T350 pedal alignment

[Hades42]

Hi guys.

I've been looking at the t350 with the intention to buy one when money permits* next year.

As part of my home work I popped into Adrian Blyth to see their t350 http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2647669.htm just to make sure I could get comfortable in it.

I was very shocked and disappointed to find that IMO the pedals, although vertically lined nicely, were offset to the right.

Is this normal?
Can they be adjusted?
Why would they be like this?
Does the Tamora share the same floor? Thinking that the Tamora has the same floor pan I went to my local performance car specialist http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2724834.htm to check that the Tams pedals lined up ok, which they do.

Cheers,
Chris.


*Must resist getting one on tick.

[sanquin]

It is normal for the T350, you get used to it but it will never feel perfect imo. I heard it is beacuse of the wide transmission tunnel, but I did not know the Tamora does not have offset pedals and I thought the transmission tunnel was just as wide.

[BCA]

I'd look closely at the angle of the seat first of all.

Massive improvements to be had by removing the spacers underneath that make them lean excessively. I am tempted to go even further on ours and modify the seat frame base (which still creates the lean!) Once we removed the spacers though, everything fell into place much better.

Oh and the pedals aren't offset because of the tunnel (atleast not significantly) - there is a fair amount of space to the left of the pedal box in the T350, enough for a foot rest. I did wonder if it is possible to move the pedal box further in, but since sorting the seat we're more likely to look at a foot rest.

Edited by BCA on Monday 16th May 11:49

[Mattt]

Odd, I've never noticed an offset.

[Targarama]

I took the spacers out from under my seats too - stops that 'lean' you get onto the centre console. I've not noticed the pedals being offset and I would expect the floorpan to the identical in a Tamora to a T350. Are you sure they are not like many other car where the 'straight ahead position for the right leg/foot is between the accelerator and brake?

BCA - the floor is not completely level, curving up towards the outside, so the slight lean AFTER removing spacers is a result of this, not the seat frame.

[BCA]

Targarama said:

I took the spacers out from under my seats too - stops that 'lean' you get onto the centre console. I've not noticed the pedals being offset and I would expect the floorpan to the identical in a Tamora to a T350.

BCA - the floor is not completely level, curving up towards the outside, so the slight lean AFTER removing spacers is a result of this, not the seat frame.

That may be true, but it is also definitely in the seat frame. I had the drivers side one out a couple of weeks ago.

[sanquin]

BCA said:

Oh and the pedals aren't offset because of the tunnel (atleast not significantly) - there is a fair amount of space to the left of the pedal box in the T350, enough for a foot rest. I did wonder if it is possible to move the pedal box further in, but since sorting the seat we're more likely to look at a foot rest.

Edited by BCA on Monday 16th May 11:49

I am not convinced. There is indeed just enough space left of the clutch for a footrest, and that's about it. If the tunnel would have been less wide the pedals would have fitted more to the left.

I tried to remember where I heard that it was the tunnel causing this and it was in a Dutch T350 review by a performance magazien in which the test driver complained slightly about being in an S-like position behind the wheel because of the offset pedals. Could not find the review online, but I did see that EVO magazine came to a similar conclusion http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/4552...

Adjusting the seat migth solve it indeed, but personally I do not think the seat position cuased the pedals offset

[Targarama]

I've just been out into the garage and sat in mine and thought about it. The pedals are in the right position. Maybe the 'report' was because the pedals look to be offset to the right. Sit in the car and put your right leg forwards naturally, it falls between the brake and accelerator pedals. Also, there is room for a foot rest, someone on here made one a while ago.

[BCA]

sanquin said:

Adjusting the seat migth solve it indeed, but personally I do not think the seat position cuased the pedals offset

I am not saying that, I am saying that the lean caused by the seat creates the feeling of the pedals being further offset than they are. I assure you, it irritated us sufficiently to change the seat mounting within two weeks of purchasing - one of those weeks we were unable to drive it! It makes a difference, so much so, that it is not an issue for us anymore.

Targa - it was PH'er and all round Gent; Paul/ 'Tail slide'

[Targarama]

sanquin said:

I am not convinced. There is indeed just enough space left of the clutch for a footrest, and that's about it. If the tunnel would have been less wide the pedals would have fitted more to the left.

I tried to remember where I heard that it was the tunnel causing this and it was in a Dutch T350 review by a performance magazien in which the test driver complained slightly about being in an S-like position behind the wheel because of the offset pedals. Could not find the review online, but I did see that EVO magazine came to a similar conclusion http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/4552...

