Dead Pedal / Foot Rest for my TJ

[steelman]

I've read a few threads on various forums about a dead pedal, also known as a foot rest. I've wanted one for my TJ for while now (automatic trans), and the only ones I can find are these:

First this one, which was selling for $30 at one point at Sun Performance, and is now discontinued :


And then there's this one that IS still currently available from Misch 4X4, but it's $90: http://www.misch4x4.com/footrest.html

So, here are some pictures of what I did. I don't claim to be a great fabricator by any means, so it's not perfect

First, I was fortunate enough to get a nice piece of roughly 1/8" thick aluminum from a friend (thanks Supe!). I measured out a piece of it at about 4" wide by 15" long.


Then I used a jig saw with a metal cutting blade (obviously) to cut it out.


This next picture with the red lines shows where I will be bending the aluminum into the shape I want.


I then made a template on paper for the holes I wanted to drill (to sorta replicate the look of the one pictured above by Sun Performance).


to be continued ...

[steelman]

I then drilled the holes first with a 1/4" bit, then a 1/2" bit.



After beating on it with a hammer, it began to take shape!



After test-fitting it, I had to cut a notch in it to allow it to sit where I wanted to on the floor of the Jeep. The notch is for a nut that is bolted through the floor of the Jeep for my Shrockworks Rock Slider. I also drilled th holes I would use to screw this to the floor.


to be continued ...

[swbooking]

Looks Great! Heck that would even be cool in my manual XJ! My foot gets tired when im in 5th gear for a long drive... The bends would have to be a little different but thats no too hard...

[steelman]

Time for paint...I elected to use the Dupli-Color spray on bedliner that comes in a rattle can, simply because I had some lying around the garage.




to be continued (again!) ...

[steelman]

Finally, time to mount it in the Jeep! I predrilled the tub and used some nice large-headed sheet metal screws that I also happened to have lying around.




So, there it is. Nothing super fancy or sophisticated, but I think I'll get many years of enjoyment out of it!
(looks like I need to hose off the Herculiner again soon!)

That is all!

[maddmike]

thats actually a really great idea...good job!

[Dukes69]

wow, $90! I need to get into the dead pedal business! Nice work.

[USMC 0369]

Another Idea

Put it under the gas pedal when you loan the Jeep to the kids!

[maddmike]

Put it under the gas pedal when you loan the Jeep to the kids!

bob, i sure hope your son isn't driving the jeep yet.

[steelman]

bob, i sure hope your son isn't driving the jeep yet.

Oh Yeah! At 7 years old, he's a wheelin' machine! lol

[steelman]

wow, $90! I need to get into the dead pedal business! Nice work.

We'll join forces! A lot easier than dealing with something say like...ooooh...rock sliders or something like that!

[YJwonderboy]

Man, that looks really great. Really quite a work of Fab-Art!

[Materdaddy]

Nice job!

[The-Hurricane]

looks great, but are the holes enough grip??? the one at the top of the page was punched out a bit so their was raised up edges to grip the bottom of a shoe, does yours slide around much??

[steelman]

Granted that mine won't grip as much as the one pictured at the top of the page, but I've never had any problems with slipping at all on the one I made. Could be that I don't play in the mud, could be that the spray-on bedliner that I used has some grip to it. :dunno: I just know that I use it every day!