Hot Rods Hand Clutch in a Lakes / Modified

What are every ones thoughts on a Hand Clutch? I built a 1919 Okland streched the boby 6 inches 4 cylinder Pinto engine with a manual transmission cowl is so tight theres no room for a clutch pedal .

 

Use a suspension pedal assembly mounted under dash.

 

Theres no foot Room

 

All I can say is my 91 Harley is easier to ride than my 39 Indian.. but where would you put it and use it as your shifting and steering.

 

My Dad had on in his race car years ago it worked fine was woundering if it would Help or Hurt the Resale ?

 

Remember, do not stand on the ground behind the car and operate the clutch while hooking up implements.

 

How about posting some interior shots then to help illuminate your problem? Hand brakes were common on early cars and racers. But they’d be cumbersome on a street car, especially in traffic.

 

A suspended assembly would have all three pedals and master cylinders mounted up and behind the dash. No room for that - assuming coordination with your steering column, drop, shaft, etc.?

 

I'm trying to imagine how you'd shift with one hand, work the clutch with the other, and steer with the 3rd hand? All while traveling down the dry lakes! And I wonder if it could even pass tech inspections?
I think it really needs to be foot operated for safety, or an automatic trans and no clutch needed.

 

Its for the street

 

Just a thought, but if one hand is operating the clutch and the other is shifting the gears how would the car be steered?

 

Perfect case for doing a center seat/center steer set up with brake pedal and gas on the right and the clutch set up on the left. Or do a brake and clutch pedal and a manual throttle of some sort.

 

If you are worried about it's resale at this stage, sell it now and build something that works for you. JW

 

I had a green tractor with a hand clutch.

 

Should be able to squeeze the clutch and brake pedal in there. Usually the problem is size of the driver’s feet! That area is always tight in ALL hot rods and especially, Model T size hot rods. How about hydraulic clutch linkage… but move the clutch arm to the passenger side of the bell housing…away from the drivers feet.

 

Same, and it seems like almost all of my motorcycles have had them too!

 

Clutch lever on the shifter, vertically, with the pivot low.

Grip, shift, release.


Are the disabled prohibited from racing? It would seem that there might be a state or Federal agency, or two, that might take issue with that.

 

I had thought about the clutch lever on the shifter. With a hydraulic setup would a person have enough hand strength to to depress pressure plate.

 

You would be better off with a foot clutch and hand throttle.

 

Hand clutch has been done before, especially for the driver whose clutch leg doesn't operate as it use to.

Item below is currently for sale ....

 

I have 8E width feet, short and wiiide. I'm building a 23 t with 3 pedals. I used 1972 Austin Mini pedals turned upside down. You can make something similar to fit. Here's a picture of the setup. Unless you have narrowed your body, I believe it has more room for the pedals than a 23. Also take a look at Marty Strode's #10 track roadster thread. His pedals are old Ford and bigger than the Mi i pedals. I bet you can get something to fit down in your car.

 

I raced shifterkarts in the early eighties and used this from a Honda Odyssey.

 

A number of motorcycles have used a cable-to-master cylinder arrangement, so hydraulic can be done.