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Short Wife!
Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2015 8:56 pm
by MaggieTheMoggy
My lovely wife is too short to be able to push our Maggie's clutch pedal (or brake actually...) all the way down. The seat is all the way forward, on its front setting on the seat bolts, and we've tried cushions etc.
Any suggestions? Does anyone know of any brackets or anything that might move things a few inches forward? Maggie is a 1960 2-door, so unfortunately the seat needs to tip.
Many thanks - Paul
Re: Short Wife!
Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2015 9:04 pm
by les
Break out the 70's platform shoes!

Re: Short Wife!
Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2015 9:17 pm
by bmcecosse
Move the seat further forward - just drill holes and move the straps forward. Also perhaps lift the rear of the seat - with a block of timber bolted through the floor. The seat doesn't need to tip - just access the rear seat from the other side.... Simples !
Re: Short Wife!
Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2015 9:27 pm
by minijojo
Re: Short Wife!
Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2015 9:33 pm
by les
It hasn't gone unnoticed Roy!

Re: Short Wife!
Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2015 10:04 pm
by alanworland
Taller wife?!!!
My wife is pretty short (4ft 11in) and used to have trouble with our early mini - I fitted blocks of wood underneath the seat legs, worked a treat.
If its just the pedals I would consider extending them. If its everything, move the seat.
Alan
Re: Short Wife!
Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2015 10:15 pm
by MaggieTheMoggy
Thanks everyone. Its me that wears the platform shoes actually (along with the sparkly jacket and shirt with huge collars). Minijojo - brilliant suggestion - I vaguely remember I had some of these on my first mini (which was actually a Riley Elf), so for under ten quid, definitely worth a try.
Re: Short Wife!
Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2015 10:22 pm
by vergal
I can vouch for the rubber blocks minijojo refers to. I've got an original pair (?) - they allow 4 different height adjustments.
Perfect

I'm 5'5" and I also have one of those aluminium extenders fitted to my clutch pedal (Paddy Hopkirk)
Re: Short Wife!
Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2015 10:35 pm
by mike.perry
Try planks of wood of various thicknesses unde the back legs of the seat to find the best position before spending money. And remember you ma have to remove the fittings if you want to drive it.
Alternatively you could fit a later set of seats with an adapter frame which would probably give more adjustment. You could even fit a length of square section ally on each side of the adapter which would give it more height
Re: Short Wife!
Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2015 7:32 am
by ManyMinors
One thing nobody seems to have mentioned is that these cars were built with 2 alternative seat mounting positions built into the floor.
SO. First things first, just check to see if you can simply remove the seat and fit it that bit further forward![frame]

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Re: Short Wife!
Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2015 11:39 am
by bmcecosse
Right at the beginning - the OP has told us that the seat is in the forward set of holes.....
Re: Short Wife!
Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2015 12:01 pm
by ManyMinors
I think you're right - I'd misread it as the forward setting of the frame adjustment

.
The other thing well worthwhile and which I've done on my cars is to replace the webbing straps AND the pad in the seat back as well as the seat base. These perish with age and "collapse" making the seat into a bit of a bucket with no back support. Worth a look. In fact, on my wife's Minor I fitted a new backrest pad AND refitted the old one on top for a little extra support.
I don't find a Minor seat all that bad once it is in good condition and you're sitting in the right place

Re: Short Wife!
Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2015 3:24 pm
by philthehill
All you need to do is move the seat retaining bracket rear bolt to the front hole and fit two of these
http://www.morrisminorspares.net/shop_item.php?ID=3659 (Seat fixing plate BM Pt: RP152).
to the underside of the floor in front of the existing under-floor seat fixing plates, Using the seat retaining bracket as the template - drill and bolt through to the plate in the link.
I would use a second bolt with a penny washer under the head to sandwich the floor to/and firm up the mounting in one of the spare holes of the seat mounting plate.
Re: Short Wife!
Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2015 3:53 pm
by minijojo
it seems it's not always only a problem of the seat position on the floor.
I did a update of both front seats with a stronger front seat base form cushion, a set base rubber diaphragm as replacement for the straps and the rubber raising blocks. It is a complete new seat position and much more comfortable