Clutch and brake grommets

[38plymouth]

I pulled the floor on my 38 plymouth to replace the grommets and to get to the master cylinder so I can rebuild it. I have these grommets forever a d think they came from bernbaum. Anyway they are a little different shape than the originals but look like they should work. However, my pedals aren't centered in the floor opening so the grommets can't lock into the groove correctly. Any thoughts here? I'm wondering if I unbolt the entire pedal assembly from the frame if there might be enough play to center them? I haven't tried anything yet since I need to order some parts. Hoping someone here knows a solution before I start really digging into it.

I have the new grommets installed on the clutch pedal in the pic.

[TodFitch]

They are not grommets that fit into a groove in the floor with the shaft sliding on them. They are pads that ride up and down with the pedal and when the pedal is up close off the hole on the floor board. As such you have them installed upside down if I am seeing the photo properly.

[38plymouth]

24 minutes ago, TodFitch said:

They are not grommets that fit into a groove in the floor with the shaft sliding on them. They are pads that ride up and down with the pedal and when the pedal is up close off the hole on the floor board. As such you have them installed upside down if I am seeing the photo properly.

I'm installing them the same way as the ones that were on the car. I believe they could be original because the car is a very low mileage original car but I'm not 100% positive. Here's a picture of the one that came off the clutch pedal next to the new one. Even still if they don't fit in the slot they are off center and don't seal the hole.

[Eneto-55]

42 minutes ago, TodFitch said:

They are not grommets that fit into a groove in the floor with the shaft sliding on them. They are pads that ride up and down with the pedal and when the pedal is up close off the hole on the floor board. As such you have them installed upside down if I am seeing the photo properly.

I have wondered if they were actually intended to maintain that area closed, even when the pedals are depressed.  So if they are just meant to seal the area when the pedal is up, I think I would make something of a bit different design, something with a spring, perhaps.  Or maybe one of those "accordian" type boots that modern vehicles use to run the wire loom into the doors - fix the bottom end, and let the top end compress against the bottom of the floor when the pedals are released, as per your description of the originals.

Or, perhaps some sort of leather boot affair, long enough to allow free movement of the pedals. I think I would attached it at the top side, however.  But I haven't experimented with this yet.

Presumably the purpose is to prevent dust, water spray, and fumes from entering the cabin.  I haven't figured out how to get up in there to close it, but my 46 has a gap in the sheet metal way up in the left cowl area behind the cowl to frame brace/mount that goes right into the space in front of the left front door.  I cannot actually see it, just feeling up in there from the bottom.  And I know for sure that there is no such opening on the right side.  It's as if the sheet metal piece that forms that area was missing a corner, and it was just used anyway.  From feeling up in there, it's clear to me that it is a factory cut edge - not a ragged edge at all.  And I'm pretty sure no cables or such like went up through there.

[38plymouth]

I just unbolted the entire bracket assembly from the frame and there isn't a lot of play there. I think I may just install them backwards from the way they are now. I feel like that might actually cover the hole better. Maybe mine were changed out and installed backwards.

[Bob Riding]

This is what I found on my '52 Suburban- looks homemade to me, but probably worked OK as a draft seal. Notice on the backside, how the pedal shafts are not centered, just like yours.

[38plymouth]

Just an update I got my car back together and my grommets were installed upside down. The flat side should be facing you and seal against the bottom of the floor pan. It did make a difference when they are installed correctly with the amount of fumes that get into the car when driving.