Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[ukdave2002]

I'm concerned about the pedal positions on my MGA, if you look at the pic below, notice how high the brake and clutch pedals are


There is no adjustment as the pedals connect to the master cylinder, all of which is bolted to the chassis. My MGA was originally a LHD, so these are not the original pedals; I bought them at an autojumble years ago. I'm wondering if they may be early Sprite /Midget ?? ,very similar dual brake/clutch master cylinder and possibly shorter?

Any thoughts or advice welcome

Cheers

Dave

[Rick]

Other than comparing measurements from the floor/bulkhead to the pedals, with another UK-market car, I'm not sure how else you'd confirm whether what you have is right or not tbh I'm assuming no part numbers are visible?

R
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[47Jag]

Dave,

Is there enough space on the master cylinder bolts/studs to fit shims or washers. This would move the m/c away and drop the pedal.

Art

[ukdave2002]

Well in the end I thought I'd make the pedals to fit my big feet!

Bought some 8mm thick steel


Cut it roughly to shape with a jigsaw, and turned a coupe of the piviot bushes:



End result is a longer pedal (originals on the RHS) and a wider gap between the pedals.



Just fitted them and the car drives far better need to compete a bit of final grinding to tidy them up.

Dave

[Rick]

Nice job

RJ
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[gragol]

Just a word of warning, I would consider an additional thin plate down either side of the brake pedal to reinforce the welds. There is a significant chance of the weld shearing just either side of the weld line, and the insurance company will wriggle out of a claim if they see what you have done. As a professional restorer, I couldn't have done that to a brake pedal for liability reasons.

[ukdave2002]

[colwyn500]

Dave,

As an amateur restorer I would be extremely happy to take my chances with your high quality workmanship if I was in need of a part such as the one you have made...brilliant.

[gragol]

Sorry, It looks like I jumped to conclusions!

I thought you had welded an extension into the pedals, but now I see its just where you heated them to bend them.... ignore me!!!

[Rick]

[gragol]

Thanks Rick for digging me out!!. My point was not to criticize the pedal job, which looks good, but to point out there can be serious consequences to altering components from factory spec. particularly brakes. I know that cuts against the entire ethos of home build cars and so on, but I have always sent a note to my insurance company to have on record any such mods I have made on my private cars as well. I would recommend everyone does the same.

I have heard first hand of claims being turned down for such petty reasons that you wonder what you are actually paying your insurance for, but two such examples may be useful as illustrations;

1) a guy has his Jaguar MkII parked outside his house, and some brainless chump hits it in the night and scarpers. The insurance company refused to pay because the car had low profile SR rated tyres on it, which weren't factory spec. therefore the car was not roadworthy in their view!! It wasn't even moving!

2) Guy overtakes another car on the motorway in his classic (Jaguar again
I'm afraid) and the car spits back on acceleration and catches fire. The driver pulls onto the hard shoulder and suffers no injury, but the car is gutted.

Insurance company refuses to pay because an inspection reveals the timing was incorrect on the car, which caused the spitback, and therefore the garage who serviced the car was responsible. They suggested the owner sue the garage.

I have others stories too!!