Another Rack and Pinion question

jhbus · Jul 13, 2008

Hey everyone! I have some questions about rack and pinion for my '67 coupe. I recenty bought a Unisteer manual system, but I need to return it...I can not get it to work well with my headers (headman shorties). So it's back to researching. My car originally had power steering, and I hated the way it felt. My car is NOT a daily driver, but I like to drive it to the shore for a week, and of course around town for fun. I also HATED the way I could not get a power steering pump that was not noisey. So I had decided on manual steering. I also need a new steering column, I want tilt. I want some opinions, but before you guys flame me, I DID do a search on the site. The info I was finding was not very current. And, I know I will get yelled at for this, but I have been looking at the Flaming River manual kit...does anyone actually HAVE this kit? I know most on this site hates the name Flaming River, but the price is good and it includes the column. I would rather stick to manual steering, save me the headache of fluid leaks, noisey pumps and hose routing. Of course money is an issue, I could probably get my wife to let me spend a total of about $2k for the whole project (column and all) I would love to hear everyones input. Thanks!

Joe

bnickel · Jul 13, 2008

the flaming river rack is a giant POS stay as far away from it as possible. if you can even get it to fit when installing it you will have major bumpsteer issues because of the location of the inner tie rods on their end take off rack. what you need is a center take off rack or a very short end take off like the unisteer. unfortunately the unisteer rack is the only true manual rack and we know it won't work with your car so that leaves going to a power rack or the TCP manual rack, you might be able to get the TCP manual rack and a tilt column for close to $2K but i think you'll end up a little over that.

the next option would be either a Randalls rack kit or a Steeroids rack kit. both use the same style GM J-Car rack as a starting point but the Randalls kit will have a lot better header clearance, though the Steeroids might have enough i don't really know. Steeroids says you can use their power rack kit as a manual rack by just adding the correct fluid to the rack and capping the fittings so i would assume you could do the same with randalls kit also. BTW, the Unisteer power rack also uses the same GM J-car rack too, so you might be able to run it the same way.

if it were me i'd just get a power rack and use the recommended pump or go with the TCP manual rack.

Randalls Rack kit

Home Page

steeroids kit:

SpeedDirect.com - Mustang 67-70

the unisteer power kit comes with a pump also.

Unisteer: 1967-70 (LATE-YEAR '67 MODEL) MUSTANG POWER RACK (Small Block Eng.)

TCP kit

Total Control Products

69gmachine · Jul 14, 2008

jhbus said:
Hey everyone! I have some questions about rack and pinion for my '67 coupe. I recenty bought a Unisteer manual system, but I need to return it...I can not get it to work well with my headers (headman shorties). So it's back to researching. My car originally had power steering, and I hated the way it felt. My car is NOT a daily driver, but I like to drive it to the shore for a week, and of course around town for fun. I also HATED the way I could not get a power steering pump that was not noisey. So I had decided on manual steering. I also need a new steering column, I want tilt. I want some opinions, but before you guys flame me, I DID do a search on the site. The info I was finding was not very current. And, I know I will get yelled at for this, but I have been looking at the Flaming River manual kit...does anyone actually HAVE this kit? I know most on this site hates the name Flaming River, but the price is good and it includes the column. I would rather stick to manual steering, save me the headache of fluid leaks, noisey pumps and hose routing. Of course money is an issue, I could probably get my wife to let me spend a total of about $2k for the whole project (column and all) I would love to hear everyones input. Thanks!

Joe

Flaming River is not a bad company. They make many great products. It's just that the Dodge Omni based rear steer rack is a poor foundation for designing a kit to retrofit into an early Mustang.

Depending on where you're located, I may be able to help you . PM me if you'd like more info.

ILLEGAL GARAGE · Jul 21, 2008

I have heard if you convert to a rack and pinion setup you loose a lot of steering angle.
You guys have any input on this?

