Frankie the Fink

Now I feel like rich5962....a simple job turns in to a big question mark.
Refurbishing some REALLY nit-picking things on the car so I order lots of correct nuts, bolts, expansion tank cap, etc. I take up the gas pedal and find there is NO wooden spacer block under it as shown in the AIM and the Philip's head screws are a good bit shorter than the repros I just got - they prob wouldn't even bite if the spacer was there. So a few questions:

1) Is the spacer supposed to be there ? If so, on all SWC configurations - this isn't one of those VIN range things right ? Like hood blocks ?

2) Does the spacer go under the carpet ? That is what I think but the AIM is a little fuzzy on that.

3) IF I USE THE SPACER than the end of the metal gas pedal rod will
start out (gas pedal NOT depressed) at the extreme inboard lower edge of the nylon slider on the back of the pedal....it JUST makes it on enough to work smoothly...can anybody check their 63 for this?

4) Does my gas pedal look correct based on #3 above ? You can see the issue with the downrod in the last picture...

jim lockwood

I'm not bold enough to say that spacer shouldn't be there. I can say, though, that my '63 roadster doesn't have one and that I don't remember one on my SWC from decades ago.

Frankie the Fink

Item #11 in this '63 AIM page....and on second look, it may be sitting ON TOP of the carpet...
Of course, like knock off wheels it doesn't mean it made it into production in '63

I don't have the spacer either and my carpet is almost certainly original and the shorter screws for the gas pedal look original too.
So now, I don't know what is up....

movinup

There was no spacer on my 63 when I replaced the original carpet.

Frankie the Fink

Thanks!

I'm thinking NO SPACER. There is nothing in Noland Adams C2 Tech Ref Guide on this topic, and, although the AIM shows the spacer, the latest JG states the accelerator pedal is mounted with two 1" cadmium bolts (which is what mine had) -- if you go by that there can NOT be a spacer because the bolts won't be long enough to even get started. I'm not using the spacer and will keep my old bolts I'm thinking.

tuxnharley

Is that something that judges would even look at - make you pull up the carpet to check? What does the NCRS '63 judging guide say about this? Or are you just compulsive?

I'm thinking this might fall under the category of "if it ain't broke don't fix it..."

Frankie the Fink

As I stated the JG calls for 1" cad bolts in the pedal (no mention of a spacer)....meaning they won't be long enough for the spacer so I ain't using it.... Just interesting its shown in the AIM...

Don't care if the judges never see it; I just want the gas pedal working right with correct parts.

MikeM

I don't see any approval signatures on that drawing. Just a drawing. Maybe just as well have been a Dennis the Menace cartoon.

tuxnharley

So with original carpet, I'm guessing it was working right for the past 52 years?
Bless you for being so detail oriented!



PS - sorry, I missed your reference to the JG in post #5.

Frankie the Fink

I'm guessing it was too....

The car also worked great when I got it with an incorrect Edlebrock manifold and AFB carb on it... It would prob work with an Isuzu motor in it too... But I don't live in Cuba.

tuxnharley

So you're gonna remove the Vintage Air and Dynomat in the quest for period correctness?

tuxnharley

Makes sense, and I do understand. Not that my car will ever be judged - or be as close to correct as yours is - but I do love my Tremec 5 spd!

morly1963

I can go out and check my car. Built May 15 or 18 I forget which.

Frankie the Fink

Well - in editing my prior response to you tux I fat-fingered it into oblivion....
Not retyping all that either....but you get the idea...

Frankie the Fink

It would be interesting to have more data points so sure...
The 'spoiler' will be the fella with an original '63 that DOES have the spacer

tbarb

To the best of my knowledge 63's did not use the spacer. The rod changed in 64 so that may be when the spacer started. Is the bolt length exactly 1"?

Question for you, if you go under the hood of your 63 and unhook the rod from the carburetor and move the lever (at the firewall) to the WOT position does the bump on the lever hit the firewall before the lever stops. On my November 1962 built coupe, the lever hits the firewall at the angle where the rod/lever bolt together and does not travel far enough to contact the firewall at the little camel hump on the lever.

I am thinking the nut plate was riveted on the firewall off a bit causing interference at this point and not letting the lever travel it's full motion to the firewall stop.

Anybody else encounter this with there 63, all parts, rod, lever, etc. are correct 63 parts. I have never been able too figure this out just that maybe the nut plate is riveted off some. As a result the gas pedal sits just a bit higher than feels comfortable.

MikeM

If Chevy released a spacer block for the gas pedal, it was probably tied in with 2X4 blocks for the brake and clutch for short legged drivers.

I can't find an option number for such.

morly1963

OK Frankie, good thing I looked-no spacer. But my gas pedal is needing to be replaced as you can see. I dont think the bolts holding the pedal are right. Had a shop put in new rugs 16yrs ago and they lost all the seat bolts so I guess these are not original-seem kinda long also. Whats original? Phillips head? Where did u get the pedal?
Thanks.

Frankie the Fink

Philip's head 1" cadmium bolts for the gas pedal....Zip has them....
They also have correct seat mount bolts (I just replaced those too)...

I'm still using the pedal that's on the car; but Zip has those too...

BADBIRDCAGE

You get the pedal from a source like LICS.

My 63, serial number under 4000, build date Nov 27, 1962, had the spacer under the pedal assembly.