This car is impossibly small
This is an odd little period in the build where I'm trying to consider and predict too many things at once.. I want to mount the engine, but first I must position the rear end.. to do that I've got to resolve some rear end angle problems.. I also need to design the frame for the rear end of the car, which presents yet another challenge; the seating position of the driver.
I'm designing this car for me, but the reality is I'm building a second Berk for resale, and I'm worried about my design and having enough room for the 'average' person to fit- this is a requirement that this car doesn't satisfy by design- it's just so small.. I'm 6'2" with a 34 inseam, and I feel too cramped to stay in the driver's seat for too long.. I need to find 2 to 3 inches somewhere to allow the driver's seat to move back a bit, but I'd like not to stretch the car if I can help it, as I like the body as-is, and I don't want to change its proportions (pretty soon I'll want to widen it too, and suddenly it's not a "Berkeley" in character anymore..)
This may be a bit confusing, but just for grins, I took the rear section of the car, and slid it backwards 1", 2", 3" on the punt (see tape in pic) to see where the seating arrangement felt 'just right' (call me Goldie Locks
).. I't amazing what a difference 2 to 3 inches makes!
So I'd like to 'find' 2-3 inches in this chassis/body to move the seat(s) rearward.. I can stretch the doors (and Punt) by 2" and it would be barely noticeable, or an option I like better, is to channel a section of the body out just behind the seat and move the seat back rearward in the car by 2-3" (see pic with lines).. this option will not change the exterior dimensions of the car at all, and it will simply move the driver/seat rearward in the car's body..
This is a body/fiberglass mod I'll go after later, but it must be considered now, as it will change the underlying frame design (cross bracing) to avoid a frame rework later.. In reality, I can design the frame to accept the body mod later, but if I never pursue the body mod for whatever reason, it won't matter and it won't affect anything
Again, confusing, but a consideration that may make things much easier later..
--ccrunner
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Dean
1972 Honda N600 Restomod "ccrunner's N600 VFR800 repower"
1963 Volvo P1800 Restomod
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=163091959 Berkeley SE492 Restomod...
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19397"ccrunner's 1960 MGA coupe Restomod" found on MGExp.com
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