'71 GTV Pedal layout

[schumi]

I just got my '71 GTV and the pedal layout is such that heel-toe shifting is impossible. The pedals look stock. Any suggestions on how to fix this problem?

[emr5503]

Shankle made a kit to fix this problem. Makes the gas pedal level with the brake.
Do a search (heel & toe?) for the drawing with dimensions posted on the BB.
Drove my '71 yesterday - what a pleasure with the kit.
Ed

[Alfajay]

Two thoughts to add to Ed's reply:

Shankle was aquired by AR Ricambi 15 or so years ago. And AR Ricambi isn't very active anymore (though they do run ads in "Alfa Owner" from time-to-time). Dunno if they still are selling the heel-toe kit.

You can drop the gas pedal quite a bit by simply:

- Removing or readjusting the screw-in stop that sits beneath the pedal
- Replacing the stop bolt on the "U" bracket at the firewall with a longer bolt that will push the lever further back, and as such, the pedal further down.
- Repositioning where the cable attaches to the arm by loosening the clamp bolt, and re-tightening it to give more slack

Of course, don't drop it so far that it hits the floor before the throttle plates are fully open. But my memory is that with some simple re-adjusting, the pedal can be dropped quite a bit.

I have never driven a car with the Shankle heel-toe kit. But, from studying the catalog picture, I see that it adds to the length of the arm at the firewall, thereby increasing the "gain" between the pedal and the throttle plates. Eg, less movement of the pedal translates into more movement of the throttle. It would seem that this would make the gas pedal sort of all or nothing.

[schumi]

Many thanks to those who responded. I don't think the Shankle fix would work for me as the pedals are already even when all the way out. I will try what is suggested.

[geh458]

There is another option. The Tilton pedals I had in the race car when I bought it didn't work for me, so I made new pedals that were more straight rather than curved back toward the driver.

[canberraphil]

Does the '71 gtv have floor hinged pedals, or normal ones? My '70 has floor hinged pedals and I can't double shuffle normally because I'm 6'2" and the steering wheel gets in the way of my knee. After about a year I taught myself to brake with the middle of my foot and blip the throttle near the top of the pedal with my toe. Now that I'm good at it it feels very smooth to me. The problem is that I've forgotten how to do it the normal way now!

[papajam]

Quote:

Originally Posted by canberraphil Does the '71 gtv have floor hinged pedals, or normal ones?

[schumi]

I have a 1971, Series II with hanging pedals.

[canberraphil]

ah. probably a whole different kettle of fish. funny how they changed the location of the pedals yet made it no easier to double shuffle - on a car that was meant to be driven enthusiasticly.

[GTV4EVR]

I've found it easiest to brake with the ball of the foot and just roll the foot so you are blipping the gas with the side of the foot. I've never been able to bend my leg in any car into a position that would allow me to actually heel and toe

[BlpltGTV]

Every so often I can get it right with my 69. I think if I catch the top of the brake pedal with the ball of my foot, and the gas above the pedal its self,with my heel, or ankle or something, I can get it to work. Otherwise I end up lurching with too much brake and not enough throttle. So, my solution is get on the brakes, get off, double clutch the shift, then back on the brakes. Not exactly fast, but its easier on the transmission. It bugs the heck out of me as with the track car, each heel and toe near perfect, no thinking about it, just perfectly smooth.

Will