So i am a tall bastard and am fitting my new seats really far back and low. So obviously the steering wheel is too high and far away. and the gearstick is too far away(remote shifter) .

I am after ideas and solutions to this problem..
I will probably fabricate a nice solid bracket to lower the steering column, and then put in a big spacer i guess.
how about the gearstick??
Anyone done similar mods??

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Tim
Dusk Blue
1964 850

A Spacer plus a Quick release will give you approx 75...100mm extra.

Gear stick...no idea.

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1974 1150cc Leyland Mini S racer,
1975 No motor Leyland Mini "ute"
1991 IPRA Honda Integra (in the build)
1995 Land Rover Discovery 300Tdi

CAMS Scrutineer

I looked into all this myself because my custom dash was going to push me back a good 6 inches in the car.

Firstly, some minis had longer steering columns than others, I can't remember exactly but I think it may be 850 ones that are longest, then get a steering wheel where the rim is raised from the centre, or fit a spacer as you say.
Generally though, just lowering / raking it back is enough, if you have long legs your arms will reach the column easy without spacers provided its lowered enough.

Gearstick is harder. I needed to move mine back 6 inches ideally, and though I looked at cutting and welding the rod linkages to be longer, it didn't get past the issue of the cross brace in the floor. I'd suggest the KAD internal gearstick system. Its designed for race cars, and it sits on top of the cross brace in the car and used uni joints to get the movement back to the gearbox.

I didn't end up moving the gearstick assembly in the end because it would have fouled the handbrake, so intead I just put the gearstick in the vice and bent it back. Worked a treat.

I also converted the handbrake to single cable, so that if I needed to, I could mount it further back.

you can buy an extension for the shifter. Was a popular mod in the 60's. they are pretty rare but are around. It screws on where the knob is and is longer and bent back. New knob goes on the end. Probably adds1.5 inches and changes the angle.

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1970 Cooper S ex-Bathurst & ATCC
1964 Austin Cooper S ex-Group C race car
1967 Morris Cooper S ex-Group B
1962 Mini Speed sports sedan
1968-71 ex-Peter Manton Shell car

Fit a Morris 1100 gearstick.

Steering column drop brackets are available from just about every mini parts supplier:

They are easy to fit, just remember that you must loosen the steering rack u-bolts first or the rack will quickly fail.

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Too many cars, and too little time.

How tall are you? Im 6'6" and like you have moved my seats really far back. Recently I put on a steering colomn lowering bracket when I changed my steering rack and it makes it so much nicer.

You'll still be able to reach the wheel easily, The only problem is getting in around the lowered colomn is a bit of a pain. As for the gearstick, I can still reach it easily but Ive seen an extension which im trying to track down. I reckon it would look pretty cool.

Ill get some photos of what my interior looks like if you want?

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There is a guy on eBay in Thailand who sells them strangely he also sells copy baskets to put under the back seats

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Basil - 1978 Leyland Mini, Brooklands Green, bit of a bitsa, and a park brick in the boot.

Yea , i have one of those... I don't intend on fitting it because i think it seems a bit of an average way to do it, it just seems a bit weak to me.
I'd rather make a new bracket that just has one connection point, rather than an extension...

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Tim
Dusk Blue
1964 850

Is that those speedwell ones??? i've seen those too.

Yea, some photo's would be great..

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Tim
Dusk Blue
1964 850

What do they look like???
How much longer are they??

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Tim
Dusk Blue
1964 850

How did you do that??

yea, the KAD internal kit is pretty cool. if i was to change to rod change, i'd do that..

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Tim
Dusk Blue
1964 850

Ok, i have a few ideas now...
I will see how i go..

If anyone has any pics of theirs, please post them up..

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Tim
Dusk Blue
1964 850

Like this:

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You're so square
Baby I don't care

This...

I was going to suggest it... heat and bend..

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