Having only ever driven tintops where the pedals pivot from above, is there a reason why the seven designs favour a floor mounted pedal box? What is considered the best option, or is it just a personal preference?

I don't really intend to deviate from the Haynes book without good reason, I just wondered why it is how it is.

I depends on how much room you have for the master cylinders.

The normal reason given is a bottom hinged pedal works with the natural movement of your ankle rather than against it. Whether it makes any real difference isn't clear (at least to me).
It also brings the weight lower in the car, but again the difference is going to be pretty marginal.

I've always felt the pedals in the book "look" a little flimsy, so it might be worth looking at the ones made from tube rather than plate since they are going to be considerably stiffer (for a similar or lighter weight).
See http://vouchtroadster.blogspot.se/2012/05/pedalier1-pedal-box1.html for details.

I'd say personal preference.

I made mine hung from the top bulkhead tube


Steering and pedals 12 Feb 06

Not that clear in this picture, holes in the pedal arms have welded tubes, effectively made from off cuts but have served me well.

Regards Mark

quote:

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Originally posted by iank
I've always felt the pedals in the book "look" a little flimsy, so it might be worth looking at the ones made from tube rather than plate since they are going to be considerably stiffer (for a similar or lighter weight).
See http://vouchtroadster.blogspot.se/2012/05/pedalier1-pedal-box1.html for details.

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That box section pedal set up looks the mutts nuts and so much more up to the job.

I'm wishing that I had made, at least the accelerator/noise pedal hang from above, for heel-toe reasons. The other 2 don't matter, but I think one can better "jab" the accelerator with their heel if the force vector isn't in line with the pivot point. But I'm no expert, so I'm sure someone will point out why I'm wrong.

Steve, in the NLs

I quite like the Strikers system, which is top hung pedals, ala most tintops, but is done mainly due the cramped nature of the chassis, but works well IMO.

Floor mounted mine, primarily because love the setup and takes up less space.







Another big benefit is the lower center of gravity, anything you can keep low, keep low. Brake parts are not light when you consider all the pieces all together.

If you do go with the floor mounted type you will most likely also want to fit some residual pressure valves in the lines, (2lbs. for discs and 10lbs. for drums) as chances are your master cylinders will sit lower than your calipers.

The ergonomic argument has always struck me as a fallacy when most of us are using top-mounted pedals 99% of the time in our tin-tops. Floor mounted (MK, MNR, Locost, Westfields) have always felt odd to me as a result. On the basis that I want my racecar to feel as natural as possible when I jump-in after weeks away, I've therefore gone for a heavily modified Escort bias box.


With lightened pedals (drilled) it weighs next to nothing too.

I think the ergonomic arguement is wrong tbh, having had floor mounted pedal boxes, they're a pain in the arse, it's natural to apply braking and clutch force with your knee, not you ankle, which has less power and less travel available, it makes it much less smooth.
The accelerator I can take or leave, but as someone said, it makes heel and toe a pain in the arse unless you physically lift your foot as you swing it.