Thought it best to stop hijacking the lower thread and start a new one.

To recap, I am not tall, 5'10", but like to drive semi reclining. Have gone for 24 hours or more with only fuel & drain stops, last time was 1300 miles with a trailer. Upright my back hurts.

The Crossfire is the first car I've seen (and have been "most favorite" on several airlines at a time so have driven a lot of cars) that I could not get comfortable (usually seat nearly all the way back, all the way down, 40-45 degree recline. Tilt wheel all the way down & vertical. This includes multiple Fieros)

Germans are famed for comfortable cars but could not get comfortable at all in roadster so I bought a coupe. Better but still no cigar.

What I have found is that by raising the seat it will both go back further and get me closer to where I like. Trouble is it does not go up far enough.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today:

OK now have the correct E12 socket and works fine. Raised the back of the rail by 4 mm and that changed the angle of motion slightly, will need longer bolts to do more.

As to the gas tank being behind the seat, the filler is about 3" below the top of the crossbar and would make no sense to have the tank extend above the filler (in fact would be dangerous).

Now that I look closely, I can see there is a slight cavity in the crossbar at the seat level. Has anyone seen what is under the plastic trim cover and the carpet ? Cant be solid (weight) so suspect square cross section tubing for chassis stiffness.

That said, if raising the rear of the rails 4mm does not do the trick next I'll try raising the whole seat by 1/2" and see if that gives another 3/8" rear travel. Headroom and leg to wheel is not an issue, just getting it far enough back with a 40-45 degree seat recline.

Anyone else have this issue ?

 

No.
With a 40 degree incline your a$$ will be almost under the dash. You'll have to move the pedals into the engine bay.

 

You, sir, have gotten it in one.

Below is the seat in my roadster (white 'vert in my .sig) It also is a two seater with a crossbar chassis stiffener. But of course it is a Buick.

BTW the distance from the center of the wheel to shoulder height in the Buick is 28", the same dimension in the Crossfire is now 27". I just need one more inch.

 

Ok! That's just TOOO easy.
Not going there.

 

Is this a good drawing of the gas tank ? If so it should not be a factor if I modify the top 6" of the transverse chassis stiffening bar.

 

Not a good drawing at all. Nothing like it. Where did you get that from?
See the parts manuals for better pics.



Photo of the structure behind the seat is attached.

 

Never stopped you before.

 

This a better picture (from the 2007 parts book) ? First one was from the service manual. Still does not look like it is inside the top 6" of the transverse bar.

180 I feel like we are at cross purposes here. Would prefer to work together.

 

Now you have views on both sides of the bulkhead.

 

Thank you. That makes sense, the tank must be below the filler. Is it entirely under the black foam ?

The white line shows where the notch is needed and only needs to go down about 2" in a triangular section.

 

Yeah, I guess that's the only complaint, so far, with my roadster. I'd like to be leaning back a bit more. I didn't think it was possible for this car. My wife is 4' 10", she is VERY comfy in the XF, but she's about chin level with the top of the door.

 

Had a chance to look at a stripped out coupe while on the coast today and all I can say is that I can see no earthy reason
why the crossmember behind the seat is so high: is just stamped, hollow, and not in compression (does not even go all the way to the side, is about a 4x4" block of foam on the side. - see picture).

Can anyone think of any reason why the top section is even there ? Looks like I can just remove the top cover and fold the carpet down, take a Sawzall, and chop out a section behind the seat as shown in the picture, and get a good inch more travel with the seat reclined as I like it.

ps the gas tank is about 4" under that.

 

It might be easier getting your back fixed than sawing up your car but if you are skilled with a sawsall why not make the roadster you wanted?

 

Good one.
I have to ask myself "how hard can that be?"

 

Decided I have two convertibles (really should dispose of one - anyone interested in a rust free Reatta 'vert ?) so would rather have the distinctive coupe styling.

Besides I have found it best to start with something less expensive (was less than half the price of the roadster) & as a rolling test bed for electronics (8" Bay Trail tab should be here on Monday) a coupe is a lot easier to secure.

Now have installed a pair of 1/2" spacers on the rear of the tracks with some 10x1.5x40mm socket head screws and that has the seat a bit further back with a 30 degree recline. Also effectively lowers the steering wheel to a comfortable position.

Next step is the sawzall now that I know that it isn't even providing any chassis stiffness.

All I can think of is that the interior was designed by dwarves, the crossbar was needed for the Roadster (looks like the SLK retractable pivots there). and they just did not bother to remove in the coupe.

Had my first encounter with a SUV not realizing anything was in the next lane over and changing. ABS works. Air horns are now on the "todo" list.

 

Keep us posted, as Mickey Mouse said, I'm all ears.

 

I suspect that you did standup in a previous life. Any time somebody attempts something a little different, my curiosity is aroused. One ? I always thought that the bulkhead behind the seat did provide some stiffening to the chassis but I don't have any factual basis, just seemed logical.

 

See the picture in post #12, crosspiece just ends about 4" before the side. The 2002 SLK320 has a retractable hardtop and I think some of the pivots mount there.

Also the crosspiece is that high just to make a flat tonneau in the roadster, it serves no purpose in the coupe other than to use the same sheet metal floor plan. This is an unusual design in that the coupe uses a roadster "frame".

This video

shows the folding hardtop in action, note the pivot point near the driver's shoulder (see picture below).

Now thinking I can just make two vertical cuts on either side of the seat and bend the resulting flap 45 degrees. Not sure about the plastic top cover, may do the same: Two cuts, heat, bend down, and fold.

 

Take it out and the car would be way less rigid and the roadster would collapse. The OP said it does not go from side to side, it does of course, the foam fills the gap and is probably just sound deadening in the hollow area.

 

[QUOTE=Padgett;769529]Decided I have two convertibles (really should
All I can think of is that the interior was designed by dwarves, the crossbar was needed for the Roadster (looks like the SLK retractable pivots there). and they just did not bother to remove in the coupe.





I am following your project with interest just to see how it comes out but you do realize that you are in the minority when it comes to your preferred driving position. Maybe a minority of one. I was wondering if the steering wheel will accommodate the seat being raised that far since it isn't a tilt wheel, another of the Crossies little foibles. I too am 5'10" but prefer upright, arms extended which the telescoping wheel works well for. Do you have problems sitting in normal chairs to eat or watching the tube? Here's a little known fact, reclining chairs are one of the worst inventions ever, very bad for the back. I worked in the medical field for 35 years, this comes from experience.