C3 Balance Bar

vette427sbc · #1 10-07-2018, 04:17 PM

Next project for my '69 is to try to incorporate a Tilton balance bar into the stock(ish) pedal box area. There are balance bar setups that would be bolt in but I dont like that the whole assembly is outside of the firewall. The plan is to modify the pedal assembly to allow for the balance bar to attach direct to the pedal (like it should) and put two master cylinders on the firewall. Ill also be changing the stock manual ratio from 5.4:1 to 6:1.
As much as Id love to just buy a lightweight forged aluminum firewall mount pedal box from Tilton or the other companies out there, there are two issues with that (for me):
Cant keep the pedals in the same location (left/right) as stock because I want to keep a 2" diameter steering column and the brake pedal is centered under the column.
The pedal boxes are all short by ~2" to reach the firewall if I want the pedals in stock location (forwards/back) (I do)

Time to start cutting
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rtj · #2 10-07-2018, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vette427sbc

Next project for my '69 is to try to incorporate a Tilton balance bar into the stock(ish) pedal box area. There are balance bar setups that would be bolt in but I dont like that the whole assembly is outside of the firewall.

Time to start cutting
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Very interested in this. I started going the external balance bar route and then shelved it for a while.

What diameters did you pick for the master cylinders?

Also, will you try to incorporate the remote control cable?

vette427sbc · #3 10-07-2018, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtj

Very interested in this. I started going the external balance bar route and then shelved it for a while.

What diameters did you pick for the master cylinders?

Also, will you try to incorporate the remote control cable?

They are both 7/8... Total piston area on the front caliper is 11.706 with a 14" rotor. Rear is in the high 6's (changed bore size since this last calculation) with a 13" rotor. Estimated brake torque should be a bit over 3600 foot/lbs. With R compound 335's up front I think it should stop... well. Im using a less aggressive pad than previous with my 1" bore and stock caliper manual brake 5.4:1 ratio... hoping this will be similar feel with less warm up time and less rotor destruction

And yes, Id like to get the remote knob sitting in the dash where the ball vent used to reside.

vette427sbc · #4 10-08-2018, 01:17 AM

Tacked together... I'll need to open up the channel a bit more. It will also be braced once I confirm everything fits
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rtj · #5 10-08-2018, 11:12 AM

Looks great! Thinking outside the box. Keep us updated on the install.

69427 · #6 10-08-2018, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtj

Looks great! Thinking outside the box. Keep us updated on the install.

I agree!

OZgreen69 · #7 10-09-2018, 12:50 AM

Good on you Chris ! And plenty of pics please.

vette427sbc · #8 10-09-2018, 02:31 AM

Thanks all! I love designing and fabbing these subtle kind of mods... a regular car guy will look and think "huh, a dual master setup" where a corvette guy will look and think "how the hell did he do that?!"

Drilled the arm for the spherical bearing... .25" up to get to 6:1. I also offset it forward in hopes of maintaining some meat on the arm. If anyone has any comments on a loss of strength here please let me know.

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rtj · #9 10-09-2018, 09:31 AM

If you have room you could make it an I-beam in that area.

I bet a lot of guys would pay to send you their pedal box for conversion.

OZgreen69 · #10 10-10-2018, 09:23 AM

I love it!
Strength ? I think that you are good on this one , As you are pushing the pedal you will close the gap, if you understand what I mean? And welded all around... No problem for me, I would do the same. In fact I will do the same as I will copy your mod with no shame at all !!!
So! Don't stop and plenty of pictures please.