How Many Versions Of The V6 Gas Pedal Linkage Were There?

I'd always thought there were only two versions of the V6 accelerator pedal linkage - the hanging pedal type that was OEM on my '67, and the later 1969-'71 type for the floor-mounted gas pedal. When I was looking at the excellent drawings Jw60 added to the Resources file recently, I realized that the linkage he drew didn't look like either of those I was aware of:



I got in touch with Jw60, and he said the linkage he measured and drew came from his in-laws' 1966 CJ-5. The model year was verified by the frame serial number and also the carb date code.

He sent the photo of it shown below at top. I've paired this with one of the linkage from my '67 in roughly the same position at bottom:



The approximate lengths of the rod segments in the '67 linkage in the photo above, (measured along the side of the rod to the centers of each radius), from left to right are 2.5", 1.25", 4", 2.75". If you compare the total of these measurements to that of the dimensions in Jw60's drawings, it would appear that the two linkages are very similar, if not identical in overall length.

Note that on the linkage Jw60 measured, the portion that's on the interior side of the firewall when viewed from the top is completely straight. In contrast, here's a top view of the '67 linkage showing the angled last section where the pedal attaches:




In discussing the question of the origin of the linkage he measured, Jw60 and I have come up with two possibilities.

The first is that this was an early 1966 OEM version of the hanging-pedal V6 linkage that was different from the version in my '67. If that is indeed the case, then other examples must exist - and if so, hopefully someone out there can verify this, and possibly post some photos of others.

A second possibility is that a prior owner modified the linkage Jw60 measured from a '67-type linkage. If two additional bends were made to the '67 version of the linkage (one on either side of the 1.25" segment), and the lower segment was straightened, the result could resemble the linkage Jw60 measured. This would have had the effect of moving the hanging gas pedal closer to the driver, and hanging it vertically, further away from the brake pedal. Alternatively, such a mod could possibly have been done in order to accommodate a floor-mounted pedal, like the F134 type.

However, Jw60 indicated that on the linkage he measured, he could see no evidence of any modifications having been made to it. He and I decided it would be a good idea to put this info out there and ask what you guys think.

 

I don’t know how helpful this might be, but I pulled out my parts catalog (W1195-R1 dated Dec 1, 1970). Section 12-08, accelerator and linkage, in the “V6” column, there is a RHD variant I will dismiss, though there is an extensive list of these parts. At the end of Section-08, there is “use with V6 engine code-S-1970”. This includes “ arm and rod, accelerator assy, #992503”, “ bracket, support, accelerator treadle, #994283”, “ plate, trim #940289”, “stud, ball, accelerator #939222 (2)”, and “treadle, assy, 11-1/4” long, #992504”.
There are similar parts in the much more extensive listing for the RHD section, but items like “treadle assy, #941635” don’t have any ball studs listed to be used in conjunction, so this must be a totally different style (probably used with LHD also). Unfortunately, the only illustration for Section 12-08 is the F134 throttle linkage.
I believe this parts catalog covers all but the very last “early CJ5’s”, and even has American Motors and the logo on the front cover. This catalog only shows one pedal assy for LHD V6 CJ & CJ6. It is curious that the V6 Tuxedo Park models are only shown under the RHD section, when I know there were LHD versions, I’m sure the vast majority. I suspect that many V6 parts shown in the RHD section are also used on the much more common LHD versions.
-Donny