Beck seat height and convertible top frame

I just purchased a used Beck speedster built by Special Editions in 2004...I have a couple of questions:

I was wondering if anyone has lowered their seat height in a Beck....My car has the repro speedster style seats (with cut outs) I'm 5'11" and my head is over the top of the windshield. I have to slide down the seat to sit lower but it's not very comfortable.
In other replicas you seem to sit lower in the car.

One other comment.....With the convertible top down, the hinges of the top frame jam into my left shoulder when the seat is set back at a comfortable distance. Are all Beck's like this??

So....Can I lower my seat height...The bottom seat cushion is velcro'd to the seat carpeting and can be pulled out easily. I'm just wondering iF and HOW anyone else has dealt with these very minor issues?

I love the car!!!!!!!


Thanks

Congratulations, Jake!
I don't have a Beck, so I can't offer up any advice.

The floor in most Becks (I believe they are chaging that now) is about an inch higher than in other cars. About the only way to lower the seat is to remove the seat tracks and bolt the seat directly to the floor - thus removing adjustability. It took a little while, but I got used to it.

As for the top frame hitting your shoulder, I can see where that would happen, but it hasn't bothered me. Maybe you have broader shoulders :-)

I have about 25000 miles (~40km), many of them on the interstate going between Charleston, SC and Carlisle, PA, and have gotten used to the little quirks in seating position.

The top frame digging into the shoulder is a passenger-side issue for me. For some reason (maybe by design) the top is shifted to the left more when down giving more clearance on the driver's side. I have to warn people when entering the car to watch their back. I'm 5' 10", and don't have much of an issue BUT everyone carries their height differently. You may have a taller upper body causing more of an issue. The seat frame is bolted through the FB to the frame underneath. To Lane's point, you could probably gain about 1-1.5" by eliminating the frame. Best to get advice from Carey. Where are you located?

Thanks guys...

I'm in Southern New England.

Well then I'd say you really need to meet up with us in Carlisle, PA in May. If I can make it from Charleston, SC, and Jack Crosby can drive his all the way from Hot Springs, AR, you should have no problem coming in from New England.

Easy Peasy Rt. 287 South to 78 west to 81 South to 11 south for 3 miles then right at the Hess station

Or Rt 84 to 81 south....

I'm 5'10" and have not experienced any problem as described. My wind problem comes from the backside. (Oh yea!) Carey is installing a removable wind screen similar to the newer models as a preventive measure.

Suggest a manual adjustment of the top frame. You can re-locate the mounting brackets. The previous owner may have moved the seat location to suite his driving habits.

Aaron's wind problem is from the backside. Hmmm....

Jake, Lenny and I usually caravan two Spyders on Thursday afternoon which will be May 19th this year. Route 84 goes almost by my house(7 miles away), then on to 81 South, all the way to Carlisle.........

I was looking for pictures of your car, but couldn't find any. Some of the first 356 style seats in our speedster have a much thicker cushion, while newer ones have a thinner, denser foam, and the newest have memory foam. Might be as simple as a cushion change or modification. Removal of seat tracks is mentioned above,a nd that will get you an extra inch of height. If the car was built for a small(er) person there may also be spacers under the seat tracks. Take a look at that too. Alternatively, we offer a dropped floor pan for really tall drivers that gets the seat down and farther back. It's not a bnolt in and requires cutting and welding but if you really need it, it's available.
If you can snap a few quick pics that would be great, or shoot me a message with chassis number and I'm sure i have build pics on my computer... I can look at the seat and the build notes.
On the top, you should be able to rotate the pinch point of the top frame down at the shoulders (when putting the top down) so that it sits lower than your shoulders and slightly more back.
At 6'1 I can get them out of my way no problem.

Just a thought...take a look at the video that shows the top going up and then down. There is a proper way to stow the top. Note that the top frame components don't rest past the seat backs.

Aaron, maybe I've been doing it wrong. I can't see flash videos on my Apple stuff and currently traveling in Mexico. I'll try to check it out at work on Monday.

Tom,
MEXICO????

