J

Jack Steel

New Member
Evening all, just a quick question.

Looking to buy a defender, been offered one and had a drive, only issue is that when I sit in the drivers seat my knees are pretty much touching the steering wheel, and I couldn’t move freely from the accelerator to the brake pedal. Obviously this is a big problem...

So the question is, can you cut the box that the seat is mounted to and drop it a couple of inches? What’s under the seat? And any complications?

Any help appreciated, don’t want to buy it and then find out it’s not possible!!!
 
Jack Steel said:
Evening all, just a quick question.

Looking to buy a defender, been offered one and had a drive, only issue is that when I sit in the drivers seat my knees are pretty much touching the steering wheel, and I couldn’t move freely from the accelerator to the brake pedal. Obviously this is a big problem...

So the question is, can you cut the box that the seat is mounted to and drop it a couple of inches? What’s under the seat? And any complications?

Any help appreciated, don’t want to buy it and then find out it’s not possible!!!
Click to expand...

Just the way they are. You could remove the seat , and sit on a pad on the box, like a Series 1. :)

There is a fuel tank under the seat on some, so trimming the box may not always be feasible.
 
Other option is fit a smaller steering wheel, some earlier 90/110/defender were fitted with a larger steering wheel, later ones a smaller one.

You could potentially swap to a smaller wheel?
 
Think it depends on what sort of Defender you have. Under my driver seat (1997 110) there was nothing....now has a leisure battery, relay, inverter etc. Easiest way to find out is to pull the seat off (mine just clips in) and remove the cover plate (again a clip) and have a look.
My knees are not that close to my steering wheel (I'm 6 foot)....has someone changed the seat? Fitted different seat rails?
 
Were the seats standard defender seats or had they put other seats in, lots of people put different seats in these days which usually end up being higher. Disco seats are a lot higher which results in the steering wheel touching your legs.
 
The vehicle appears to be completely standard (although I am a complete novice).

It did have a large steering wheel, and also I’m on the large size so that won’t help either haha

Will look into it further
 
Jack Steel said:
The vehicle appears to be completely standard (although I am a complete novice).

It did have a large steering wheel, and also I’m on the large size so that won’t help either haha

Will look into it further
Click to expand...

How large? I am Six Foot One, and 13 and a bit stone. Not had any issues fitting in a landrover, although they do knacker my back after a bit.
 
I'm 6ft 3 and athletic built. I fitted seat rails, cut part of the bullkhead out and fitted Mazda RX8 seats coupled with a momo sterring wheel and have plenty room.
 
Post said:
I'm 6ft 3 and athletic built. I fitted seat rails, cut part of the bullkhead out and fitted Mazda RX8 seats coupled with a momo sterring wheel and have plenty room.
Click to expand...
I am 6' 3" also, and whilst broad shouldered from my youth, I have gained a middle-age spread also!!

I have a set of seat rails fitted which helps to move the seat further back, I just wished they didn't lift the seat up by and inch or so, as I have to duck to look through the side windows!

I also have the large original 1989 wheel fitted but my legs just squeeze under that!
 
Saint.V8 said:
I am 6' 3" also, and whilst broad shouldered from my youth, I have gained a middle-age spread also!!

I have a set of seat rails fitted which helps to move the seat further back, I just wished they didn't lift the seat up by and inch or so, as I have to duck to look through the side windows!

I also have the large original 1989 wheel fitted but my legs just squeeze under that!
Click to expand...
Good to see you back, you big bugger! :D Hope you are keeping well? Haven't seen you around for ages.
 
Saint.V8 said:
I am 6' 3" also, and whilst broad shouldered from my youth, I have gained a middle-age spread also!!

I have a set of seat rails fitted which helps to move the seat further back, I just wished they didn't lift the seat up by and inch or so, as I have to duck to look through the side windows!

I also have the large original 1989 wheel fitted but my legs just squeeze under that!
Click to expand...

With the scrapping of the old defender, it baffles me that they couldn't just make the defender exactly the same but bigger so that us tall folk can actually fit in them.
 
Saint.V8 said:
I am 6' 3" also, and whilst broad shouldered from my youth, I have gained a middle-age spread also!!

I have a set of seat rails fitted which helps to move the seat further back, I just wished they didn't lift the seat up by and inch or so, as I have to duck to look through the side windows!

I also have the large original 1989 wheel fitted but my legs just squeeze under that!
Click to expand...

I binned mine off for this exact reason.

I have toyed with the idea of making mine own and cutting the bulkhead. Just seems a bit drastic!!
 
Al2O3 said:
Good to see you back, you big bugger! :D Hope you are keeping well? Haven't seen you around for ages.
Click to expand...
Hey Chap, I am indeed keeping well - it has been a changable few months, life has a habit of changing direction on a whim sometimes....

All is well, it is just the other half is now 31 weeks preggo with Number 2, so we have been doing a lot of getting things ready for the inevitable.....

Was kinda planned, but more 'hey, lets see what happens and take what comes (sic)' and she fell pregnant - yay....I am all for family and stuff, but we live in a small place, and have no means of affording to move to a bigger one, so we have been busy trying to 'make space' so not been tinkering as much as usual.

I hope you are well - I didn't manage to keep up with the engine rebuild - last I read, it was fitted and was running for a while but you had a suspicion the turbo was duff and were looking to replace (is that right?) how is it allnow a few months down the road (pun not intended - but is kinda cool!)??
 
Saint.V8 said:
Hey Chap, I am indeed keeping well - it has been a changable few months, life has a habit of changing direction on a whim sometimes....

All is well, it is just the other half is now 31 weeks preggo with Number 2, so we have been doing a lot of getting things ready for the inevitable.....

Was kinda planned, but more 'hey, lets see what happens and take what comes (sic)' and she fell pregnant - yay....I am all for family and stuff, but we live in a small place, and have no means of affording to move to a bigger one, so we have been busy trying to 'make space' so not been tinkering as much as usual.

I hope you are well - I didn't manage to keep up with the engine rebuild - last I read, it was fitted and was running for a while but you had a suspicion the turbo was duff and were looking to replace (is that right?) how is it allnow a few months down the road (pun not intended - but is kinda cool!)??
Click to expand...
Ahh, that's great news, mate. Congratulations to you and your Mrs. :) Home is where the heart is and that doesn't depend on it's size. You just need to make it happy. :D

The engine is running very well, although it's still using some oil. It's done 7k miles since it went in. The company I bought the recon turbo off swapped it for me. The transformation was unbelievable, with the landy now pulling really well. It's largely stopped smoking on start up, which was pretty bad when it was first rebuilt. I really need to keep a better record of how much oil I'm putting in, so I can get a volume/mile figure.
 
6' 1" and 15 stone 9 lbs, 13 or 14" (forget which) steering wheel, standard seats no problems. But is a 110sw so no rear bulkhead.
 
Tut Tut one should never ask a Lady her weight ....the later 110 pro 2000 house the ecu and main fuse under the driver seat , after reading most posts , yes the seatbox could be lowered on driver side (slightly) ,a lot messing around tho, probably the best and easiest option is the smaller wheel, momo have some nice ones (not cheap tho) be sure to get the correct boss to fix it ... This post is unusual as everyone mostly wants it higher.... its a pty you cant find anyone who has had this done as a kinda try before you buy.
 
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