Your opinions please - gas pedal

[TugOwar]

Sup fellas, need your thoughts and expertise here.

Sadly, my 36 year old gas pedal saw better days long before I ever got hold of it. You know the type, bracket bolts to the floor board, has two knuckles on it that stick up, the gas pedal has two holes at the bottom that fit down on these knuckles.

Well the holes at the bottom of my gas pedal are mostly broken out. If I let my foot slide off the brake pedal to the gas it knocks the pedal off. If I don't pay close attention and let the floor mat slide over too far it'll knock the pedal off. Needless to say, this is a royal PITA. So I'm ready to fix it.

Best I can tell I have two options. Buy a new factory gas pedal from one of the board vendors. Or, go to the junk yard and get one of the later model, hanging type pedal assemblies and do whatever mods necessary to make the switch work.

I figure the simplest solution is to just get a new pedal and stick it in and be on my way. But is there anything to be gained by making the switch to the hanging type pedal?

I'm asking for your thoughts and opinions. What would you do?

[Tx Firefighter]

The replacement pedal will install in seconds and last another 30 years.

I personally see no reason whatsoever to convert to cable type when the rod type is still working fine other than a worn out 10 dollar pedal.

[68w/sbc406]

if you go with a 72 style (i think thats what you are talking about doing) its kinda tricky, you have to cut a suqare hole in the fire wall in the correct spot and................other stuff i dont know of, defenatly easier to buy a new floor pedal and have it be good for another 34 years

[Longhorn Man]

If not mistaken, the swap involves firewall welding.
You did leave out option #3...which is only excuseable on a beater. Run a couple screws through the bottom of the pedal into the floor with a drill.
That's how mine is.

[purple gas]

I am sort of in the middle of the swap.. truck I bought didn't have any linkage, so I started to convert.. The plastic thing that holds the peddle arm to the firewall is differnt. The bolts don't lign up. and the nuts are on the wrong side of the firewall. I first installed the new peddle with it's plastic peice, & it broke. So, I modified the old plastic pivot thing to accomodate the newer pedle arm ( trimmed with a jigsaw).. It kind of works but it needs definate tweeking. I've driven both types and wanted the newer style pedle, But I've used every swear word I know and it ain't done yet.

[86SILVERADO]

I welded a brass hinge to mine and screwed it to the floor. Very excusable for a 38 year old truck that sees daily service hauling stone and gravel from pit to jobsite etc.

[me3]

Purple Gas you can always learn more

[3 on the tree]

Dodge used the same basic setup thru at least 77. Maybe you can score a pedal and bracket off one of them at a salvage yard.

[TugOwar]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

If not mistaken, the swap involves firewall welding.
You did leave out option #3...which is only excuseable on a beater. Run a couple screws through the bottom of the pedal into the floor with a drill.
That's how mine is.

Thanks for the input everyone.

I'm just gonna order a new pedal and be done with it. 12 bucks from Tim Christian.
I think the hanging pedal would be a nice upgrade, but unnecessary at this point. And frankly if it involves welding, it's beyond me anyway cuz I gots no welder!

Andy I thought about the screw option, I did that in the 66 I used to have. While my old 68 certainly qualifies as a beater, I don't want it to always be a beater. Even though I think of it as a daily driver and I won't hesitate to pile the bed full of whatever, I hope she'll be a nice ride someday.

[Peregrine]

Who needs a pedal? A friend of mine had a Nova with a powerglide and one of those huge pedals shaped like a foot. It never had enough "kick" when he nailed it. One day the pedal accidently flopped forward (towards the driver, laying flat) and he used the rod as the pedal accidently and that car took off like a scared cat. It was su huge it wasn't letting the throttle open all the way and hit the kickdown