Alfa Pages

[tinworm]

I have a problem driving my Alfasud or 33 with work boots on, instead of the normal ballet slippers required. Has anyone modified the pedals successfuly for operation with larger size feet?
I had a go at dragging the pedals apart to give some room between the little pads, thereby sacrificing the left footrest (that bit doesn't worry me much) and found I was still hitting the brake when using the clutch pedal ''
Is it just one of thse thing you are forced to endure, re-learn driving or go nuts?
If I do give enough room for space between the pedals -well adequate anyway- it cramps the poor little accellerator pedal over away from it's proper position too much for safe operation.
Short of a different vehicle (not likely) or getting in to the wheel well area with an hydraulic ram what options are available? Has anyone had a reasonable poke around in this area and made it better?
As a sidenote I recall reading about 33's and 'suds being a suitable car for women to drive, now I know why ''

Cheers,.... Colin.
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1977 Alfasud ti 1.7
1985 Alfa 33 4x4 1.7
1968 1750 GTV
1986 Alfa Sprint 1.5 QV

[16v_sportwagon]

Can't help much I'm afraid, I've never found the pedals to be a problem in my 33 and I drive it fairly often in size 12 steel toed boots.
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Cheers

Matthew

GLASS Lancashire Group
Bury Automobile Club

[paulhide]

Very strangely one of my five 33s is a little more problematic in this repect than the others.
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Owner's Club 33 Registrar. Now from P4 & S2 1.7 QV
http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5188

[tinworm]

Hmmm, maybe it's just me. Whenever I think about foot placement it isn't a problem, however, when driving around town or on country lanes then frequently there is a slight touch on the brake when changing gear.
Maybe with more use of the car it will become second nature to keep my feet seperate, maybe
Today I had another look at the pedals in my ti and whether a bending will help and yes, within reason it can be seperated more by shifting the clutch over and losing the footrest (no problem there as there isn't much room for my foot anyway) and bending the brake a little more to the right which means shifting the throttle over more too. It looks like the lower adjustable throttle stop will need to go or be replaced with something else to give some working space as well, maybe not simple but could be done (?).
When I first drove my Alfasud ti it was very strange , nay bloody dangerous as I wasn't familiar with the car or driving idiosyncrasies and had a funny ol' time in the city When I bought a 33 4x4 wagon it wasn't any different really, near identical in the pedals and placement. The 145/6 aren't too flash in the footwell area either by all accounts.
After driving all manner of vehicles this 'sud/33 setup is the worst while wearing steel toe cap workboots by a long shot, it certainly gives people following me something to think about when my brakes are jammed on when taking off exuberantly from traffic lights
I'll see how it performs with a bigger gap between the pedals and a modified driving style and/or slimmer sports type shoes, just don't follow too close behind me

Cheers,... Col.
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1977 Alfasud ti 1.7
1985 Alfa 33 4x4 1.7
1968 1750 GTV
1986 Alfa Sprint 1.5 QV

[Tim]

This was always a problem for me too, also in my old Sud. I have about 2 or 3 pairs of those climbing boot type shoes which seem to be in vogue at the moment (at least around here) and they are fine being really narrow. I keep one pair permanently in the car.
By the way, can anyone recommend a good car air freshener
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If it 'aint broke.........it needs some more fixing!

[Ken McCarthy]

I managed to increase the spacing which gave me enough room to use the left footrest and stop hitting two pedals at once but I had to do a bit of panel beating to create an indentation in the wheel well so the throttle pedal had somewhere to go (right hand drive car). I don't think you will ever get enough room for size 12 work boots though.

Regards
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Ken McCarthy - 16V Sprint

[tinworm]

Ah, but I have. Well, sort of '' After poking around at the 33 pedals and bending, pulling and breaking bits I have struck a handy compromise.
If you are doing the same thing yourself then here is a tip, don't just drag the throttle lever over to gain extra room as it then jams on the carpet, instead do as Ken suggested, belt buggery out of the lumpy area just to the right of the throttle stop (R.H.D.) for some much needed clearance, then you can pull the other pedals into a more natural position for driving. Sort of, as they are offset wierdly, the clutch is fine but when you sit in the car and look at the brake you can see the problem with it. The brake pedal is lined up with the centre of the steering wheel and the throttle doesn't have that much of a gap from the other either.
It can be done, just watch that throttle pedal as driving with full throttle is fine until you need to slow for another car

Happy days are here again. YEEEHAR,.... thanks Ken!
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1977 Alfasud ti 1.7
1985 Alfa 33 4x4 1.7
1968 1750 GTV
1986 Alfa Sprint 1.5 QV

[sportston]

All u need to do is learn to drive like a race car driver.
They love close pedals because it makes it easier to control two pedals with one foot. It took me about a week to learn it well. I recommend a set of flexible shoes with bendy, and not too thick, soles. Once you've learnt how to do it you'll find your quality of driving is much better, high speed gear changes are smoother and easier and you are far far less likely to stamp on the wrong pedal. It makes driving at speed enormous fun.
DON'T TRY TO DRIVE FAST UNTIL YOU HAVE MASTERED THE TECHNIQUE, unless you want to smash your car into lots of peices.