Adjusting the seat migth solve it indeed, but personally I do not think the seat position cuased the pedals offset

Evo article said:

Only the slightly odd driving position dampens the excitement; the wide transmission tunnel pushes the pedals out to the right

It doesn't. TVR could easily have cut a chunk from the left hand side of the pedal box. It is like this on purpose. I suspect Jethro wrote this article without thinking about it a bit more.

btw, I do agree that the seat isn't that supportive, Jethro's next comment.

[mindstar]

By removing the spacers, doest the top outboard corner of the backrest not touch the rollcage then??
Mine still has the spacers and the seat is already against the rollcage...

[BCA]

mindstar said:

By removing the spacers, doest the top outboard corner of the backrest not touch the rollcage then??
Mine still has the spacers and the seat is already against the rollcage...

Possibly variances in build? Our passenger side seat is just touching the almost-rollcage at certain seat positions, we have therefore left it as is for the moment. The drivers side however, is completely free from spacing out, bar a couple of washers (same all round.) Since staring at the angle of both seats, I am tempted to go one step further and change them both to lower them significantly - possibly... another thing I may look at is raising the fronts on both sides to give a touch of an angle to them. Will weigh up all options, but I am pretty happy with how the drivers seat is now. Feels great.

[Targarama]

mindstar said:

By removing the spacers, doest the top outboard corner of the backrest not touch the rollcage then??
Mine still has the spacers and the seat is already against the rollcage...

Mine touches as you recline past the upright position then it just touches in the reclined position, but if I remember correctly it did so beforehand too. Clearance is not an issue for me and I'm over 6ft 4inches.

[mindstar]

Thanks guys, will have a go at this then as its been bothering me since day 1.

[thainy77]

Mine are definately over to the right but i also have a foot rest.

[Zippee]

Targarama said:

mindstar said:

By removing the spacers, doest the top outboard corner of the backrest not touch the rollcage then??
Mine still has the spacers and the seat is already against the rollcage...

Mine touches as you recline past the upright position then it just touches in the reclined position, but if I remember correctly it did so beforehand too. Clearance is not an issue for me and I'm over 6ft 4inches.

Possibly a stupid question but presumably the spacers are between the seat frame/sliders and the floor rather than the seat to the frame? I'm constantly fidgeting around trying to keep upright despite only a slight lean towards my centre console but looking at the seat top and roll bar I'm a little unsure with regards to clearance. Presumably it's an easy job to do?
Sorry if this is a numpty question but if you don't know then you have to ask!

[Targarama]

Zippee said:

Possibly a stupid question but presumably the spacers are between the seat frame/sliders and the floor rather than the seat to the frame? I'm constantly fidgeting around trying to keep upright despite only a slight lean towards my centre console but looking at the seat top and roll bar I'm a little unsure with regards to clearance. Presumably it's an easy job to do?
Sorry if this is a numpty question but if you don't know then you have to ask!

Yes, easy enough. Be careful lifting the seats out so they don't scratch your trim but otherwise 4 bolts and lift them out. Put your head in the footwell and look back under the seat behind the slider adjuster and you'll see the mountains of washers. Mine were stuck into the GRP so took a little persuasion to get out but it wasn't a technical job. You can always put the back if you're not happy.

[BCA]

Targarama said:

Yes, easy enough. Be careful lifting the seats out so they don't scratch your trim but otherwise 4 bolts and lift them out. Put your head in the footwell and look back under the seat behind the slider adjuster and you'll see the mountains of washers. Mine were stuck into the GRP so took a little persuasion to get out but it wasn't a technical job. You can always put the back if you're not happy.

Depends how lucky you get, two of the bolts on the seat didnt have a locking nut on it, so was an absolute ba$tard, ended up cutting it out and having to replace them and adding locking nuts to them under the runners themselves. Hard to say in words, but when you look at them/ if you have the same issue, you will understand.

Once the seat is out, or if there are no complications like the above, everything is easy. Do it.

[ben_ek]

the whole pedal block can be moved forwards and backwards to accommodate for leg length (drilling required), so i suspect the amount of room for left/right adjustment would depend on how far back into the foot well the block is positioned. my car is in the garage at the mo, so i can't check this, but if it is the case perhaps your car has had the block moved right back for a tall driver and this has forced the block to be offset? as far as i know my block is standard and it def feels good.