Peter Zimmermann

A friend called me over the weekend and told me that he bought an '84 944, but is having difficulty getting comfortable in it. He is 5'8", slight of build, but to get close enough to the steering wheel his right knee interferes with shifting, or hits the bottom of the steering wheel. Do any of you have a solution to this problem?

I suggested that he buy a pillow that could work as a lumbar support, and put the backrest of the seat in a more upright position. I also told him to shop for an after market steering wheel (Momo, etc.) that is a smaller diameter than a stock wheel. I know that the '84 car has power steering, so a smaller wheel wouldn't present a problem. I'm kinda out of the loop regarding wheels, but suggested he do a Google search for that.

Thoughts?

OEMPartHaus.com

He could get an aftermarket steering wheel with an extender/quick release hub.
I did this on my 951. Had to move my head restraint seat back further to allow me to get out of the car, should something bad happen. This left me a little far from the steering wheel. MOMO wheel and Sparco hub did the trick.

V2Rocket

The 4-spoke wheel is smaller diameter than the (presumably) stock 3-spoke, maybe that will give him the clearance.
Alternatively there are ~30mm raised-hub 3-spoke wheels out there that might clear him.
Last option is an aftermarket wheel altogether, there are lots of them that will fit.

streckfu's

Momo makes a flat bottomed steering wheel (or did) that gives more clearance. Look at the Trek or Mod 30.

Trek installed in 951:

Peter Zimmermann

Thanks, guys! Good info.

Tim B.; I left a message for my friend and gave him your web site. He's a good guy, his name is Brian McNamera.

OEMPartHaus.com

Thanks, Peter!

alex

I can't help your friend, but I can say that the 944 family is almost tailor made for me at just under 6'5''. When I was trying to figure out what car I'd want for a DD, everything else was uncomfortable, usually because my knees were in the dash. Started looking at back into 944s (I've had 3 NAs, and have a v8 conversion in my garage that I just don't have time to work on), then 951s, ended up with a 968. Point is, if it fits me that well, I can imagine there could be some challenges for those well under 6', though my wife, at 5'7'', has no issues.

Peter Zimmermann

I'm 6'3", and 944s fit like a glove. When Brian called me I was surprised that he was having a bit of trouble, but hopefully a lumbar pillow and a smaller steering wheel will get him fixed up.

Noahs944

Ask him if the seat mounting rails have 30mm aluminum spacers between the floor panels & the seat rails. If so shorter bolts & removing those factory spacers is a minor help.

Dougs951S

pics of these factory spacers? never seen/heard of em and I have a sparco seat i'm trying to lift up about 1".

Arominus

Another suggestion? install 928 seats, you'll sit higher in the car because of the extra padding on the seat. They are the same frame as the 944 seats so its direct bolt in.

Tiger03447

Don't forget about the early/late rail issue. Early cars, up until about 02 of 85, had the 6mm bolts ..2 per rail..85.5 and later had 3 8mm hold downs on the rail..Perhaps he can get the seat to work on the early rails...guess that you "could" bolt it through the floor pan if you wanted to...

Noahs944

Perhaps 20mm is more realistic. My 78 924 came with them.