Technical F1 Pedals in Model A -Uncomfortably tall / Height question.

Hey fellas,

Have a question regarding the height of F1, or infact any early Ford pedal. I have a set of F1 pedals and also some '40 pedals and have compared them and they are both the same height within half an inch to an inch or so.. But have them mounted in my roadster and i find they are uncomfortably high from where the floor is to the pedal pad.

Have seen in the BT book about shortening them 2" or so.. which i would love to do but we aren't really allowed to do that here.. I'm sure if i did it and didn't tell anyone no one would be any the wiser but if i do it and get caught then i've just ruined a set of pedals. Its not my welding that is in question in the process, it simply isn't allowed as far as i am aware.

So what do all of you guys think of the pedals? Do you find them uncomfortable, or too tall? I'd love to hear some opinions on this.

 

Nick, I was going to use a set of '37 pedals in my Model A but it got too difficult so I have had a set of '32 repro pedals made to fit my ch***is. These are the same height as the '37 set and are the right height.
Are you taking the raised front floor section into account. If that's not there they will feel wrong.
Mike.

 

What do you mean the raised floor section? As in the original seat riser? I've just got a narrowed ute seat sitting there and it feels comfy to sit in, the steering is pretty good.. the pedals are just about 3" too high. I can't drop the mount any lower than it already is, if anything the mount needs to go up a half inch..

I know we aren't meant to shorten the pedals.. but i can't really see a way around it. Definitely not using ugly flame cut pedals thats for sure..

 

Here is a pic of how i have the seat at the moment.. just have a bit of board ontop of the springs and the original material to cover the back.



Can see the height here how they are mounted.. same height as every other F1 in Model A ch***is thread i've ever looked at. So i don't know if guys in the states shorten the pedals or somehow deal with it.. I just know they are too damn high.

 

Heres a pic of the car.. just because.

 

Sorry, I'm talking about the toe board. They aren't like a modern car where you can rest your heel on the floor and use the pedal. It wasn't so comfortable 80 odd years ago.
If you have to cut do it right and nobody will know. There are lots of things that have to be cut and welded to get a hotrod on the road. I think sometimes there is no other way.

 

I just had a second look at the pic from the drivers seat of your car. Your pedals are the same height as mine.

 

Find a set of prefect pedals. They are 2/3 scale replicas of the US ford ones and use the same 3/4" shaft. I recently used some in an AV8 and the height is perfect.


Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

Ahhh i see. I haven't yet made the toe board, but that piece of rhs between the trans and the cowl is what is acting as a toeboard at the moment, to keep the pedals sitting in that position. I agree, i don't think there is much a way around it. I'd like them to be even just a fly **** lower.. where the bottom of the pad is now.. if that was the top, it'd be a hell of a lot more comfy.

So is yours comfy with them at that height then? I realize that you can't really heel toe it but if they were a bit lower it'd be a lot less painful to use. It might be better if i had return springs and such so that i could actually use them somewhat but keeping my feet on them seems awfully uncomfortable.

 

Ben, do the prefect pedals come up often? I'm not sure if its because i'm quite short that it seems an odd height when also sitting low in the car.

I will keep an eye out for those, sounds like a good idea!

 

I've shortened a set before and I'm going to do the set in my A pickup this week actually. I know you said your not supposed to but, if left with no choice, what else do you do? The last set I did I cut them on a 3" bias (diagonal) and it was easier to put them back together (and stronger). It made it easier to do a little magic with the flap disc and get the curves right. I doubt anyone could have noticed they were shortened without measuring. I'll throw some pics up on this thread when I start my current set.

 

can you heat and bend them
tk

 

If you shorten them, won't they bottom out on the floor?

Rich

 

I have seen the top ears on the pedals twisted, so they point down instead of up which lowers the pedal pad.

Or if that's forbidden, how about making a pedal pad with the stud offset to the edge, you would be half-way to the height you want.

Maybe use a '49 style rectangular pedal or an off-brand oval pedal with an offset and get a little lower yet.

 

I know what you mean, i don't really know what guys do when theres no other way around.. I only need to lower them maybe 2" or so. I doubt anyone would notice they were 2" shorter but if we do get caught on it then its "ruined" a pair of pedals.

I considered that but then apparently it'll change the pedal ratio and the swing of the pedal through the floor, resulting in a bigger space for the pedal. I don't really see an issue with a slightly bigger floor opening but pedal ratio may be an issue?

I'm talking about shortening from the pivot on the bottom to where it bends out into the toeboard. Not the toeboard to pedal pad area.

I have seen pedals with an offset pedal pad, that actually is a really good idea. If i could gain an inch from that i'd be halfway there. I think macs sell an offset pedal pad actually. I have also considered twisting the pedal pad mount around to lower it a little bit further.. I may need to look into that too.

Ultimately cutting them would be the easiest way to do it. I found a guy last night who is reasonably local that has a pair of prefect pedals that he'd sell, maybe quite cheap.. and is going to measure them for me so if they are a few inches shorter i'll buy them and that'll solve my problem.

 

You can't just lower the pivot point away from the floor? That lowers the pedal pad height, doesn't it?

 

If you can't lower the pedals 2", can you raise the floor in that area 2" ?

 

I can't really lower the pedals any more than they already are.. otherwise they'll be hanging down in the ch***is too far. I don't really want to raise the seat up anymore because then i think i'll be sitting too high. I like where the seat, steering wheel, shifter ect is.. just the pedals. I think if the prefect pedals don't work then i'm just going to cut them and hope for the best. Or i'll look at the offset pedal pads.

 

maybe reduce the push rodsto the clutch and master cylinder? I have the same problem soon before me and am looking for solution.

 

Here's mine, stock F1 pedals, I don't see why yours would be different.

 

Maybe i'm just not used to these early cars and their pedals being so tall, or perhaps once the seat is upholstered it may sit me up another inch or so.

 

I'm using F1 pedals in my AV8. I bent them to fit right. Using stock floor. The pedals work fine.

 

Look at the pedal pads sold by Drake. They are adjustable (the pad). Should be more adjustment than you need

 

I guess it must just be something i'll have to get used to. Cheers for the opinions guys!