Brake and clutch pedal

[Probey53]

Anyone move the clutch and brake pedals from the floor to the fire wall on a 53 pickup .

If so what was used .

[Plymouthy Adams]

not on the truck but on the Plymouth car I have...was a real easy job but you would have to understand my build to see the reasoning....I do suggest that you take the firewall from the pedal donor vehicle and transfer it to your firewall...it will be a lot easier and the firewall is already stiffened for such peal usage..

[Probey53]

What was the car that you put it in to ? Any pics

[Plymouthy Adams]

another note...watch you steering column position so to ensure the pedals do not hit the lower part of the column itself..have seen this done by another person on their attempt to install such...

[Plymouthy Adams]

1948 Plymouth business coupe...can check my gallery if you like..limited but a couple shots there

Edited May 13, 2016 by Plymouthy Adams

[timkingsbury]

not on the truck but on the Plymouth car I have...was a real easy job but you would have to understand my build to see the reasoning....I do suggest that you take the firewall from the pedal donor vehicle and transfer it to your firewall...it will be a lot easier and the firewall is already stiffened for such peal usage..

Just curious - and what do you base your recommendation on taking a piece of a firewall from a donor truck 1st ?

 

In other words, how much do you really know about the trucks ?   Not trying to pick a fight and I realize you love to post on just about every topic on every forum, but I really wonder if you are not in the deep end of the pool on this topic.  But happy to hear the details behind your recommendation.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I have some experience with the early truck...I did own a 1941 Dodge...as having owned them and having installed big block and 833 four speed into it..I feel quite at home commenting.  I have also had to repair other folks cars that were equipped with the swing pedal only to have the tin canning effect of the lighter metal that was not braced or reinforced proper crack completely....I comment mainly on subjects that I have been totally evolved in and can speak with truth supported by fact and negative effects when not done properly by others...again..this is my experience and my recommendation. Feel free to post your own...I will not argue your findings as I have never seen any of your work...it would be fruitless to attack you...man asked for experiences..thus my valid reply

[55 Fargo]

I have some experience with the early truck...I did own a 1941 Dodge...as having owned them and having installed big block and 833 four speed into it..I feel quite at home commenting.  I have also had to repair other folks cars that were equipped with the swing pedal only to have the tin canning effect of the lighter metal that was not braced or reinforced proper crack completely....I comment mainly on subjects that I have been totally evolved in and can speak with truth supported by fact and negative effects when not done properly by others...again..this is my experience and my recommendation. Feel free to post your own...I will not argue your findings as I have never seen any of your work...it would be fruitless to attack you...man asked for experiences..thus my valid reply

Post Deleted

Edited May 15, 2016 by Fargos-Go-Far

[timkingsbury]

I have some experience with the early truck...I did own a 1941 Dodge...as having owned them and having installed big block and 833 four speed into it..I feel quite at home commenting.  I have also had to repair other folks cars that were equipped with the swing pedal only to have the tin canning effect of the lighter metal that was not braced or reinforced proper crack completely....I comment mainly on subjects that I have been totally evolved in and can speak with truth supported by fact and negative effects when not done properly by others...again..this is my experience and my recommendation. Feel free to post your own...I will not argue your findings as I have never seen any of your work...it would be fruitless to attack you...man asked for experiences..thus my valid reply

Your 1941 Dodge, did you move the pedals from the floor to the firewall ?  And if so you found the firewall metal light and therefore you cut out the firewall out

of another truck ?

 

Or is your recommendation on what he should do with his truck, based on your experience with cars ?

[Plymouthy Adams]

pedals were hung on the firewall...support brackets also transfer and often require a slight bit of fabrcation..study your donor complete with the brackets and braces whatever it's source may be and make your own call...it has been 26 years and the truck is still doing fine..again, man asked if anyone has done this..I have and I have commented on my finding...again, as the man is asking all input, feel free to post how you did yours

[timkingsbury]

pedals were hung on the firewall...support brackets also transfer and often require a slight bit of fabrcation..study your donor complete with the brackets and braces whatever it's source may be and make your own call...it has been 26 years and the truck is still doing fine..again, man asked if anyone has done this..I have and I have commented on my finding...again, as the man is asking all input, feel free to post how you did yours

I am trying to understand what your recommendation was based on.  I realize after 26 years the details get tough to remember, believe me I am the captain of a similar boat.  But if you truck is still around after 26 years I am sure it would be easy to check.   So you cut out a chunk of firewall from a donor truck with pedals

on the fire wall and welded that into your pickup ?

[ggdad1951]

Accusatory talk and fight picking WILL STOP NOW!  

 

STOP IT ALL OF YOU!  

 

The Ban Hammer has been released and has been used.  Someone has already gotten 3 days off. You know WHO you are and you know WHAT you are doing.  Be big boys and play nice.

 

Mods of the forum.

[Probey53]

I am just trying to find out what car or truck clutch brake assembly would work for what i am trying to do , my clutch pedal is vary loose and the brake pedal bushing is bad to that's why i am thinking of moving them to the fire wall .

[Jeff Balazs]

Unless you are re powering or doing some pretty substantial mods most of us just work with the standard arrangement. These can generally be bushed or repaired and will last for many more years of service.

 

Jeff

[MBF]

I'll second what Jeff said-it would be a major engineering task to convert the oringal bellhousing mounted clutch linkage to a firewall mounted pedal asm.  When I got my 1 ton 20 yrs ago the pedal moved side to side a great deal.  Upon removal of the pedal itself I could see that the opening in the pedal was hogged out.  I found another pedal from another truck which took care of most of the problem.   Shortly after I did this, a machinist friend told me that he would have bored the opening and made a bushing if I wasn't able to live with the used pedal.   I would imagine the same thing would apply to the brake pedal. 

[Don Coatney]

Most swing pedal conversions I have seen use hydraulics for the clutch linkage. However firewall stability is paramount and must be addressed. I would sure hate to slam on the brake pedal for an emergency stop and have the firewall cave in. 

[NiftyFifty]

I think Plymouth has a good idea of using the donor firewall section, even if you just take enough to mount it to your original firewall and brace things up for the added pressures. Are you planning a swap to another powertrain where you lose the originals?

[Dave72dt]

Most swing pedal conversions I have seen use hydraulics for the clutch linkage. However firewall stability is paramount and must be addressed. I would sure hate to slam on the brake pedal for an emergency stop and have the firewall cave in. 

 

I agree Don.  It's the constant flexing of the firewall when pressure is applied that may crack the firewall around the mounting bolts without adequate bracing or reinforcement that would worry me the most.

 

  I made a swinging pedal setup for the brakes in my truck..  My truck is a major modified with the factory firewall and dash removed.  Power brake unit is mounted through the new 16 gauge firewall, backed up with a 3/16" plate on the inside, double 1" square tubing braces that go back to a 1" square cross brace that goes from A pillar to A pillar and has the bottom of the new dash panel attached to it.   It'll be more difficult to work the hanging pedals into a stock dash since you'll have to work around what's already in place.  I was starting with a blank slate and am using an automatic trans and now have other parts that need to be installed around the brake pedal and steering column.