Ralph, I believe there is supposed to be a small metal grommet.  I know I am adding one to my 28 truck even though I don't think they had them, because of the sloppiness you describe.  

It may be a matter of cars vrs trucks as cars had a more finished interior.  Bruce Bugay had one for sale weeks back but no longer has it listed.  You may want to send him a pm.  He had two a full round one and one with a flat side to it.  I bought the full round one.  He had them listed as fitting early 30's 

David

This is kinda like the one I bought from Bruce except it is dropforged or cast.  This repro one looks like hard rubber.  These are at the Filling Station and quite expensive.

@david-siedschlag @ralph-c-vemmer The Master Parts Catalog does not show a bushing or grommet being used before 1933. I have a few in my stash. If you want to use one, I recommend one of the metal ones. I have them for two different rod sizes.

Hello Ralph C Vemmer,

Looking at my original 1931 Coach, I've discovered where the gas pedal rod passes thru the floorboard inside the interior, there is a brass plate that the rod rides/slides on and so not on the wood. It is somewhat goofy to look at but I guess someone put some thought into it. You're right about the hole thru floor board being sloppy, but maybe that's to reduce potential binding on the rod. The brass plate is about 1/16" thick. It's dimensions are 3/4" wide x 1-3/4" long. It has a half moon cutout on its left side at the half way point in the length that matches the diameter of the hole thru the floorboard. This is how/where it gets installed: almost vertically on right side of rod and onto floorboard with two countersink wood screws (one near top and one near bottom of plate. The half moon in the plate makes up approximately the right half of the wood hole. The gas pedal rod when at rest is sitting half on wood (left) and half on brass (right). Now, this brass plate is slanted 6 degrees to the left (top to bottom) from vertical. That's where it gets installed with the screws. Thinking about why this is the way it is, it appears that when the gas pedal/rod is in use, the drivers right foot has a slight push to the right when pushing on the pedal. This causes the rod to ride along the brass half moon thru its travel and not wearing on the wood in the hole. That's the way it looks to me and that's the way it is on the Coach.

@35mike   Thanks for the info.  If you are willing to part with one of those, I would be very appreciative.  The rod size on my accelerator, as best I can tell, is 1/4 inch.

Thanks to all for the information.  I always get the best guidance from this group.  😀 

The 1931 Chevrolets only had a hole in the wood toe board. I have been driving 1931 for 50+ years and never had a problem with the pedal being sloppy enough to cause any. 

I too wondered about this. In order to keep and engine smells from coming through I put felt on the inside of the hole. I oiled the felt and have not had an issue.