Manual To Automatic

[Alves]

Hello, I know I'm gonna get a lot of s**t from this question but I'm gonna ask anyway just out of curiosity. Me and my father have been working on restoring his delorean. While it is his I would love to drive it at some point but my biggest issue is it is standard. I can drive standard but I'm 6'3 and 75% legs with size 12 feet. Overall, even with the seat back all the way it's not going to happen. Now to my question lol how much would it cost and how difficult would it be to swap manual to auto. Where not mechanics but were pretty handy so I'm confident with proper instruction we could do it ourselves.

PS. trust me I love standard it's just not possible in this car.

Edit: if any "tall" people who have had similar problems could give me tips on being able to shift without my knees hitting the steering wheel would be great.

[nullset]

Hello, I know I'm gonna get a lot of s**t from this question but I'm gonna ask anyway just out of curiosity. Me and my father have been working on restoring his delorean. While it is his I would love to drive it at some point but my biggest issue is it is standard. I can drive standard but I'm 6'3 and 75% legs with size 12 feet. Overall, even with the seat back all the way it's not going to happen. Now to my question lol how much would it cost and how difficult would it be to swap manual to auto. Where not mechanics but were pretty handy so I'm confident with proper instruction we could do it ourselves.

PS. trust me I love standard it's just not possible in this car.

Edit: if any "tall" people who have had similar problems could give me tips on being able to shift without my knees hitting the steering wheel would be great.

I have a project car that is an automatic that I'd like to convert to manual. Perhaps we could arrange something…..

--buddy

[Nicholas R]

I think it would be a little easier than going the other way. Still have to do the frame modification but dont have to do any of the clutch routing. Flexplates are very readily available, and if you need an auto pedal box, I've got one I'd sell.

[Ron]

FYI- An auto brake pedal is so big that it looks as if it came off of a ~1965 Mac truck.

[thirdmanj]

Wasn't John DeLorean 6'4"? The car was designed with someone of his stature in mind I believe.

[Alves]

I think it would be a little easier than going the other way. Still have to do the frame modification but dont have to do any of the clutch routing. Flexplates are very readily available, and if you need an auto pedal box, I've got one I'd sell.

ehhh, if its gonna take frame modifications im just gonna deal with it,


Wasn't John DeLorean 6'4"? The car was designed with someone of his stature in mind I believe.

Someone told me that and i dont get how he was 6'4" and fit. Like i said im very unpoprtional so im not exagerating when I say Im 75 % legs, it sucks. Im thinking about maybe putting a smaller steering wheel with a flat bottom.

[thirdmanj]

ehhh, if its gonna take frame modifications im just gonna deal with it,



Someone told me that and i dont get how he was 6'4" and fit. Like i said im very unpoprtional so im not exagerating when I say Im 75 % legs, it sucks. Im thinking about maybe putting a smaller steering wheel with a flat bottom.

Hmm, well you can see plenty of pics of him online. I get what your saying about the legs thing. But that seat should adjust to damn near touching the rear deck. I've had plenty (at least 5) people above 6ft sit in he car and all of them have commented on the leg room, an how surprising it is. But I guess everyone is different. Best of luck.

[Rich W]

You may want to look into aftermarket seats. Depending upon the comfort level you need,
adding certain racing seats will give you a few inches to a half a foot more space. Custom
adjustable seat rails can "buy" more space, if needed, or a combo of both seats and rails.

If you prefer to keep the manual, I would take this route first. You can even have custom
seats built-up to even appear stock, but give you more leg room. I am sure this would be
much less expensive (and less time) than converting to an automatic (just for leg room).

Later,
Rich W.

BTW: I would also agree a flat-bottom steering wheel will create a little more leg room too.


Like i said im very unpoprtional so im not exagerating when I say Im 75 % legs, it sucks. Im thinking about maybe putting a smaller steering wheel with a flat bottom.

[Project Vixen]

I am 6'2.

Try adjusting the steering wheel. Surprisingly a lot of owners don't know they tilt/telescope.

Also, make sure your seat is truly going all the way back (slides often stick).

I have no problem at all driving, save for always taking off my shoes. The pedalsare very close together so driving barefoot or in socks helps me quite a bit.

10645

[Alves]

I am 6'2.

Try adjusting the steering wheel. Surprisingly a lot of owners don't know they tilt/telescope.

Also, make sure your seat is truly going all the way back (slides often stick).

I have no problem at all driving, save for always taking off my shoes. The pedalsare very close together so driving barefoot or in socks helps me quite a bit.

10645

Wow, I've told my dad on numerous occasions it looks like it can go up. Every time he would just disregard. Im gonna go try this right now.

[David T]

You do have to loosen a large nut just under and to the right of the column under the dash. You can find this in your Owner's Manual (if you have one). If the wheel hasn't been moved in-out in a LONG time it may take a bit of extra effort to get it to move the first time. Most drivers prefer all the way in and all the way up. If you are having trouble with the pedals get a pair of driving shoes (sneakers). In some States it is illegal to drive barefoot.
David Teitelbaum






Wow, I've told my dad on numerous occasions it looks like it can go up. Every time he would just disregard. Im gonna go try this right now.

[Project Vixen]

It's okay to drive (a car or truck) barefoot. There is a common and very persistent myth about the illegality, but if you Google it you will see it's fine. I used to believe that until Walter Coe gave me a very in-depth refutation at a DCS a while back... =)

Here's a recent article: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/23/tagblogsfindlawcom2012-lawandlife-idUS348829236620120523

I have seen a couple of cars with adjusting nuts but most I have seen have a plastic thumbwheel. Was this a production change? Or maybe just done by a repair center when the thumbwheel couldn't be tightened enough and/or cracked?

[dmc6960]

You can always just get a new one if there is no thumbwheel. I can't possibly imagine having to use an actual NUT for this purpose...

10647

STEERING COLUMN NECK
106937
$103.58

[Project Vixen]

Wow, I've told my dad on numerous occasions it looks like it can go up. Every time he would just disregard. Im gonna go try this right now.

Any word? Did it just need adjusted? Let us all know!

[Morpheus]

I'm 6'2" and I can comfortably drive my manual D for long periods. As others have said, it's all about getting the wheel and seat adjusted.

[Alves]

Any word? Did it just need adjusted? Let us all know!

I'm sorry guys, defiantly needs to get adjusted but doing it in 5 min turned into a few days. I'm going to do my best to get it done tonight.

[Alves]

Alright, got it! Thanks guys. The steering wheel was all the way down. I have a lot of extra room now. It moved right up. The car has sat since 1982 so I'm impressed. Unfourtunalty the seats are out of the car right now so I can't test just how much room.

Thanks
:)