Merry Christmas Folks! I have some time off coming up and my plan is working on my 1959 Chev Apache, 3100, short box step side. It’s time to get it running. Has a rebuilt 235 with Offenhauser dual carb intake, Tom Langdons Weber carbs and HEI, Fenton headers.
This past year I was required to have my right foot amputated. I still am able to drive with my prosthetic foot however I have to rely on a downward type motion than an ankle pivot. I was thinking of adapting my gas pedal to something like a Loker assembly or? I did install the original pedal and had made up a linkage from the bell crank to the carb but found it difficult with my current prosthetic.
My goals: 1. I would like something that provides some good pedal movement, 2. I would like a pedal depth stop so I don’t put undue stress or torsion on the linkage (what ever that ends up being), 3. I like the idea of a cable linkage system…. I will attach a photo of the linkage that joins the 2 carbs I have come up with ( it’s not the set up that Tom sells), 4. Perhaps a return spring, perhaps in the cable itself (as a safety buffer),
I would like to know what others have done…. not necessarily with my specific condition but with regards to there modifications…. What worked, what didn’t. Also some pictures would be appreciated.
Thanks for your knowledge and commitment to seeing this rusty iron back on the road!
Gosh! Sorry you had to go through that process. I can only imagine what you have endured.
It's one of those things you don't think about but your right foot and ankle are probably the best body parts to control fuel delivery. The heel rests on the floorboard and the pivot at the ankle takes practically no muscle strength (it's not tiring). Trying to control fuel delivery with no foot or ankle would be fatiguing to the leg (up and down movement) over time. Are you sure it's not a problem for you? This will take some thought.
I would think switching to the left foot would be the obvious choice to do the accelerator and brake. It would take training to get the operation perfected. I added the link below just to give an idea on the hardware. I'm not telling you that you shouldn't be driving. () The issue with the left foot is that, if you have a manual transmission, you would have to convert to an automatic.
Last edited by buoymaker; 12/31/20218:01 PM.
"Adding CFM to a truck will only help at engine speeds you don't want to use." "I found there was nothing to gain beyond 400 CFM."
G-TOWN When I was a young boy our neighbor had his right leg ruined in a thrashing machine accident,taken off above the knee. He had an AD truck with a throttle that was in good repair,he could take a load of grain to town with that system no problem. You would see him out with apull type combine 2 lung john deerecutting beans. He never wore his wooden leg for that,if he had to get off would just hang onto the combine and hop around it.My dad had a local welding shop and would repair hinges on his knee at times,never any charge for that. John was a great guy and super neighbor !!
