I am new to the Fiero scene. I have an 88 GT 5-speed. The only thing I don't like about the stick cars is how Pontiac crammed the clutch pedals so extrememly close together, in particular, the clutch pedal. When I push the clutch, it's like I have to contort myself a bit just to get my foot in the right spot...
My thought was, and this may sound crazy, but to somehow modify the clutch pedal itself to extend it to the left a couple of inches. I may also have to modify the floor pan to accomplish this, if possible, but it would give some much needed left leg room for us taller folks.
Am I the only one out there with this 'issue'? Has anyone else ever tried to do anything about it?
I am new to the Fiero scene. I have an 88 GT 5-speed. The only thing I don't like about the stick cars is how Pontiac crammed the clutch pedals so extrememly close together, in particular, the clutch pedal. When I push the clutch, it's like I have to contort myself a bit just to get my foot in the right spot...
My thought was, and this may sound crazy, but to somehow modify the clutch pedal itself to extend it to the left a couple of inches. I may also have to modify the floor pan to accomplish this, if possible, but it would give some much needed left leg room for us taller folks.
Am I the only one out there with this 'issue'? Has anyone else ever tried to do anything about it?
Thanks all!
I can't say this has ever been a problem for me. But to be completely honest... I haven't driven my Fiero, or a stick shift Fiero (any more than a block) in over 15 years. My daughter has a 5-Speed / 4cyl Fiero that I drove around the block before tearing it down, and I think I recall it feeling a bit tight. But the last time I actually owned a stick shift Fiero that I drove regularly was probably ~25 years ago, and I was in my early 20s, and I wore Converse All * Stars all the time, so it never would have been an issue. I also have wide feet / size 12s at the time.
I'm 45 now, and no longer a perfect specimen of a male that I was at 18-22, hahah... so I'm sure this is going to be a problem for me when I get my own Fiero back on the road.
Odd thing... When I had my 85 GT (when I was ~28), I swore that it was too crowded, when trying to operate the pedals. Now that I'm 66, I don't have near as many issues. I can't explain why. I certainly haven't gotten any smaller.
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 12-01-2023).]
It might perhaps be more of a leg length, foot size, or even belly size issue.
At 6'3" 200 lbs, I've never had a problem with the Fiero's clutch pedal placement.
That was exactly my size when I had my Fiero as a young adult... and I always felt like the Fiero was the most comfortable car I'd ever owned, and I fit absolutely PERFECT in it. When I got my Solstice, I don't think I could have been any taller, otherwise I wouldn't have fit. I had to really shove the seat back to the point where it actually impacted the plastic panels.
Now I'm 6'2" and 220 pounds. I've apparently shrunk almost an inch, and gained 20 pounds... so I don't know... but it didn't seem to be a huge issue in my daughter's Fiero.
Move a bit but floor to you is inner fender to left front wheel & that has little clearance when turned or in front wreck. Other spots are welded to other metal. IOW can't change the "floor" to get the C pedal to move left.
pedal can't bend 1-2 in left w/o large problems too.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
One time I had a customer not build like the masses, they had really short legs. What I did for her was remove the clutch pedal, cut it behind the foot pad and welded in an inch of stock metal. Perhaps you can do similar and not get into re-engineering the clutch pedal system, perhaps move it to the left some.
My problem isn't leg length, belly, etc, it is simply the weird angle where all of the pedals are to the right of the steering column. It just isn't easy for me as I am used to the clutch pedal being almost always to the left of the column I get that this is the way it was designed. Maybe I should have bought and auto, but a 3-speed auto just won't cut it.
I still think one could create space enough for an extension to the left, just not sure how exactly yet. I know the pedal cannot be bent, but maybe 'added to'. . I guess I need to just mock up something.
...it is simply the weird angle where all of the pedals are to the right of the steering column. It just isn't easy for me as I am used to the clutch pedal being almost always to the left of the column.
Do you think none of us have ever been used to driving a different car with the clutch pedal "to the left of the column"?
Geez man, just get used to it! I alternate driving two different 5-spd cars... my Fiero Formula, and my Right Hand Drive JDM Subaru. If this old dog can get used to that kind of "weird", surely you can adjust as well.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 12-02-2023).]
Personally, I agree that it is a little bit tight. But then again, this is the first manual Fiero I have ever owned, so maybe I am just ill-informed. I learned manual on an early 2000 Mazda protoge, so I may be biased from that...
My problem isn't leg length, belly, etc, it is simply the weird angle where all of the pedals are to the right of the steering column. It just isn't easy for me as I am used to the clutch pedal being almost always to the left of the column I get that this is the way it was designed. Maybe I should have bought and auto, but a 3-speed auto just won't cut it.
I still think one could create space enough for an extension to the left, just not sure how exactly yet. I know the pedal cannot be bent, but maybe 'added to'. . I guess I need to just mock up something.
Seems like it'd be fairly easy to do this. Just cut the last inch of the pedal arm off and weld a 90 degree rod to move it over an inch or two. You wouldn't have to modify any of the other components. It might make it more prone to twisting or bending the pedal so reinforcing some areas might be in order.
issue.
