Any squarebody van guys? Got a odd question.

[AyWoSch Motors]

Hey guys. If there's any squarebody van guys here, I got an odd question.
So I recently got a 83 G20 van. Love it. Rides great, runs well, no complaints except... I'm not too happy with the Gas/Brake pedal setup.
I'm 6'4" and have a size 14 foot, so my foot doesn't fit down there too well. When I'm driving, my foot in completely under the brake pedal, and to brake I have to move my foot at the way to the left out from under to hit the brake pedal. Then to go back to the gas, I have to sneak it under the brake again. Doent make for a quick response time. Also when hitting the brake, my foot is so wide, I'm hitting the gas too unless I look down to see where my foot is, and neither of those are safe either.
I know it's a van and theres not much room there, but it could be way better.
Is there any sort of aftermarket pedals that moves the brake over and down?

Cause the way it is now, I'll either have to drive bare foot, or have a crash.

Any ideas where I could buy something like that, or easily modify what I have to be safer, would be greatly appreciated. I've looked and looked and no luck yet.

 

[AyWoSch Motors]

It's hard to tell in the pic, but the brake pedal is about 3 inches higher than the gas pedal. I like where the gas pedal is, it's pretty comfortable, but the brake just feels wrong. If it was about 2-3 inches lower and about and ½ inch to 1 inch to the left itd be perfect. Theres plenty of room.

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[SirRobyn0]

I'm a size 12, wide so I have to wear EE shoes. I feel your pain. Especially at work in work boots. You outta try some of the newer compacts, if you think the G van is bad. I end up driving those with both feet, which I hate doing but for getting it in the shop it two footing it gets the job done.

Let me ask you a question, it looks like there is plenty of metal there in the brake pedal could you heat it up and bend it? You have to do it twice, once up high and again down lower so the pad stays square. Seems like it would be relatively easy to do and the price is certainly right.

 

[AyWoSch Motors]

I'm a size 12, wide so I have to wear EE shoes. I feel your pain. Especially at work in work boots. You outta try some of the newer compacts, if you think the G van is bad. I end up driving those with both feet, which I hate doing but for getting it in the shop it two footing it gets the job done.

Let me ask you a question, it looks like there is plenty of metal there in the brake pedal could you heat it up and bend it? You have to do it twice, once up high and again down lower so the pad stays square. Seems like it would be relatively easy to do and the price is certainly right.

Yeah, work boots DO NOT fit, lol. That's all I wear. Maybe if I had some cockroach killer cowboy boots, but my foot is too wide to wear those darn things.

That actually not a bad idea. I wouldnt do it in there, I'd have to take it apart to do it outside, but that might work.
If I just did a bend and a bend though, thatd only solve the left to right problem, which is kinda secondary to the height issue. Also, I think thatd shorten it the tiniest bit, which would add to height thing. The shape of the arm kinda prevents me from bending it down and back. Would it be a horrible idea to cut the pedal arm, add a peice, angle it a bit, and weld it all back together?

 

[shiftpro]

Also, learn to use your left foot on the brake.

 

[shiftpro]

I wouldn't hesitate to heat and bend right in the cab. I would lay some sheet metal down behind things, and use a cutting torch in and out quick.
I would heat the bend part first, and just swing it to the left a little, to take the bend out of it. When it's well cooled, heat again just under the factory bend you just straightened and pull it down, to the right. Might smell a little burnt rubber!
Or take it off like your idea might be best.
And I urge you still to use left foot brake!
Size 14...wtf?

 

[Vbb199]

I myself am 6'4" or so, and a 13 or 14 in wide toe boots.... I also feel your pain in anything lmao

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[Rickf]

I started left foot braking in the early to mid 70's. I worked in a body shop and it was pounded into my head to always start a vehicle with the left foot on the brake. There was no telling what the accident messed up and the vehicle could start in gear.

 

[Blue Ox]

I'm 6'4" and have a size 14 foot,

I myself am 6'4" or so, and a 13 or 14 in wide toe boots....

We should start a club. I have the same problem with the Corvette.