Yes Aaron, but one of the safer spots. This should be my last trip. More news to come next week :)

Carey,

Here's a pic of the seats in my car and that top frame position....

http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/nn148/petemfa/?action=view¤t=IMG_0040.jpg

http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/nn148/petemfa/?action=view¤t=IMG_0041.jpg

http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/nn148/petemfa/?action=view¤t=IMG_0042.jpg

http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/nn148/petemfa/?action=view¤t=Porsche009.jpg

Chasis number is.... 356 000 202

Build Date is...11/14/04

The seat cushion in the car is 4" thick when measured out of the car sitting on a flat surface.

If I can buy 2 of the new thinner seat cushions from you I think that might work. I checked the seat mounts...No spacers.

Thanks Carey....You guy's build one hell of a nice car....No squeaks, no rattles, runs like a top...AND...It's almost 7 years old...STILL tight as a drum!

UPDATE!!!!

Took the cushions out of the car and took it for a ride without them....

ALL ISSUES RESOLVED!!!

Perfect seat height, no more poking from the top frame, MUCH more comfortable.

Took both seat bottoms to my local upholsterer, had him sit in the car WITH the 4" thick cushions that came with the car, and then had him sit in it with no cushion...He agreed that the foam is too thick. We settled on a 1" extra firm foam with a 1/2" of carpet padding. Should work perfect.

I cannot BELIEVE how much nicer this car is to drive WITHOUT the cushions in it. I sit lower, can put my back firmly into the seat back, and don't have to slouch down while driving.

Thanks for the info and the tip Carey....You guy's do a GREAT JOB on these cars!!!

Carey,

Memory foam sounds amazing. More reason to drive the chit out of my car so that i have to replace the leather and install memory foam.

Glad I could help and thanks for the kind words. Enjoy.

JAKE WHERE ARE YOU IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND IAM IN OLD LYME CT THERE ARNT MANY REPLICAS AROUND ME DAN

Rhode Island ....Same here man....NO SPEEDSTERS HERE EITHER!!!

My Beck stops traffic. I spoke with Kevin Hines today, he said he can't remember EVER sending one of his cars to RI.

Jake - You joining us in Carlisle? I love to have another Beck to park with.

Lane, what is Natalie? Chopped liver?

Tom, what are your travel plans to Carlisle?

I forgot you were coming. Please don't hurt me.

Lane :).

Marty, leaving early Thursday morning with the intent of making the Thursday night festivities. Driving Natalie with my middle son in the right seat. Plan is to caravan with Michael McKelvey from Ann Arbor (hopefully he will be finished with his car). Also trying to get Bill Demeter from Grosse Pointe to join the caravan. Returning on Sunday. Haven't worked out time and meeting logistic details yet.

JAKE I USUALLY TAKE 3 OR 4 TRIPS A YEAR TO THE OCEAN HOUSE IN WATCH HLL RI IT WOULD BE FUN TO MEET UP ITS A PERFECT PLACE FOR OUR SPEEDSTERS PARK IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL I GUARENTEE YOUR CAR WILL GET LOTS OF ATTENTION WHILE YOU SIT ON THE PORCH WITH A COLD DRINK AND ENJOY THE VIEW THINK ABOUT IT!!! DAN

Dan, you coming to Carlisle this year? You better, or me and Lenny will kick your butt in September!!

Dan...I'm in for the Ocean House.....Just let me know when!

JAKE I WILL CONTACT YOU WHEN THE WEATHER GETS A LITTLE BETTER SEE YA DAN

Jake:

We used to live in South Tiverton on the East Bay. No other Speedstahs over there, either, other than Sal. He lived in Barrington and had a couple of restaurants in East Greenwich but has long since sold his car.

We moved from there in 2006 to South Carolina to forsake the snow and ice. You might want to look into joining the TYP356 club in New England (www.typ356ne.org) Mostly original 356's but there is a growing number of replicas, too. John Estes (Profjve antiviral Netzero.Net) has an Intermeccanica down in Westerly - he's probably the closest to you unless you live up near Cumberland.

Gordon
The Speedstah Guy, now from Beaufort