'51 Mercury Overdrive

[Sarah93003]

Nice! Loking real good - and what a novel idea. Can you imagine having a "fleet" of pedals lined up ??
Dennis

That would be cool!

[Sarah93003]

Hey, Sarah!

Very nice. If you make the next one based upon a rocket-nosed Studebaker, the input on the front grill will be even nicer!

Thank me later--

--Jim

I'll have to look for that. Do you know what model that would be?

[JimPage]

Hey--

An example is the 1951 Studebaker Starlight Bullet Nose Coupe. Google that.

These, I believe, were designed by Raymond Loewy. Anyway, they are classics. My mom and dad had one and I cried when they finally traded it in on a Pontiac.

--Jim

[panther]

Sarah;
I don't know how I missed this, It's fabulous.
Dan

[Sarah93003]

Thank you Dan. I'm almost finished. I still have to locate the switch and spring and that should do it. I've been sidetracked by a job search and subsequently starting a new job. I'm ready to get back on my projects!

[panther]

Finish it up, I'd like to see the finished product.
Dan

[Sarah93003]

Okay, I've finally solved a couple of key problems. I needed to house the switch within something that is strong enough to step on, securely holds the switch, and is the right height for the trunk of the car to activate it. The second issue is securing the spring to return the trunk so that it can be depressed again to activate or deactivate the pedal.

I happened upon various metal profiles at Lowes and thought the 1" aluminum square tube might due the trick.



I don't have any die ink so I simply used a red sharpie to cover the area I wanted to mark for cutting, drilling, and filing.



Once I marked my length and found my center I was ready to get to work.



Now it's cut to length and ready to drill.



I just used incrementally larger drills to slowly get to the size I needed.



Once I had the hole the size I needed, I used my baby files to make the square exactly the size I needed. The switch has two little "tangs" that stick out so once pressed through the hole the pop back out and lock the switch in place.



Here it is in place. The next step is to drill through the chasis of the car into the bottom of the square tube so secure it in place.



I'm satisfied that the switch will not move and most importantly will hold up to being stepped on.



Next up - I'll secure the spring and then assemble everything together for a test run and video. I'm working a lot of hours this week so my progress is not what I'd hoped it would be. Hang in there!

[olrocknroller]

Nice work Sarah, although I winced when I saw what you were using to hold the square tube for drilling ...I only use them for holding my plans together, and have much stronger ones for the serious work. You could also get an angle adjusting vise for your drill-press. Check this one out...

http://www.amazon.com/Cross-Slide-Drill-Milling-Machine/dp/B001FGAJTA/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1315544653&sr=1-1

olrnr

[Sarah93003]

I was pretty sure I'd get scolded on that one. I really need to get a vice for the drill press, I know. It just isn't in my budget just now, but I will, I promise! I figured since it was aluminum and pretty thin wall that I'd be safe. I used about six incremental sizes before the 1/2" drill.

[Veenture]

I figured since it was aluminum and pretty thin wall that I'd be safe. I used about six incremental sizes before the 1/2" drill.

That's right olrocknroller, we're talking woman's hands here...that makes it different.
Sarah, perhaps you should think of a way to protect (copyright) your pedal...who knows, it might be put on the map one day.