Has anybody ever notched cab for more seat clearance?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

PhotonFanatic

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2022
Posts
229
Reaction score
166
Location
Arlen, TX
First Name
Wilhelm
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
5.7
The thought crossed my mind, so I had to ask. Is there any metal that can be removed, in order to gain an inch or two of seat clearance? Just to lean back a little bit more. It doesn't really bother me much, but imo that's the one thing that the extended cabs have over the single cabs. Just a bit more lean room.

Possible, or impossible? Without making the truck look really goofy, I mean.
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
5,586
Reaction score
9,069
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
You can gain a couple of inches with after market seats, our seat backs are thick
 

TotalyHucked

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Posts
3,777
Reaction score
12,219
Location
Auburn, Georgia
First Name
Zach
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
Sierra 1500
Engine Size
5.3
Nothing you can do on the back wall, if you cut out that inner structure, you'll just be left with the back cab panel itself and it'll tin can real bad. The only way you can gain room is an aftermarket seat of some kind and/or a shorter column
 

SquareRoot

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2017
Posts
4,228
Reaction score
8,117
Location
Arizona
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
85
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Or.....

Limb-shortening surgery​

The second procedure is called a limb-shortening surgery. As the name suggests, this surgery actually shortens the length of a bone, possibly affecting your overall height.
To do this, a surgeon removes a portion of the femur (thighbone) or tibia (shinbone). Then, they use metal plates, screws, or rods to hold the remaining pieces of bone together until they heal.
Healing may take several weeks and require you to have very limited movement. In fact, you may be in a full-length leg cast for weeks until your doctor is satisfied that the bone has healed properly.
The maximum length a surgeon can remove from the femur is about 3 inches (7.5 centimeters)Trusted Source; from the tibia, it’s about 2 inches (5 centimeters). How much your surgeon removes will depend on the discrepancy they’re trying to correct and how much you enjoy driving that squarebody.

:popcorn:









 

squaredeal91

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2023
Posts
2,583
Reaction score
4,697
Location
Cave junction Oregon
First Name
Greg bush
Truck Year
1991 SB
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
5.9 Cummins 12 valve
Any difference between 70s and 80s seat thickness? I like the 90s truck bench okay in our suburban. Backrest is thinner I think maybe.
 

PhotonFanatic

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2022
Posts
229
Reaction score
166
Location
Arlen, TX
First Name
Wilhelm
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
5.7
Nothing you can do on the back wall, if you cut out that inner structure, you'll just be left with the back cab panel itself and it'll tin can real bad. The only way you can gain room is an aftermarket seat of some kind and/or a shorter column

Never thought of a shorter column. I don't have the modern stomach thing going, so I'm not sure if a shorter column would help me much.

Are the bench seat backs really that thick? Looks like if you went any thinner, you'd be into those racing bucket seats. Would seats out of say... an 06 truck be slimmer?
 

Bloodhound1981

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2016
Posts
209
Reaction score
466
Location
MA
First Name
Rusty
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
C-10
Engine Size
5.7
I'm 6'6", with the bench it was way too tight. I got a good deal on some refurbished Recaro bucket seats (Specialist M is the model). Got the brackets and sliders, and with it slid to the back wall it is very roomy. I have seen a couple trucks where guys had removed the saddle tank for a Blazer tank, and then cut the big humps out of the floor to gain room. Seems like an awful lot of work.
 

Radiohead

That guy on the Columbia
Joined
Mar 17, 2022
Posts
2,488
Reaction score
8,118
Location
Low Earth Orbit where it's safer
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
MCMLXXIX
Truck Model
C-20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
454 crazy cubes, or 7.4 luscious litres
Or.....

Limb-shortening surgery​

The second procedure is called a limb-shortening surgery. As the name suggests, this surgery actually shortens the length of a bone, possibly affecting your overall height.
To do this, a surgeon removes a portion of the femur (thighbone) or tibia (shinbone). Then, they use metal plates, screws, or rods to hold the remaining pieces of bone together until they heal.
Healing may take several weeks and require you to have very limited movement. In fact, you may be in a full-length leg cast for weeks until your doctor is satisfied that the bone has healed properly.
The maximum length a surgeon can remove from the femur is about 3 inches (7.5 centimeters)Trusted Source; from the tibia, it’s about 2 inches (5 centimeters). How much your surgeon removes will depend on the discrepancy they’re trying to correct and how much you enjoy driving that squarebody.

:popcorn:









Reading that shyt made every joint and bone hurt.
 

FireTruck1984

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2019
Posts
2,987
Reaction score
9,941
Location
Michigan
First Name
Ted
Truck Year
1984 and 1984
Truck Model
High Sierra K1500 350. Sierra Classic C1500 305.
Engine Size
350, 305
The thought crossed my mind, so I had to ask. Is there any metal that can be removed, in order to gain an inch or two of seat clearance? Just to lean back a little bit more. It doesn't really bother me much, but imo that's the one thing that the extended cabs have over the single cabs. Just a bit more lean room.

Possible, or impossible? Without making the truck look really goofy, I mean.
Joe Martin did it on an episode of Iron Resurrection… Notched the back wall and custom seats, but it was a ‘67-‘68 C10
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
 
Last edited:

PhotonFanatic

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2022
Posts
229
Reaction score
166
Location
Arlen, TX
First Name
Wilhelm
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
5.7
Joe Martin did it on an episode of Iron Resurrection… Notched the back wall and custom seats, but it was a ‘67-‘68 C10

Maybe those trucks have a bit more metal to work with than the squarebodies do.
 

FireTruck1984

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2019
Posts
2,987
Reaction score
9,941
Location
Michigan
First Name
Ted
Truck Year
1984 and 1984
Truck Model
High Sierra K1500 350. Sierra Classic C1500 305.
Engine Size
350, 305
Maybe those trucks have a bit more metal to work with than the squarebodies do.
Actually those cabs are smaller, and just about the same shape of the back wall.
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
 

PhotonFanatic

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2022
Posts
229
Reaction score
166
Location
Arlen, TX
First Name
Wilhelm
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
5.7
Could always find one of these......

You must be registered for see images attach

I considered it, but I just can't do it. Imo it kills the "old" look of the squares. Extended cab was a big 1990's thing. The squares look great with a single cab, which is undone when you extend the cab.
 

SirRobyn0

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Posts
6,755
Reaction score
11,406
Location
In the woods in Western Washington
First Name
Rob
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
305
Or.....

Limb-shortening surgery​

The second procedure is called a limb-shortening surgery. As the name suggests, this surgery actually shortens the length of a bone, possibly affecting your overall height.
To do this, a surgeon removes a portion of the femur (thighbone) or tibia (shinbone). Then, they use metal plates, screws, or rods to hold the remaining pieces of bone together until they heal.
Healing may take several weeks and require you to have very limited movement. In fact, you may be in a full-length leg cast for weeks until your doctor is satisfied that the bone has healed properly.
The maximum length a surgeon can remove from the femur is about 3 inches (7.5 centimeters)Trusted Source; from the tibia, it’s about 2 inches (5 centimeters). How much your surgeon removes will depend on the discrepancy they’re trying to correct and how much you enjoy driving that squarebody.

:popcorn:



Seems like that easy button to me. A couple weeks off and all that comes with it!
 

Forum statistics

Threads
44,391
Posts
956,281
Members
36,683
Latest member
aim410x
Top