Dropped footboxes and other adjustments?
 

I know most of the scratch builders are building to roughly original specs so I know this question is probably sacrilegous to some of you. Try to hold your nose for a bit if necessary. :):)

I've never liked the feel of sitting with my legs straight out for long driving periods. I know that with the right seats you can adjust quite a bit of your position to make up for this which is why I'm going with the Sube Cobra SS seats in the end.
However, I've ridden in several Factory five cars with the dropped footboxes and found them very comfortable to ride in compared to the flat bottomed original style footboxes.
I've been trying to figure out how to accomplish this with an original style build and wanted to run an idea past the experts here.

Since I'm using the Wilwood hanging pedal set up and original style footboxes from Tim Gunning, my driver's footbox floor is available for "modification". I was thinking of making up an aluminum pan and cutting it into the floor of the footbox for about a 2-3" dropped box and more foot room in both footboxes. I would then just rivet it in place to stiffen the footbox where material will be removed.

Also, I'm trying to finalize my idea for mounting the Wilwood hanging pedal set up. My plan at this point is to wrap the front/upper 1/2 or more of the footbox with 10-12 guage metal to include the front of the footbox. This should stiffen the footbox enough to give me mounting points for my clutch/brake set up and handle the stresses of hard braking on a road course. If necessary, I will tie it into the 3/4" square tube above the footbox and the chassis somehow to add some additional structure for heavy use.

What do you guys think of this idea? Do you think I'll need to glass over the dropped box to add additional structure to the dropped footboxes? Do you think the metal footbox wrap will be stiff enough to handle heavy braking loads with my size 10 feet? :) Any other ideas, criticisms, good jokes welcome.....

Bob

I think every scratch builder can relate to that word....."roughly":)
My build is probably sacrilegous because of my "automatic trans" use, even though it's a full manual auto.
Hence the topic of footboxs.....two pedals instead of three. I'm using a Wilwood floor mount brake pedal with two single master cylinders and built my own pedal box. The pedal box mounts in "close" relationship to the original location but higher. Which introduces another problem.........header clearance. Had to fab a heat shield for master cylinders.
Bob, sounds like metal reinforcement of footbox will be required. I tied my footboxes to my square tubing by using two bolts. Helps with support of boxes. I'll find pics.
Maybe there's a way to support the pedals from the main hoop and firewall tubing??
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...0/IMG_2329.JPG

dropped?
 

Bob,

there seems to be nothing wrong with your approach. Hanging pedals with dropped footbox. Just widen the existing (?) cutout in the floor for the standing pedals and make up a pan to drop the floor for your heels.

the original pedal box, if you have it, will not accommodate two heels. It's not wide enough.

also, keep an eye on the throttle pedal. I mean the right foot. You may be too close to the main rails to fit a dropped box here...
Or angle your foot slightly.
Modify your foot! haha...

On the other hand, I don't really see the benefit. My 917 also has standing pedals on a level floor and I raced 24h Du Mans with it - I wish! ;-)

Dominik

Dave,
That is exactly what I had in mind for bolting in my footboxes. However, I don't think I'll change my tubing to 1" at this point. :) If I need to, I'll add a support to the chassis or some other point if this doesn't seem to hold up to "spirited" braking.
My pedal box is the Wilwood reverse hanging set up, so the cylinders will be inside the pedal box with the reservoirs on the firewall or other convenient place. Shouldn't be any problem with heat, I hope.

Dom,
This chassis didn't come with the pedal box and the pedal box support tube was on the right hand side for some reason. Right hand drive maybe? I just cut it out and now have no impediments below either footbox.

Thanks for the input guys, any other suggestions, support, outright ridicule.......??? :):)

Bob