We had our first beautiful day here yesterday in Mass - sunny and around 70 (yes - last week we did get snow and rain!). Took the 23 touring out and gave it the once over and went for a little ride. Took out one of the 24 coupes and did some work on that. Then my son wanted to work on the speedster I've been building. It's a 20's style enclose speedster - something like a Mercury. I had a junk engine block and hogs head stuck in there just to check clearances (no pedals). We pulled that out and installed a complete engine assembly (complete with pedals) so I could fab up some seats and make sure it was comfortable reaching the pedals. That's when I discovered that when I press the low pedal it hits the bottom of the steering column! I guess I've lowered it a little too much. Measuring up from the top of the frame rails to the center of the steering column I have about 24". Could someone with a speedster measure the distance from the center of the steering wheel nut to the top of the frame so I can get an idea of where I should be?



Thanks,
Dave S.

Dave,

Though my Speedster/Pickup looks nothing like your Speedster, the center of the nut (measured at the hex) is 21.5" above the "floor". The "floor" is 4" above the frame. I don't know if that helps you any.

Seth

Thanks Seth,

Hmm, that's only an 1.5" different than mine. How close does your pedal come to the bottom of the steering column?



Dave S.

Dave,

The low pedal (pre-improved car like yours) is a mile away from the steering column. If anything could ever hit the steering column, it would be the reverse pedal - but it would have to have a mega-loose band for that to happen.

My steering column center is some 2/3 of the way between the clutch and reverse - closer to the reverse pedal.

Seth

Thanks,

I had made a new firewall and I bet I got the hole for the steering column in the wrong place!

Thanks,
Dave

You might have to bend your pedal a bit over to the side then check for clearance with the hand brake lever. I had the same situation when I lowered and shortened my steering column. Being a bit on the short side, I had to shorten my column to reach the pedals !

For those who don't know Ben Yumori, he's on the left, I'm on the right. Olympia,WA 2000 Milenium National Tour.

Dave,

Both pedals pressed. Position is great - my big feet never scuff the steering column!

Seth

Ive seen people bend and or cut the pedal ...

Well, I played around some this afternoon and came to the conclusion that if I raised the mounting point on the firewall 1 inch it would clear the pedal. I cut out the mounting area, cut out the firewall and rewelded in the mounting area. Now the steering column clears the pedal just fine - except I have to drive with my hands over the top of my head and look out through the steering wheel. I really don't want to change the seat height because it is comfortable and my arm rests comfortably on the side of the body. If I raise the seat to match the steering wheel then the body will be too low and I will have to raise the sides of the body. Since I like the proportions of the body as they are I think I'll put the steering column back where it was and modify the pedal. Of course, that means making a new firewall from scratch as I now have a big hole in the one I had.

0 steps forward - 5 steps back! Should have stayed in bed today.

Dave S.

Use the low pedal from a 26-27 style hogs head then you will have clearence.
JS

I had to bend my pedal over just a little. If you make a nice double bend so that the pedal still stands vertical versus just simply pushing it to the left, it will hardly be noticeable.

Dave
You might consider a early small diameter steering wheel.

I like Jerry's idea; just relocate the pedal a bit. If it can't go to the left, cut and shorten it. It's just the low pedal and your improved seating position ought to give you plenty of leverage on it, even if the pedal arm is a bit shorter than stock

Put the steering wheel where it is comfortable for you and then just heat up the pedal with a torch and
bend it to the left so that you have clearance around the steering column. A second bend near the pedal head will straignten/align it with the other pedals and you are done. No need to cut and shorten it, just move it so that you have clearance and room for your foot. Don't bend it toward the firewall as you will create issues with being able to get complete band tightening and / or a correct neutral.