| Chapter
5, Mile Post #6:“Establishing & installing the
Clutch & Brake systems” (Click here to read Chapter 4.)
Start Date 10-20-08
A big part
of any car construction project is to establish and
install the Brake, Clutch petals and controls. In the
race car fashion floor mounted and bottom pivoted pedals
were selected. There are a number of reasons for this
decision;
1: First is the fact that good quality vendors make
these assemblies for the race car industry,
2: Bottom pivot petals allow for under floor control
rods and placement of the hydraulic reservoirs in a
location other than on the engine firewall.
3: A more natural foot position during operation is
achieved.
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CNC
pedal “cluster” with 8” of four
/ aft adjustment.
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Control
rods can be seem exiting the “tunnel”
thru the main support tube.Notice the sturdy floor
pans, designed for solid footing. |
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The
reservoirs were located behind the driver’s
seat for easy servicing and to allow the firewall
to remain clean and free of the “ugly”
parts. Two control rods were run from the bottom
of the pedal levers through a tunnel which exited
behind the seat rails and supports. The reservoirs
were mounted on the aft side of the main support
structure of the floor and transmission “Box”
section. This heavy duty 1-1/2” square box
tube runs from side to side and under the transmission
rear mount. Keep in mind that both the brake and
clutch throw out are hydraulic systems. |
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The
control rods running from main support tube to rear
seat support tube.
Strong, light and protected as they connect to the hydraulic
reservoirs.
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As
can be seen in the photos the control rods will
exit the box tube and continue to the rear seat
support. The tunnel will have a removable bottom
cover that will give easy access to the rods,
levers connections and rod ends. This easy access
will also give the owner the ability to re-position
the pedal assembly bracket for short or long legged
drivers. Up to 8” of adjustment is available
for pedal adjustment. This can be seen with our
two volunteers setting in the cockpit. The one
driver is 6’3” and the other is 5’10.
We have had drivers as tall as 6’5”
and as short as 5’2” making the “test
fit” and telling us that the feeling is
“good”. |
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The
hydraulic reservoirs are seen here mounted to the rear
seat support rail.
Easy to get at and out of the way, they will not be
affected by engine heat.
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| To complete
the floor construction strong square support tubes were
set in place to give maximum strength in the “step
in the cockpit” area of the floor board. There will
be no spring or a bounce while the driver steps into the
cockpit and takes his or her place behind the wheel. Once
the fiberglass floor boards are in place a water tight
cockpit will be the result. You know what we mean by “water
tight”, free from road splash. Who needs water tight
when the cockpit is open to the wide blue sky?
In the next
chapter we will discuss the seat location and fitting.
We must make sure we give plenty of room and comfort
for soft bottoms and broad shoulders. - Carl Myers
Click here to read Chapter 6. |
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