The 119.00 manual steering rack arrived last night. Initial first looks find it to be every bit as good as a Flaming River, or Uni-steer rack that’s out there selling for twice that much. I’ll check the turn count lock to lock to see what i actually have tomorrow.
The other decision I have to make is whether or not to put the head on this thing before I attempt to put it in the car. When the head is on, it really becomes a long tall sonofabitch, and trying to angle the combo into the engine compartment always ends up hitting the engine hoist, or the firewall, or both.
Back when I was removing the even longer, taller 4.1L Forphadite engine that WAS in it before, I cut and sectioned the upper radiator saddle so I could remove it W/o having to angle it so steeply to get it in. And it’s that way now,..but this time it has brand new shiny orange paint on it. I’d be worried that the paint will crack around the bolt heads that hold the thing in place.
Given that the main cap bolts are not s’posed to be here until next week, I want to keep moving forward on the engine. That’ll mean I’m putting the head on, and removing the saddle.
The 3amd and I were talking last night,.he thinks that I may have to remove the steering support bracket to make it easier to modify the steering for the upcoming EPS conversion. I told him that with all the wiring that is currently in place, I doubt that that would be possible, but agreed with him that it would make it way easier, especially if I have to cut that support in any way.
im hoping that I can get it out of there...Tell ya what,..why don’t I put some shoes on and go down there and look..