rack and pinion swap?

[tybob81]

I have been thinking about doing a rack and pinion swap for a while. Any thoughts or concerns? I want to do this for driver side header clearance with my 351w. I have a rear mount on the crossmember manual rack I want to fab up and try out. Feedback would be nice.

[fordamericana]

I have been thinking about doing a rack and pinion swap for a while. Any thoughts or concerns? I want to do this for driver side header clearance with my 351w. I have a rear mount on the crossmember manual rack I want to fab up and try out. Feedback would be nice.

Everything I have seen/heard, is it won't work. You end up trashing the rack and pinion set up because the angles of the tie rods is so much different than the angle of the twin I beams, they tend to accordion the guts of the rack and pinion.

I have seen guys pull it off after changing the front end over to a-arm set ups though...

[marz68]

You will need a center steer rack for it to work and the universal joint from the colum to the rack will have some insane angles.

[fordamericana]

You will need a center steer rack for it to work and the universal joint from the colum to the rack will have some insane angles.

Have you seen that work?

[marz68]

You will need a center steer rack for it to work and the universal joint from the colum to the rack will have some insane angles.

Have you seen that work?

No but if there is a rack that will work with ibeams has to be a center steer rack.

These setups position the inner tie rod end at the center just like a ceter steer rack would.
All you need to do is figure out how to mount the rack.

[BobbyFord]

Ultimately the best position would be to mount the rack at the same horizontal plane as the tie rod ear on the spindle to minimize "bump"steer...

[fordamericana]

Now, that may solve a problem I am having, or was having with my truck. I put a rear sump set up on it, and the drag link appears to have put a small dent in the oil pan...

I was thinking about a cross steer set up... Right now its all about the money...

[BobbyFord]

Now, that may solve a problem I am having, or was having with my truck. I put a rear sump set up on it, and the drag link appears to have put a small dent in the oil pan...

Anyone got a line on where to get one of these set ups?

There are two different pitman arms for these trucks, you may just need to change the pitman arm on your current set up. I have a rear sump pan with no steering linkage issues on my '72.

[fordamericana]

Now, that may solve a problem I am having, or was having with my truck. I put a rear sump set up on it, and the drag link appears to have put a small dent in the oil pan...

Anyone got a line on where to get one of these set ups?

There are two different pitman arms for these trucks, you may just need to change the pitman arm on your current set up. I have a rear sump pan with no steering linkage issues on my '72.

72 stock pitman arm? I have heard the pitman arm from a 4x4 box would solve the problem too...

[BobbyFord]

http://www.fordification.com/tech/str-s ... ations.htm

[fordamericana]

http://www.fordification.com/tech/str-s ... ations.htm

Thank you sir, the power steering box I already have has the pitman arm I need on it. Now I just have to put a pan gasket on the pan and bolt it back up... After I reinstall my pump etc...

[marz68]

Ultimately the best position would be to mount the rack at the same horizontal plane as the tie rod ear on the spindle to minimize "bump"steer...

Yup your right!
I had to put spacers between my heim joints and tie rod end mount to eliminate the bump steer on my truck.

[fordamericana]

Ultimately the best position would be to mount the rack at the same horizontal plane as the tie rod ear on the spindle to minimize "bump"steer...

Yup your right!
I had to put spacers between my heim joints and tie rod end mount to eliminate the bump steer on my truck.

Do you have pictures?

[marz68]

Ultimately the best position would be to mount the rack at the same horizontal plane as the tie rod ear on the spindle to minimize "bump"steer...

Yup your right!
I had to put spacers between my heim joints and tie rod end mount to eliminate the bump steer on my truck.

Do you have pictures?

I can get pictures but my setup is a mustang 2 with rack and pinion.

[fordamericana]

I had to put spacers between my heim joints and tie rod end mount to eliminate the bump steer on my truck.[/quote]

Do you have pictures?[/quote]

I can get pictures but my setup is a mustang 2 with rack and pinion.[/quote]

Ah, okay. I'm still running stock front suspension...