Bulkhead Weakness Solution

[SprintMWU773V]

Having looked in my parts book today I see that the plate did actually have a part number 158051

[Robert 352]

Both plates have now been installed.

The first photo shows the small plate on the engine side of the bulkhead sitting as close to the inner wheel guard as I could get it. The second photo shows the plate installed behind the accelerator pedal. Since the action is a “push” on the pedal which causes most of the flexing this should now transfer most of the forces generated away from the area close to the cable bulkhead grommet and immediately behind the pedal mount.

Robert

[xvivalve]

Paul, by inserting a plate on the inside of the bulkhead you have effectively shortened the length of the accelerator cable. Obviously the fixed length of the sheath can be adjusted at the linkeage to prevent the carbs being held open by the thickness of the plate, but will you not have reduced the full action of the cable by the thickness of the plate also? Does full throttle still give fully open carbs?

[Howard81]

If these go into production I would definitely be interested!

[Robert 352]

Oh dear

I am still some weeks away from completing my restoration so I cannot confirm whether the carbs open fully when the pedal is pressed to the floor. However the thought crossed my mind when I was fabricating these plates and I hoped/assumed there would be enough adjustment or slack in the cable itself to take up the thickness of one 3mm plate.

I will let you know in due course.

Howard81 asks if these might go into production. I am not sure it would be very economic supplying them from here in New Zealand!! They are though relatively easy to fabricate requiring no more than a hacksaw and a drill. I would be happy to supply a template of the shape of the plate which sits on the engine side of the bulkhead on this/my car for I realise it is an extremely difficult little corner to reach into, but relatively easy for me for the engine has not yet been fitted back into the car.

Robert

[Toledo Man]

I don't think that a few mm would make much difference with the cable. Wasn't Alun going to manufacture the plates?

[xvivalve]

I might be worrying you unduly, I'm still trying to work it out in my head; the fact it moves the pedal further from the bulkhead might mean you get more travel...

[Robert 352]

Hey there's a go! Do you mean more travel and I might go faster?? I am getting too old for all this speed.

I imagine when I get around to connecting the cable to the carbs that I will set them up so that with the pedal in its fully up, no foot on it state, that, that will correspond with the idle position of the two carbs. I realise that there will be 3mm less slack in the cable. And if the cable is short then yes perhaps there will not be enough cable to allow the carbs to open fully when the pedal is pressed all the way to the floor (mats!).

My greater concern though was that if brought the pedal too far forward off the firewall/bulkhead that it would not line up with the brake pedal beside it. However if that was the case then I would have bent the pedal arm back a fraction to compensate.

I shall report in due course.

Robert

[Mad Mart]

Actually I think this will give you more adjustment. I find that usually the adjusting nuts are near the end of the threaded part of the sheath. The sheath has now moved a few mm. towards the carbs so more threaded section will be pushed through the bracket.

[sprint95m]

A throttle cable consists of an inner and an outer.
Surely it makes no difference where the throttle pedal is located because the outer is a fixed length?







Ian.

PS. I am thinking my modified throttle pedal bracket is a simpler solution .

[xvivalve]

The outer is a fixed length, but you can adjust how much of it extends beyond the bracket.

The inner is also a fixed length and is unadjustable, so less will stick out the end relative to the sheath, as if there is 3mm throttle on all the time. Adjusting the sheath will compensate for this, but effectively the inner will be 3mm shorter.

The clamps on the linkeage that operate the butterflies can be adjusted to compensate for the shorter cable, so all should be OK.

The pedal will be higher off the bulkhead so will have slightly more travel, but with the fulcrum on the pedal being high up the shaft it will translate to very little extra pull on the cable.

[xvivalve]

I have now taken delivery of 16 replica brackets.

To recap, they fit against the engine side of the bulkhead and are clamped against it with the two bolts which secure the throttle pedal passing through the elongated holes of the bracket. A 7/16 AF nylock nut and bolt are also used with washers to fix through the third peripheral hole; you will need to drill the bulkhead to receive this bolt. Bolt not supplied.

Supply to TDC members only at £8.20 to include postage to UK addresses. Overseas members please enquire for additional postage costs but please bear in mind the current stock are for RHD cars. I will get LHD versions made to order

[SprintMWU773V]

Yes please, do I order via club spares or you Alun?

[xvivalve]

Direct from me on this one please.

[James467]

Yes, I'd be interested in one.

See the photo below of the crack in mine (circled in yellow).

EDIT- Alun, ill pm you, I need some other bits as well!