FWIW, brake pedal arms are not ordinary mild steel. I'm not sure if they're hardened or just high strength steel, but I'd be wary of welding, heating and bending.

When you speak of moving the pedal down, are you saying towards your heel, or so you don't have to pull your foot so far back to get on top if it? If you mean the pedal is too close to the driver maybe pushrod length could be changed? You'd just have to be careful about travel. It would suck if the floorpan got in the way of stopping.

Otherwise I wonder if a pedal from a pickup truck would be placed better? There's a number of factors there that you're only going to be able to see by being there and physically trying things out

 

[WP29P4A]

I would hit the junk yard and find a replacement pedal assembly, cut it, modify it, have it professionally welded. When you get it modified replace the old with the new and improved. Using a cutting torch under your dash? What could possibly go wrong? After heating it up, how are you going to get enough leverage in that tight area to bend the brake pedal? Needs to be out of the truck so you can put it in a vise and make accurate bends and measurements. Then you can heat treat the metal and paint it before installing it.

I had a 73 Beauville and remember how little space there is for feet on the driver side, the passenger side only has space for one foot. LOL

 

[AyWoSch Motors]

We should start a club. I have the same problem with the Corvette.

FWIW, brake pedal arms are not ordinary mild steel. I'm not sure if they're hardened or just high strength steel, but I'd be wary of heating and bending.

When you speak of moving the pedal down, are you saying towards your heel, or so you don't have to pull your foot so far back to get on top if it? If you mean the pedal is too close to the driver maybe pushrod length could be changed? You'd just have to be careful about travel. It would suck if the floorpan got in the way of stopping.

Otherwise I wonder if a pedal from a pickup truck would be placed better? There's a number of factors there that you're only going to be able to see by being there and physically trying things out

So I don't have to pull my foot up so high. The height to the floor is okay, its the height to the firewall sort of thing I guess is what I'm trying to say.

I'll look into the pushrod, good thought.

 

[AyWoSch Motors]

I started left foot braking in the early to mid 70's. I worked in a body shop and it was pounded into my head to always start a vehicle with the left foot on the brake. There was no telling what the accident messed up and the vehicle could start in gear.

I always start cars and truck with my foot on the brake, just for safety. And sometime I use my left foot so I can pump the pedal to get things started, but while driving? No thanks.
I have to do that in my 75 flatbed when it's cold, because I have to throw it in neutral and rev it when I have to slow down to keep it running. I'm am not good with that foot.

 

[AyWoSch Motors]

I would hit the junk yard and find a replacement pedal assembly, cut it, modify it, have it professionally welded. When you get it modified replace the old with the new and improved. Using a cutting torch under your dash? What could possibly go wrong? After heating it up, how are you going to get enough leverage in that tight area to bend the brake pedal? Needs to be out of the truck so you can put it in a vise and make accurate bends and measurements. Then you can heat treat the metal and paint it before installing it.

I had a 73 Beauville and remember how little space there is for feet on the driver side, the passenger side only has space for one foot. LOL

Haha. Yeah, I really don't want to light my truck on fire. Biggest thing is I wouldn't have any leverage for bending.

Bending does seem to only way that I can see if getting where I want. I think I might try to get another pedal and tinker with that before ruining mine.
And maybe a late 90s g van might have solved that issue, might be better.

 

[Blue Ox]

I always start cars and truck with my foot on the brake, just for safety. And sometime I use my left foot so I can pump the pedal to get things started, but while driving? No thanks.
I have to do that in my 75 flatbed when it's cold, because I have to throw it in neutral and rev it when I have to slow down to keep it running. I'm am not good with that foot.

Two-footed driving is done often in racing. I mean, you've got two feet and there's two pedals.... It's even more entertaining with a three pedal vehicle.

But we shift with one hand and steer with another, so multitasking isn't anything new. Left-foot braking feels awkward at first, but it's fairly easy to adapt to, and you should spend a little time trying it before you condemn it.

 

[Craig 85]

@Jason Deckard has done a lot of work to his Pathfinder van and has a build thread. He has not been on in a while though.

Here's an Instagram for him.

https://www.instagram.com/pathfinder4x4vans/?hl=en