Can't fit in the car

[1972Challenged]

Hello everyone, I recently bought a 72 challenger but seem to have a problem. The steering wheel is so close to the seat that I can barely squeeze into the car. I guess my question is if this is normal? It has a stock looking 2 spoke wheel, the seats look stock except I don't think they are mounted on a seat track, seem to be mounted stationary, directly on the floor. Now I admit I'm not skinny, but a 200 lb guy ought to be able to get in and out I would think. Is the steering column adjustable and I'm just not seeing it?  Thanks Jason

[Rich G]

They are tight but they all should be mounted on an adjustable seat track. Are you sure they're the right seats or tracks?

[gyman98]

I have the same problem,  dropping down to a 14" wheel helped a lot but still need to get in side saddle

[4Cruizn]

Hmmm I'm I pretty large guy and I have no issues getting into either of my cars . . . 

[340-FOUR- BARRELL]

The Challengers are a bit cramped inside for me. I'm 6'4' at 190 lbs. So I ordered the seat relocation brackets (SB246) $34.oo from YEARONE. Gain about 1-1/2" more leg room.

[chargerdon]

I have the same problem.   Now recognize that my drivers seat is sitting on a 1999-2004 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Power seat track.   I modified the heck out of attachment brackets that I made, to drop the seat as low as possible!!  I measured that the seat at bottom would be about 1/2 " higher than with the standard track.  Did this so that my wife could also drive the car.      So...this isn't stock.  Plenty of legroom.. and enough headroom for me to fit..   (I'm 6' 1"). 

However, the steering wheel is still too low in relation to the seat..   so I have to slide in and when driving, its a little bit uncomfortable..     

Now, one of the things I noticed, is that I thought I could adjust the steering wheel at the floor, to raise (pivot at the dash) the wheel say another inch.   

NOPE...I have the standard (not rally) dash, and being a 74 has the Key Safety Interlock switch on the steering wheel, so that you have to depress the switch to remove the key.   If I try dropping the steering column at the floor, to swing the wheel higher at the seat, the interlock switch hits the bottom of the dash!   

Now the older Challengers don't have that safety switch, so I presume you can adjust the wheel a little higher.   Also, I noticed by looking at others that the Rally dash does not stick out as far, so that the safety key interlock switch will probably not hit it.   

Any suggestions??   And no...spending about $2000 for a rally dash isn't an option..   

Thinking of buying a 13 1/2 inch Grant steering wheel to help a little but hate to take off the stock 3 spoke wheel which is in good condition.   

[burdar]

I don't have my car here to look as a reference...

Where does the column start necking down?  Is the thin part directly under the dash or is the fat part directly below the dash?  If the thin part of the column is below the dash, is there any gap between them?  If there is, you could cut the mounting ears off the column bracket and weld them back on to shorten the bracket.  This is the bracket I'm talking about.

https://www.early-birds.ca/images/inv/icme8151.jpg

If those ears were shorter, that would lift the column up a little.  A little bit of rise on that bracket would translate to a larger rise at the wheel.

The only other thing would be installing a tilt steering column.  Maybe a column from an 80's Cordoba/Mirada would work?

[73440]

6' and 265 , fit well , kinda have to slide in crouching low but good driving position when seated.

[Bullitt-]

Today my '73 Challenger measures 6" from top of seat to bottom of wheel.
I actually have  spacers under the front of the tracks to kick the front up & lay the seat back a smidgen.
So if you have less than 6" something has been changed dramatically     

[HP2]

Is the column fully installed in its up position and not spaced down? It mounts in a pair of looong studs right under the dash edge. If someone put a spacer in there, it could set the column lower.

[chargerdon]

Ok, measured and I have 5 1/4 inches from bottom of steering wheel, to the top of the front of the seat...   

I'm sure that the power seat track I put in raises the seat about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch.   So, without it I guess I would have the same 6 inch as was stated.   Another full inch or even 1/2 inch would help a lot.   

I have what are think is the original 2 spoke steering wheel which is 15"...  So switching to a 13 1/2 Grant such as on Ebay ( http://www.ebay.com/itm/1970-1974-Charger-steering-wheel-CLASSIC-MOPAR-13-1-2-Grant/261154030036?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649 ) I guess would help a lot...but hate to spend the money, and go away from stock.

Also, If it wasn't for the damn Key safety interlock switch on the top of the steering wheel, I;m sure I could raise it another 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch.   But that interlock switch is already rubbing the bottom of the dash.   I would have to extend the Steering Wheel a good 1 1/2 to 2 inches...to have the interlock out past the bottom of the dash.   Cant do that.   Again, if I had the Rally Dash, it looks like it is shallower than the standard dash, so that the interlock would miss it.   MMMM   Maybe Ill just remove the interlock safety switch or go to the 13 1/2 Grant wheel. 

Decisions, decisions....   

[shadango]

the seats look stock except I don't think they are mounted on a seat track, seem to be mounted stationary, directly on the floor.

That part hit me as odd.....maybe not stock seats ?   Mounted directly to the floor seams odd for stock style....

Are you saying there is definately NO adjuster/slider? For a stock seat, if even possible, mounting with no slider would drop the seat lower but probably put the seat more forward.....

I am 6'2 300lbs of awesomeness and while its not as easy as when I was a kid, I can get in and out ok.  I have the tough wheel now, but even with the stock wheel I had no issues.  I have my seat all the way back on the stock slider.

This is one reason I have hesitated getting aftermarket seats for my fish....as much as I would love lumbar and side support (found a nice set at Summit Raceway a few weeks back), that means the seat is larger.....and  I am not sure I would have as much room with a physically more bountiful seat....

[Bullitt-]

Thought this would be interesting for comparison.. My '98 GT that fits me very well has height adjustable drivers bucket as well as tilt wheel.
Just measured to see where I have it set & there's 5.25" from the top of the seat to bottom of wheel compared to the 6" on the '73.
Not the largest guy here at 5'10 210lbs but my thighs are thick for my height.