Anyone have experience with converting their Ford style rod & bell crank throttle pedal/linkage to a Lokar pedal & cable style? I have been playing with the bell crank/throttle linkage to my new Demon Jr on my 312 T-Bird & am not happy yet. Good idea to consider or a hassle? I see some universal pedals on their site, but not sure how it would fit & behave. Plus the rod style kickdown for the FOM transmission sounds like a problem.

Thanks!

Brian - 56 T-Bird

Woodinville WA

Alan Frakes - aka Bird55 has the details of doing this Lokar throttle shown in his Blog "Bird Droppings"

Al where are you today?

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

Thanks. Where can I find his bird droppings blog? Didn't see it under his profile.

Brian - 56 T-Bird

Woodinville WA

http://birddropnz.blogspot.com/

sorry, I nodded off for awhile.

It's not on the blog though, you had me believing it too Steve!

Here's some pics of it

Works well for me, I hated the Lokar supplied bracket though and made my own just because I think it looks better than the cheapy chrome one.

I also ordered the additional pad mount for the pedal, which it needs to get it a little further off the floor and at the right angle.

Just so you know, you'll be cutting a hole in the floor pan, if that makes you queesy. and filling the old hole.

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

Forgot to add that I'm not for throwing out your old linkage system. It can be made to function well with your FOM, it just takes patience and reading the manual and readjusting.

It does have a bunch of twists and turns to it.



It still should function with the FOM kickdown rod.



Steve, where's that drawing you did?



I successfully ran the old setup with my Eldy, before I converted over to an AOD trans, then had to ditch it.

Here's a photo of the previous setup.

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

I did a couple Lokar pedal & kickdown installations for the owner on his Bronco II's. I didn't like cutting a hole in the floor either but it was what he wanted. I also didn't like the way the pedal worked. Just felt goofy. I'm with Alan on the original Fordomatic linkage. Follow the manual and the linkage will work right.

Dan      Kingman Az.      86409

This is the drawing Al refers to  - I think...(only one I found anyway). Since you have the genuine article in your garage - you know what a pain the linkage can be.

My Demon Jr. carb has too strong of an internal return spring to get the rascal to balance out right. And I couldn't get it to return to a consistent position upon a quick release of the throttle. So I first put a positive stop at the location shown - washers under a bolt fitted at the linkage mounting screw holes, driver-side rear of the block. Then I put a bolt and washers in the kickdown slot.......and I'm still screwing around with it!

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

Thanks all. I really appreciate it. I'll pull out the service manual & try adjusting again before going the Lokar route.

Brian - 56 T-Bird

Woodinville WA

Just to help out the manual approach - this shows the throttle "locked for adjustment".....

The 1/4 shank Phillips fits through a set of holes. With the carb curb idle already set where you want it - adjust the link from the carb back to the main linkage assembly (while its locked). There is a threaded link down from the main linkage to the bellcrank - firewall pivot - that will lift the gas pedal off the floor. The pedal adjustment height isn't in the car manual - its in the Ford-o-Matic instructions - but its about 4-1/4 inches. If you don't have enough travel the gadget won't go into "kick-down". I put a stack of washers like shown in the diagram - to stop the pedal from going any farther up if you suddenly allow the throttle to close.

This last picture shows the bolt and washer I had to put in there to stop the kickdown from operating - before the engine throttle does. The internal spring in my Demon was more powerful than the kickdown spring - so when you pushed on the throttle - the rascal would simply slide up the slot!!!

The OEM set-up is supposed to open the engine throttle first - until you reach the carb internal stop (with more pedal left at the floor) and when the carb is wide open - then begin climbing up in the kickdown slot.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

Steve, I just compared our two original pictures/setup and realized I have the 55 linkage setup (as I would have). I forgot that this is different than yours.



But like I said mine worked pretty well with kickdown and everthing else. So, maybe we I wasn't comparing properly.



So, it might be that Brian could be able to get his to work. just can't speak to the Barry Grant side of the formula.



Sorry Brian wish I could be of more help.

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK