alright auto-Xs, road racers, or others who are disappointed with the pedal arrangement in their j-body
what would you say if I said I'm working on a gas pedal assembly that raises the gas pedal to be level with the brake pedal?
I'm testing my prototype as we speak, in fact when I leave work today will be the first day I get to test it out
I figure this would be useful for those who enjoy road racing, auto-x or just like to have a better feel to their daily driver for spirited driving.
The main benefit of this modification would be to have a better pedal setup for heel-toe downshifting.. and let me tell you practicing the technique in the car after I installed my adapter test-rig makes the skill a LOT easier
there's a 3" height difference from the gas to the brake pedal, and my adapter would be adjustable to let you set it up where you feel its the best.
so whats the verdict... interested?
If your prototype consists of a wooden block like the ones the little kid in Indiana Jones had strapped to his feet, forget it. If it's an actual pedal replacement or pedal bracket, cool. Does it compensate the longer throw to prevent snapping the throttle cable or damaging the plastic TB wheel? Does it acomplish this by changing the pedal throw to throttle position ratio or are you placing a stopper behind the pedal?
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very interested. would the pedal assembly have to be taken apart from behind the firewall and the new pedal being a direct replacement?
Sounds like an interesting idea....I have on occasion found my foot trying to move under the brake pedal instead of on it. wonder if this would make a difference for me.
Mr. Pute wrote:If your prototype consists of a wooden block like the ones the little kid in Indiana Jones had strapped to his feet, forget it. If it's an actual pedal replacement or pedal bracket, cool. Does it compensate the longer throw to prevent snapping the throttle cable or damaging the plastic TB wheel? Does it acomplish this by changing the pedal throw to throttle position ratio or are you placing a stopper behind the pedal?
the prototype is a spacer made out of 2" flat stock steel with a screw welded on the bottom and tightened through the holes in the metal under the pedal... which I'm merely using to test the theory and the feel to make sure it'll work.. (since I noticed that although the brake and gas pedals are grosely misaligned, the clutch throw is decent.. so moving the gas pedal up will make you want to move your seat back, but then pushing the clutch in all the way becomes a problem... I'm still working on this fact, which necessitated a botched-together test mule)
however, the one I'm going to offer is going to be an actual pedal replacement machined from either steel or aluminum that replaces the stocker altogether, utilizes the factory throttle cable, and operates on the same connecting point. The only difference is it will be raised up to meet the brake pedal evenly.
it'll have a stop on it to prevent from snapping the throttle cable. I'm not sure if I'm going to make the stop adjustable or not.
the only part of the throttle that would be changed would be after the pivot point, to help keep the ratio of the pedal as close to stock as possible.. merely lifting it up to meet with the brake pedal.
FIREHAZZRD wrote:very interested. would the pedal assembly have to be taken apart from behind the firewall and the new pedal being a direct replacement?
nope, the modification would be completely inside the car.
it would actually be a pretty simple modification, however a small cutting tool (like a dremel) would be necessary to get the stock gas pedal out.
Cool idea, but I would not be interested. I like the way my pedals are. I guess I'm just use to it.
FU Tuning
unless it moves the clutch and brake pedal down some I wouldn't be interested either. Our gas and brake pedals are higher than most cars, but I don't think you could achieve that unless you actually started cutting into body work and expanding the footwell further.
-Chris
I've been toying with the same idea as well but since the clutch is comfortable where it is, if i had to move my seat back a bit I dunno how that'd be. I'd have to sit in my car and see weather i could get used to it. Keep us updated.
- Paul
well on the way home i did slide my seat back slightly to adjust for the taller gas pedal...
the car feels totally different, I definetly have to get used to it..
however, attempting some heel toe downshifting on some off ramps was never easier.. and apparently I suck at the skill.. I'm going to leave the prototype installed for a few days and see how I adjust to it.. definetly can't just pop it in and expect to drive you need to adjust to the extra height.
i am interested in this, but when i'm racing, my feet are already a mess under the wheel trying to hit the pedals without my knees stopping me from turning. i would have to see, maybe test, it out to tell. I would like it easier to heel toe though....
I think I have the pedal set a bit too high right now, I'm going to adjust it a bit lower and try from there.
basically, when you push your brakes to get some stopping power, is the height at which the gas pedal should be. I have to come down about another 3/4" or so perhaps a bit more.
testing continues...
I'd be interested if it works out for ya
That doesn't sound that bad actually if you just have to move your seat back a bit. I fulley expect to have to get re-used to things but as long as you can still work the clutch and brake fully with your seat at its new position and everything is comfortable i thinkits a great idea. How big of a pad do you have on your gas pedel now?
- Paul
is it possible to take it out and get it bent?
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Still working on this skwirl?
I would definetly be interested, but to be honest I would want to wait to till the bash, or the J-body war thing in WI, or somewhere that I could sit in your car (I wouldn't ask to drive your car, just sit) and see what its like, how it feels.
Same here I would be interested. But for some reason my pedal is alot lower than most, almost feeling like a spring or something popped out.....
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interested- as long as it is not high as a giraffe's nevermind in the price category
what is this heel toe downshifting??? maybe we just call it something different but i have no clue what you mean
When you enter a corner, you put your heel on the brake and left foot on the clutch to brake for the corner, then you down shift, tap the throttle with your toe of the right foot and let out the clutch, all while brakeing. On corner exit you slide off the brake and get on the gas. It alows you to be in a lower gear faster, as oposed to downshifting before the corner and slowing yourself down too quick.
- Paul
ok thanks. definitly not something that is easy to do in our cars.
i've always seen it done the other way
use your toe on the brake pedal to enter a turn on the threshold of locking the wheels up
when you want to downshift, so you don't upset the delicate balance of traction, you heel-toe downshift
press the clutch in and select the next lowest gear. before popping the clutch out, blip the throttle with your heel to make it nice and seamless.
that way you can maintain braking while downshifting to the appropriate gear without losing traction on the drive wheels (the surge from downshifting is more than enough to break them loose while on the brink of loss of traction)
to all who have expressed interest in this I have run across a problem that stopped production
the pivot point for the pedal is just too low on the floor to justify a redesigned arm. even if I moved the contact point higher, it feels strange driving around. heel-toe is much much easier, but normal driving requires relearning how to drive the car.
also, the clutch throw is so long it makes your right foot feel cramped with the brake and gas so close, while your left foot has to push so far. I moved my seat back so I didn't feel so scrunched up, but then pushing the clutch all the way to the floor was a bit of a pain.
I am a short guy tho.
regardless, I think with Jbodies, it isn't so much our gas pedal is too low as it is our clutch and brake pedals are too high.
however, I may do some more experimenting before completely throwing the idea out since you guys brought this thread back.
