heel and toe

[axis_powers]

Sorry to rehash this thread, but wanted to update my progression while tinkering under the hood. This is one of those simple things that can enhance the driving experience.

Just got the '79 to pass Cali' smog and was resetting mixtures and timing and decided to tinker around with the gas pedal height while under the hood.

I followed the linkage through the firewall and noticed that there is an adjustment near the cable portion of the throttle linkage. I am assuming that mine was improperly adjusted, because nooone mentioned anything about this adjustment...... anyways, there is a setscrew that adjusts pedal height and throttle position. Mine was way out. I adjusted the set screw all the way in and corresponingly moved the gas pedal lower in the cockpit. I also had to move the position of where the cable attached to the long pedal rod.

Rolling my foot for the throttle blip on downshifts is much better .....albeit not perfect but I am very happy. This has just increased my fun factor by 10 fold !!! so much so that I felt I had to post. Now I assume I need to adjust my throttle stop on the floor now to compensate. ( I do need full throttle for powering out of the apex)

Anyways,,,, thanks for the suggestions, they moved me in the direction of spirited driving

[dwc]

Hi Guys:

Here are 2 pics of a Shankle Heel & Toe kit, for a Spica car. This one happens to be installed on my '74 Spider, but they have been NLA from AR Ricambi for years. The third pic is a scan from the instruction sheet.

The fourth pic is of the Shankle kit for Bosch Spider's. It's also NLA, and while this one is on a friend's 86, I've fabricated a repro for my '87.

Regards,

Dean
Lutz, FL
'74 & '87 Spider Veloce's

[dwc]

pic2

[dwc]

pic3

I forgot to mention how well this kit works. As far as I'm concerned, this is a "must have" for a Spica car, and nice, but not absolutely needed for a Bosch car. Both the Spica and Bosch kit do the same things; the throttle pedal is lowered, while less movement of the throttle pedal is required for any given throttle butterfly movement.

[dwc]

pic4

Here's the L-Jet kit. This one works from the butterfly end of the linkage, and simply moves the linkage pivot closer to the butterfly pivot.

[axis_powers]

Wow,

I guess I have the Shankle Heel and Toe kit, because it looks remarkably similar to what's on the car. That's probably why no one mentioned the adjustment.

cool thanks for the pic's.

[dwc]

There is actually another adjustment that I haven't yet seen mentioned. There are two screws that pass through corresponding holes in the throttle pedal, and fasten it to the throttle linkage arm. Those holes in the pedal are already slightly oval, allowing a bit of adjustment, but if the holes are elongated even further, a good deal more adjustability results. The pedal can be adjusted both fore and aft, and for angle, so as unthoughtful as the Spider's ergonimics are, they can be improved with a little tinkering. I also prefer to drive my Spider's wearing only socks, but maybe that's just me.

[John M]

You are not alone DW....I have to drive my 92 with the shoes off.....Makes for a smelly ride! 78 is a different story.

Best Regards,
John M

[desert spider]

DWC,
Re.: pic4
Thanks for the picture of the Shankle linkage mod. for the L-Jetronic. I had Recambi fax the sheet on their kit and it will not work on the L-jet as you probably know. So far as I am aware, Recambi makes only the kit for a cable linkage, while the L-Jet is rod linkage. I assume that the Shankle kit for the L-Jetronic is no longer available. Do you, or does anyone reading this know where I can get such a kit for my '84 Spider w/Bosch L-Jet?
Jim
Desert Spider '84

[dwc]

Hi Jim:

Here's a set of rough plans for the L-Jet throttle mod, drawn up by a friend (Bruce Giller). It's a pretty simple part to fabricate, but it might even be easier to cut off the original pivot ball from the throttle assembly and just reweld it closer to the butterfly.

Regards,

Dean

[desert spider]

DWC,
Thanks for the drawing, but I have one question. What is the distance from the throttle nut centerline to the new pivot ball centerline position?
Jim, Desert Spider '84

[dwc]

Hi Jim:

The drawing is a little off-scale, but in actuality the new pivot point is about 1/3 closer to the throttle butterfly pivot. Of course, you can put it wherever you like, but I guess Shankle thought that distance was the best compromise. If you move it closer to the butterfly, the throttle response will be quicker, but more effort against the pedal will also be required. And, you wouldn't want the throttle to operate like an on/off switch. Unlike the Spica cars, only a small lowering of the throttle pedal is needed to improve the driving position. Here's another picture from Bruce's car, but it's not taken at a straight-on angle, so it is a bit distorted from reality.

Regards,

Dean

[desert spider]

Thanks Dean. I have the whole picture now. I'll probably try your suggestion of altering the pedal position first (ref. your thread re the two screws in the throttle pedal) to see if that gives enough room. If not, then I'll try fabricating and installing the "Shankle" fix as you described. Thanks again.
Jim, Desert Spider '84

[Bruce Colby]

Here is the peddle Chris Mayring has available. I tried mounting as shown but it was too wide so I cut it along the line.

[Bruce Colby]

Here it is installed.