Miata LFX Swap (Singular Motorsports & Good-Win Racing)
#210
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Dove into the Camaro gas pedal conversion after work today. (I apologize for the potato quality pics, lighting was low and iPhone tried to compensate)
The first and always lovely step was of course removing the drivers seat and spending what felt like an eternity removing the pedal assembly from the car while being jabbed in the back by harness eye bolts, seat brackets, etc. etc. (I also pulled the steering column while I was down there since that needs to be out of the way later.)
Stock gas/brake pedal assembly clamped to the table with some alignment marks for pivot point and such, and Camaro pedal nearby:
The Camaro pedal is very similar to the Miata's in some ways such as length, angle and travel. However, the mounting layout is entirely different of course so a custom mount is needed in order to place the new pedal in just the same position as the one it replaces.
Stock pedal removed and unneeded mounting fixture cut off leaves the assembly on the left, plus a new additional mounting plate for the Camaro pedal to be welded on:
The added plate welded on as well as a brace along the top to help keep the mount from flexing and studs added:
New pedal mounted up. Pedal position matches the old setup with identical pivot placement and angle.
This will get blasted and painted before going back in the car so for now it goes off to the side to wait until I have all the other parts that I'll want to do the same thing to so that can all be done at once.
The first and always lovely step was of course removing the drivers seat and spending what felt like an eternity removing the pedal assembly from the car while being jabbed in the back by harness eye bolts, seat brackets, etc. etc. (I also pulled the steering column while I was down there since that needs to be out of the way later.)
Stock gas/brake pedal assembly clamped to the table with some alignment marks for pivot point and such, and Camaro pedal nearby:
The Camaro pedal is very similar to the Miata's in some ways such as length, angle and travel. However, the mounting layout is entirely different of course so a custom mount is needed in order to place the new pedal in just the same position as the one it replaces.
Stock pedal removed and unneeded mounting fixture cut off leaves the assembly on the left, plus a new additional mounting plate for the Camaro pedal to be welded on:
The added plate welded on as well as a brace along the top to help keep the mount from flexing and studs added:
New pedal mounted up. Pedal position matches the old setup with identical pivot placement and angle.
This will get blasted and painted before going back in the car so for now it goes off to the side to wait until I have all the other parts that I'll want to do the same thing to so that can all be done at once.
Last edited by ThePass; 04-27-2016 at 11:48 AM.
#214
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Hmm I see where you're saying that mounts to, but I'm not seeing how that bracket can retain anywhere close to stock pedal position.
There's only one position for the Camaro pedal such that it matches the Miata pedal it replaced in all aspects (lateral position, travel range, pivot placement, etc.), and you can see from the pics I posted that to achieve that the base needs to be right where the unmodified pedal assembly has a steel fixture smack dab in the way. Therefore, a bolt-on bracket that doesn't involve cutting anything must move the new pedal's position significantly off of the original's.
There's only one position for the Camaro pedal such that it matches the Miata pedal it replaced in all aspects (lateral position, travel range, pivot placement, etc.), and you can see from the pics I posted that to achieve that the base needs to be right where the unmodified pedal assembly has a steel fixture smack dab in the way. Therefore, a bolt-on bracket that doesn't involve cutting anything must move the new pedal's position significantly off of the original's.
Last edited by ThePass; 04-27-2016 at 04:10 AM.
#217
Hmm I see where you're saying that mounts to, but I'm not seeing how that bracket can retain anywhere close to stock pedal position.
There's only one position for the Camaro pedal such that it matches the Miata pedal it replaced in all aspects (lateral position, travel range, pivot placement, etc.), and you can see from the pics I posted that to achieve that the base needs to be right where the unmodified pedal assembly has a steel fixture smack dab in the way. Therefore, a bolt-on bracket that doesn't involve cutting anything must move the new pedal's position significantly off of the original's.
There's only one position for the Camaro pedal such that it matches the Miata pedal it replaced in all aspects (lateral position, travel range, pivot placement, etc.), and you can see from the pics I posted that to achieve that the base needs to be right where the unmodified pedal assembly has a steel fixture smack dab in the way. Therefore, a bolt-on bracket that doesn't involve cutting anything must move the new pedal's position significantly off of the original's.
#218
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About 6 hours of prep work on the engine bay today.
Ahh the un-glamorous parts of the process; busting knuckles stripping seam sealer goo out of every crevice and pulling wire wheel splinters out of your hair at the end of the day
It's a classic case of the inevitable rabbit hole - because I need to modify the bay for engine clearance anyways, while I'm in there with grinder/welder it's the right time to strip the thing down entirely and stitch weld the whole thing. It's the right choice, but makes this portion of the job about 5x longer to complete...
Should have some pics tomorrow.
Ahh the un-glamorous parts of the process; busting knuckles stripping seam sealer goo out of every crevice and pulling wire wheel splinters out of your hair at the end of the day
It's a classic case of the inevitable rabbit hole - because I need to modify the bay for engine clearance anyways, while I'm in there with grinder/welder it's the right time to strip the thing down entirely and stitch weld the whole thing. It's the right choice, but makes this portion of the job about 5x longer to complete...
Should have some pics tomorrow.
#219
About 6 hours of prep work on the engine bay today.
Ahh the un-glamorous parts of the process; busting knuckles stripping seam sealer goo out of every crevice and pulling wire wheel splinters out of your hair at the end of the day
It's a classic case of the inevitable rabbit hole - because I need to modify the bay for engine clearance anyways, while I'm in there with grinder/welder it's the right time to strip the thing down entirely and stitch weld the whole thing. It's the right choice, but makes this portion of the job about 5x longer to complete...
Should have some pics tomorrow.
Ahh the un-glamorous parts of the process; busting knuckles stripping seam sealer goo out of every crevice and pulling wire wheel splinters out of your hair at the end of the day
It's a classic case of the inevitable rabbit hole - because I need to modify the bay for engine clearance anyways, while I'm in there with grinder/welder it's the right time to strip the thing down entirely and stitch weld the whole thing. It's the right choice, but makes this portion of the job about 5x longer to complete...
Should have some pics tomorrow.
I had the opportunity to drive a lfx swap car last weekend. Some highlights. The noise the thing makes is excellent. It has the twin cam v6 noise that really reminds me of the older ferrari v6. It has this popping under decel that i love. Imo anyone that buys the new fiat spider needs the lfx kit.
The power. Feels very v8-ish. Imo miatas never feel fast to me. Even ones with tons of power. The really fast ones just gain speed at an alarming rate. This felt like that. Much like a v8 car, Before i knew it it was doing 70 from a quick roll on the power. The tq wasn't tire shredding like a v8 but it was around. And it revved to the moon. With the weight savings from a lfx, the manageable tq and the power should make for a serious race car.