I was just looking at a build thread on here about a '57 Chevy pickup, and I noticed its brake/clutch pedals still come up through the floorboards. About what year did mfrs. stop doing that with cars? I know my '56 Chevy CAR had suspended pedals... I have no idea, does anyone out here know that? Thanks!
As far as Chevy goes the p***enger cars started with hanging pedals in '55. Trucks went over in about '60/61.
Buick was under the floor in '54 and '55... don't know about '56, but they pretty much shared the rest of the suspension design '54-'56. -Brad
Olds has floor pedals for the non-power brake cars in 57 and a kind-of swing pedal if it had power brakes. The PB cars had the pedal and pivot bolted to the floor so it looked like it swung from above, but really had a shaft going through the floor to the m/c that was underneath the steering column. They coulnd't have the m/c on the firewall because of the heater ducting inside the two-layered firewall, so they faked it to look modern. Same for the 58 model year.
Olds, Pontiac changed in '58; Buick in either '57 or '59 (I've torn apart '57s and '58s and can't remember where the pedal ran); Chevy in '55. If you say "the mid-50's" as an answer you'll be correct for the vast majority of US automobiles.
Packard was throught the floor in 54. In 55 and 56 the clutch pedal was through the floor but the brake pedal was hung and the master was on the toeboard. Fritz
And its spelled Peterbilt, no "U" in it. I've owned my share of 359's and 379's over the years............Those were the days when you could make money truckin....
When they started puting the master cylinder on the firewall...........where it should have been all along. Frank
Reading comprehension is severely lacking in this thread. See the word in thread ***le that's in CAPS. Hint: it's not "pickup" or "truck".
MERC55 has it correct as to the Fords. 1951 was the last year for the cars to have floor pedles-I have a 52 currently and from 52 up all hang.
Note from severe comprehension lacking person: This is how seemingly innocent comments start a ******* match.
Willys were still that way until about '64. The first wagoneers had hanging peddles. Buick had hanging peddles in '58 maybe in '57.
Don't know the exact years, but I believe all went to swinging pedals when they moved the master cylinder from the frame to the firewall.
guess they all mostly changed in mid 50,s. that kinda wraps it up unless we need more edgycaton. i just dont feel like I wanna use capital letters or spel rite.
Just worked on one that had "drive by wire" throttle, brake and gear select controls and electronic ***isted steering (a hybrid POS).... Don't think I'll ever buy one..
Real cool fact regarding Fords with swing pedals: The bracket for the pedals is also the location for the M/C blind nuts, and the single sheet firewall is sandwiched between. This makes for a handy installation, (my '55 F100 had floor pedals, Ford trucks had floor pedals 'til '56) I installed the pedal bracket level at its frontal edge to the firewall, and its trailing edge rested on the lower rail of the dash. The factory holes ended up in line with my steering column bracket, and sandwiched the lower dash flange between pedal bracket and steering column bracket! Fit like it had been planned. Other spiff was that all the brackets, std. or automatic, are 'pedal friendly'. This means that all the p***enger car pedals '52-'56 (and probably more, except for shape and length differences) are interchangable, and all have the available 'hook' for the clutch over-center spring, adjustable cam for m'cyl pushrod, and pedal upper stops. Nice stuff, if you just examine it. My F100 is 'triangulated' for strength from firewall to dash to steering column, and it is all 'free lunch'. AND, the bushings are easily (and cheaply) replaceable, keeping it all smooth and squeak-free.
The designer of the 57 Ford Retractable hardtop was the man who came up with hanging pedals. His name is Ben Smith and he holds the patent for hanging pedals. I think he was working for Ford or GM at the time. Pat.
1988, I was still a Master Tech for BMW... The new 850i (the 12 cyl. Coupe!) came in on the hauler, was unloaded and ready for me to Pre-Delivery inspect it. I performed the inspection, did all the mechanicals, installed the air dam, etc., then hooked it up to the Sun machine. When I checked the throttle values, (?) I realized the throttle was activated by a potentiometer. Startled, I adjusted it slightly to test the 'window' Yikes! Kinda 'loose'? Okay, I was curious. But when I road tested it, everything felt nice...tight...the 5 speed ****** and drive train felt just like a tight '60s MoPar. But out of the hole, it felt just like my old 409 Chevy, after the 'prep'. Smoky burnout, second gear was traction-breaking also. But that damned throttle! Oh well, I didn't have $70K for a new black Coupe. But I watched for weird accidents from sticky 12 cylinder Coupe throttles...
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