CSX Pedal spacing

[twobjshelbys]

Well, the lights in the room just got bright...

I'd been trying the heel-and-toe downshift on the Cobra with no success.

Then this week at the Bondurant school I got to drive a Corvette and a Formula Mazda and really practice and use it...

Today I powered up the Cobra and tried it again.

Well, there's no way. The spacing from the brake to the accelerator pedal is way too far to reach with roll of the ankle. If I were to guess it's more like the distance would be more to the ankle bone - way too far to consider it working.

Are they all like this???

Can someone post a picture of their pedals? I'll get one of mine and try to get a tape measure in the photo.

[1985 CCX]

I have from left to right
Dead pedal 2.25" clutch 1.5" brake 2.25" Gas pedal

[LMH]

I actually don't use my "heal" to pop the gas pedal. I roll my foot to the right while pushing the brake with the left side of my foot.
Most throw in their own little quirks to make it work. Pedal spacing is important too.
Larry

[patrickt]

[mickmate]

I'm glad you brought this up. I'm setting up spacing and position on mine right now. They can be adjusted to suit but I'd recommend getting a measurement and adjusting (bending or straightening) them out of the car.

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by LMH

I actually don't use my "heal" to pop the gas pedal. I roll my foot to the right while pushing the brake with the left side of my foot.
Most throw in their own little quirks to make it work. Pedal spacing is important too.
Larry

That's correct. The "heel and toe" part of it is kind of an old time thing. On the cars at the class it was a slight roll of the foot to the right. We could hit the top of the accel pedal on the Corvettes with the top of the middle portion of the foot before the ankle. On the Mazdas it was lower.

From the others it doesn't look too easy to do the maneuver on those either.

I'll get a pic of my footbox later today.

[LMH]

A good wide, flat, butt-ugly foot helps a lot too!
Larry

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by LMH

A good wide, flat, butt-ugly foot helps a lot too!
Larry

I was thinking trading the well worn in Reeboks for Clown Shoes.

[twobjshelbys]

Pics from mine

Spacing between clutch and brake is close but comfortable - basically ball of the foot on each pedal.



In normal driving the spacing from the brake to the accelerator is fine, but it's way too far to reach with heel and toe (at least with a roll of the foot style, and too short to do a real toe-on-the-brake to heel-on-the-gas blip without getting the right toe portion of the foot against the clutch foot. Plus the brake, even when depressed, is a lot higher than the accelerator.

[gsharapa]

My brake pedal and accelerator are real close in fact I shaved the right side of the brake pedal a bit. Also you can adjust your accelerator pedal up a bit higher which makes heel and toe much easier. I have to wear racing shoes to drive my car...

[1985 CCX]

Might be easy enough to just get straight units versus the slightly bent. I know for me I need to have driving shoes or the multiple pedal thing occurs.
Mickmate can set you up with stright units with original stamp. That's key....(stamp)
Then you could keep your original set in the event you wanted to change back...
Should be a 20 minute swap.

[LMH]

You also have to keep in mind the relationship of the brake pedal to the gas pedal when the brake is applied. I've driven cars that the brake moved about a 1/4" and the gas was still far away. Could be you need a little adjustment side to side and also front to back.
Larry

[mickmate]

Those stinkin Clecos make it hard to heel and toe! I don't think I have enough room for a dead pedal or even to get my foot by the clutch to rest it when driving. I've straightened out the gas to clear the right side. Originals had either straight or offset gas pedals but a different footbox. I'm thinking about trying some straight(er) brake and clutch pedals.

[mickmate]

The invisible man driving in size 11's.

There's about 3/4" of heat insulation, carpet etc PER SIDE! That might "fall out" to give me more foot room.

[1985 CCX]

Nick

The 4000 cars seem to have narrow foot box's? Maybe the 289 (like mine) were larger as 289's came with dead pedals and the 427 may have caused those box's to shrink..... to fit that big FE?

[mickmate]

Didn't someone just suggest using 427 footboxes in a 289 for more foot room? I will compare the 4000 footbox width to the originals. It looks like you have about 1/2" less between brake and clutch than me. I remember trying yours out and it felt pretty good.

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Well, the lights in the room just got bright...

I'd been trying the heel-and-toe downshift on the Cobra with no success.

Then this week at the Bondurant school I got to drive a Corvette and a Formula Mazda and really practice and use it...

Today I powered up the Cobra and tried it again.

Well, there's no way. The spacing from the brake to the accelerator pedal is way too far to reach with roll of the ankle. If I were to guess it's more like the distance would be more to the ankle bone - way too far to consider it working.

Are they all like this???

Can someone post a picture of their pedals? I'll get one of mine and try to get a tape measure in the photo.

The original pedal configuration is terrible on these cars, I fabricated new pedals that move the clutch as far to the left as possible and then built a new wider brake pedal that allows you to left foot brake or roll on the throttle for downshifts. I have large feet (size 13) and could not drive the car properly with the original pedals. My throttle is stock in size but has a much longer travel. I used all the same bushing design and ratios on the lower end of the pedals just changed the size and offset on top half. The throttle is in just the right spot to blip from a fully applied brake position.

[frankym]

Cobra 3170 can you post pics of your mod and show before/after. Also what mfg of cobra do you have?

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by frankym

Cobra 3170 can you post pics of your mod and show before/after. Also what mfg of cobra do you have?

I posted a couple of pictures in my gallery of the pedals along with an upside down tape (sorry about that but you will get the idea). Now I should tell you that the brake was initially 2" wider on the throttle side ,note the big offset.
I finally trimmed it to the current width because I have huge feet (size 13) and I kept catching the throttle during brake application with narrower feet I would go for a wider brake pedal. This set up is great if you like to left foot brake.
The original pedals are crated up with all the other stuff so really no photo available other than what Computerworks has of original cars. The manufacturer of this car was ol Shel hisself in 1965. I fabed the pedals with bronze bushes just like the originals and they fit in the stock foot box.

[1985 CCX]

Holy Schmoly