question
 

Thank You, I will be heading down to Dad's in two weeks to give him a hand. His 87th birthday is June 7th and I think I will buy him a nice set of Craftsman wrenches.
Steve

Re: 1930 Model A Sport Coupe Seat Adjustment Question
 

Bill Williamson, I like your reply on moving the seat back on your Coupe. I have both 1928 Sport coupe and was told by a Sr. member that he did not like the 28-29 because the 30-31 had more room between the seat and door post. I just bought a 1930 Cabriolet, and although the former owner put stainless steel scuff plated on the door sill it does nothing for swinging your legs around the door post to get into the cars. I am willing to do some cutting and welding on my 28 as it is an older restoration in need of a new paint job and a new roof. I do find it hard to believe you could move the seat a full 4 inches. Do you have any pictures? did you just place a steel sheet on the sides of the cab or put upholstery material stretched over stiff cardboard for looks?

Re: 1930 Model A Sport Coupe Seat Adjustment Question
 

Hi, I have a modified package shelf/tray that came out of a January 1929 Sport coupe that was being street rodded. It has a couple slots cut in it for a roll bar. I have it advertised for $20 (plus shipping) on the Facebook Group "Model A Modified". Look there for a picture of it if interested. It is good enough to practice on at least. I am located in OH.

Re: 1930 Model A Sport Coupe Seat Adjustment Question
 

Ford used the coil spring seat cushion system as part of the model A suspension. Some folks build up new cushion systems from various types and layers of foam then recover the seats to give a better fit for the tall folks. I had no problem in my 29 Sport Coupe but then I have shorter legs. My Pop's family were tall and my Mom's was short so I ended up in between at 5'10" and a half.

My Mom and her older sister used to stand up in the back seat of my Grand-Pop's old model T Touring car. They would jump up and down back there when they were little. One time while driving up Mount Blanca, Grand-Pop hit a big bump and out the back end my aunt went. Thankfully she wasn't hurt very bad. Mostly just her pride. Now days we have the child seats but they had six little kinds so they would have had a bunch of those car seats if they had been invented earlier.

Re: 1930 Model A Sport Coupe Seat Adjustment Question
 

If I'm not mistaken the average height for an adult male back in the 20s and 30s was about 5 foot 10.

Re: 1930 Model A Sport Coupe Seat Adjustment Question
 

Bill pasted away four years ago.

Re: 1930 Model A Sport Coupe Seat Adjustment Question
 

"but I need some help with my Dad's recently purchased Model A."

I do like your Dad's sense of optimism. Good luck with the project.

Re: 1930 Model A Sport Coupe Seat Adjustment Question
 

I notice the seat swivels. Is that from a 70's Monte Carlo?