Bodywork, Paint, Interior, Trim, & Wiring

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rficalora
Rob Ficalora
Willis, TX
(2764 posts)

Registered:
10/24/2007 02:46PM

Main British Car:
'76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302

authors avatar
bending pedals
Posted by: rficalora
Date: November 01, 2012 09:32PM

I want to shift my brake/clutch pedals to the left about 2" to make room to move my accelerator to also move left. I don't have access to an oxy/acetylene torch. What are the odds I can heat them using a propane torch enough to bend them? Other ideas assuming the answer is snowball's chance?


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4576 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: bending pedals
Posted by: Moderator
Date: November 01, 2012 09:57PM

I don't recall heating mine at all.


rficalora
Rob Ficalora
Willis, TX
(2764 posts)

Registered:
10/24/2007 02:46PM

Main British Car:
'76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: bending pedals
Posted by: rficalora
Date: November 01, 2012 10:00PM

Serious? They're like 3/8" thick. Did you just use a vise and mini-sledge?


MGB-FV8
Jacques Mathieu
Alexandria, VA
(299 posts)

Registered:
09/11/2009 08:55PM

Main British Car:
1977 MGB Small Block Ford, 331 Stroker

Re: bending pedals
Posted by: MGB-FV8
Date: November 01, 2012 10:28PM

I'm not sure but, can't you just move the whole pedal box over some?


rficalora
Rob Ficalora
Willis, TX
(2764 posts)

Registered:
10/24/2007 02:46PM

Main British Car:
'76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: bending pedals
Posted by: rficalora
Date: November 01, 2012 11:05PM

Might have been able to when I was building the car, but it's painted and brake lines are in it now. I think it'll be way easier to bend the pedals at this point.


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4576 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: bending pedals
Posted by: Moderator
Date: November 01, 2012 11:53PM

Yeah man. Give it a try. I think you'll find you don't have to hit them nearly as hard as you think.


BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: bending pedals
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: November 02, 2012 08:21AM

They are mild steel, all you need is leverage. A big vise and a very large crescent wrench works well, or possibly a pipe wrench if you pad the jaws. Bear in mind you will have to correct the angle of the pads and it will change the vertical height of the pads, probaply moving the clutch up and the brake down.

Jim



roverman
Art Gertz
Winchester, CA.
(3188 posts)

Registered:
04/24/2009 11:02AM

Main British Car:
74' Jensen Healy, 79 Huff. GT 1, 74 MGB Lotus 907,2L

Re: bending pedals
Posted by: roverman
Date: November 02, 2012 01:43PM

MAP gas is hotter than propane.


rficalora
Rob Ficalora
Willis, TX
(2764 posts)

Registered:
10/24/2007 02:46PM

Main British Car:
'76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: bending pedals
Posted by: rficalora
Date: November 02, 2012 01:58PM

Good to know; thanks Art.


ex-tyke
Graham Creswick
Chatham, Ontario, Canada
(1165 posts)

Registered:
10/25/2007 11:17AM

Main British Car:
1976 MGB Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: bending pedals
Posted by: ex-tyke
Date: November 02, 2012 02:10PM

Quote:
They are mild steel, all you need is leverage

X2


flitner
John Fenner
Miami Fl
(168 posts)

Registered:
03/11/2010 10:58AM

Main British Car:
1972 MGB 350 CHEVY

Re: bending pedals
Posted by: flitner
Date: November 02, 2012 06:36PM

As Jim stated, use an 18" crescent wrench to slip onto the pedal bar up high using another to twist then drop down to straighten the pad. Exactly how I did mine.


kerbau53
Geoff Morton
Naples, FL
(109 posts)

Registered:
08/09/2010 10:27PM

Main British Car:
78 MGB Ford 5L

Re: bending pedals
Posted by: kerbau53
Date: November 03, 2012 05:16AM

Rob,

I just wanted extra space between clutch and brake. A bit of heat and bend.

MGB 251.jpg
MGB 252.jpg


kstevusa
kelly stevenson
Southern Middle Tennessee
(985 posts)

Registered:
10/25/2007 09:37AM

Main British Car:
2003 Jaguar XK8 Coupe 4.2L DOHC/ VVT / 6sp. AT

authors avatar
Re: bending pedals
Posted by: kstevusa
Date: November 04, 2012 03:24PM

Rob, as noted above a large crecent wrench and another one to keep the pedal stationary will work. I was able to use a "torch" and heated mine with a metal shield to protect the interrior. it took several attempts to get the alignment I wanted.
BE CAREFUL if using heat, too nice a car to burn! :)


74ls1tr6
Calvin Grannis
Elk Grove,CA
(1151 posts)

Registered:
11/10/2007 10:05AM

Main British Car:
74 TR6 / 71 MGB GT TR6/Ls1 71 MGB GT/Ls1

authors avatar
Re: bending pedals
Posted by: 74ls1tr6
Date: November 05, 2012 09:57AM

Also take in consideration how much you will be changing your pedal ratio. When I did mine it raised my brake pedal about an inch. So this winter I'm going to weld in some steel to get my pedal ratio back in. I bought a cheap HF oxy/acetylene torch which worked great. But as Art said Mapp gas may do the trick + others said using the right tools to bend.


rficalora
Rob Ficalora
Willis, TX
(2764 posts)

Registered:
10/24/2007 02:46PM

Main British Car:
'76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: bending pedals
Posted by: rficalora
Date: November 05, 2012 04:46PM

Thanks guys. Hadn't thought about the pedal ratio perspective. Suppose if the effort required gets too big, I can always add length back to the pedals. I'm probably a few weeks away from doing this. Only time it bothers me is on longer trips. My gas padel is too far inboard so my knee is up by the steering wheel. In order to move it further forward, I have to angle it more to the left.



MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: bending pedals
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: November 05, 2012 06:13PM

Have you shortened it, yet? Probably not. How you think us tall fellers like it?

Cut about 1.5" off the backside & weld it back (at an angle if you prefer).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/05/2012 06:16PM by MGBV8.


Preform Resources
Dave Craddock
Redford,Michigan
(359 posts)

Registered:
12/20/2008 05:46PM

Main British Car:
72 MGB V6 3.4

Re: bending pedals
Posted by: Preform Resources
Date: November 05, 2012 07:53PM

Rob, you gonna still be able to heel/toe ?
Dave


74ls1tr6
Calvin Grannis
Elk Grove,CA
(1151 posts)

Registered:
11/10/2007 10:05AM

Main British Car:
74 TR6 / 71 MGB GT TR6/Ls1 71 MGB GT/Ls1

authors avatar
Re: bending pedals
Posted by: 74ls1tr6
Date: November 05, 2012 11:03PM

That is a very good point also Dave,

Mine is more like sidefoot/toe !! But I also have wide feet :-)


roverman
Art Gertz
Winchester, CA.
(3188 posts)

Registered:
04/24/2009 11:02AM

Main British Car:
74' Jensen Healy, 79 Huff. GT 1, 74 MGB Lotus 907,2L

Re: bending pedals, floored pedals ?
Posted by: roverman
Date: December 08, 2012 06:19PM

May we reverse this subject ? Who is using floor mounted pedals, like Wilwood/etc. ? Hemi Healey seems to want this, with the seats moved all the way-back. This should reduce firewall congestion, and help for engine setback. Onward, roverman.


rficalora
Rob Ficalora
Willis, TX
(2764 posts)

Registered:
10/24/2007 02:46PM

Main British Car:
'76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: bending pedals
Posted by: rficalora
Date: December 08, 2012 11:52PM

Nothing wrong with them but they are proud of 'em.


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