Max

jamison42166 · Jul 21, 2008

View attachment 310283
TCP power rack showing wheels turned all the way.

j69302 · Jul 21, 2008

When I was researching the TCP rack all I heard was people say that you lost a lot of turning radius but I put the TCP Power rack on my 69 Coupe and the radius actually decreased compared to stock.I can make much tighter u-turns and parking lots are no problem. Maybe its because a 69 is a little bit wider and there is more room than the earlier years which is what most people gauge by. However the TCP rack listed for a 67 is the same part number for a 69.

ptl65 · Jul 21, 2008

You MAY want to check out Unisteer again. They are currently selling a redesigned power rack, which has gotten some OK feedback. They are suppossed to be coming out soon with a redesigned manual rack that is suppossed to eliminate some of the turning radius issues. Don't know if it will help your header problem. If you call, talk to Brian for details.

ptl65 · Jul 21, 2008

You MAY want to check out Unisteer again. They are currently selling a redesigned power rack, which has gotten some OK feedback. They are suppossed to be coming out soon with a redesigned manual rack that is suppossed to eliminate some of the turning radius issues. Don't know if it will help your header problem. If you call, talk to Brian for details.

69gmachine · Jul 21, 2008

ILLEGAL GARAGE said:
I have heard if you convert to a rack and pinion setup you loose a lot of steering angle.
You guys have any input on this?

Max

I don't know about the TCP rack, but the GM J car rack that I'm using does give up some turning radius, but it's been so long since I had the stock steering, I would need a stock car to make a fair comparison. I know it's not as tight a turning radius as I'd like it to be though. Someday I plan to switch to the new Wilwood MII spindle forgings. I'll have to have custom steering arms made that are better matched to the throw of the J car rack, but I'll be able to use my 9" rims on the front, and I'll put 10.5" rims on the rear. The Wilwood forging is closer in height to the stock spindle than an OEM MII spindle.

ILLEGAL GARAGE · Jul 21, 2008

The TCP kit looks nice
but $2100 is a tough pill to swallow

there is a lot of other things i have to fix first i guess

Max

bnickel · Jul 21, 2008

i plan on using the Pro-Motorsports bump steer kit to gain back the missing turn radius with my TCP rack once i get started on building the cougar. the TCP rack i have is actually the big block version so it has three seperate holes for the tie rod can mount in, that should work prefect for getting the lost turn radius back AND allow me to adjust the bumpsteer out almost completely. should also reduce lock to lock turns by about 1/2 turn as well.

since i've already decided i'm going to be using the TCP G-Bar out back all i have left to do is decide what i'm going to do up front...TCP, CPP or a custom coilover front based on Opentracker roller pieces. I'm really kind of leaning towards a custom coilover with ORP roller pieces just because John is my buddy and i really want to be able use some of his stuff on the car

jhbus · Jul 22, 2008

Wow, this is all GREAT info, thanks guys!

jhbus · Jul 23, 2008

Ok, so I have changed my thinking, and now I will go with POWER rack and pinion. I have it narrowed down to Unisteer's power kit or Steeroids power kit. Any opinions either way? I spoke with someone at Steeroids, and he suggested I use a GM pump, but that I would have to fab up some brackets. Anyone do this? Is it terribly hard? Thanks again!

96 DOHC Cobra · Jul 23, 2008

I bought the Unisteer kit for my 67 but haven't installed it yet. It comes with the pump and mounting brackets. If I remember correctly, it's also guaranteed for life.

havi · Jul 24, 2008

Since we're on the subject. RRS :: Classic Vintage Ford Mustang Disc Brake and Coil Over Strut Kit :: Vintage Rack and Pinion :: RRS is another option, though I haven't purchased anything from them yet. I'm considering it for my Meteor, though it is a pricety unit as well. Thought I'd ask if anyone has had experience with them?

68EFIvert · Jul 24, 2008

I have a Steeroids kit and am happy with it so far. I don't have may miles on it yet but the steering is very precise. There is no slop and the feel is great. I have an efi engine so I am running a Fox Mustang (86-93) power steering setup. It seems to work just fine. If you want to go with a GM type pump look at the brackets made by March. They have the option to mount a GM pump on a ford engine. They look pretty cool as well. Look at the link below and what they refer to as the Saginaw pump bracket.

FORD SMALL BLOCK SERPENTINE BRACKETS

69gmachine · Jul 25, 2008

jhbus said:
Ok, so I have changed my thinking, and now I will go with POWER rack and pinion. I have it narrowed down to Unisteer's power kit or Steeroids power kit. Any opinions either way? I spoke with someone at Steeroids, and he suggested I use a GM pump, but that I would have to fab up some brackets. Anyone do this? Is it terribly hard? Thanks again!

I suggest using the Fox Mustang pump also. The bolt pattern is the same as the old iron pumps and with a little cutting and grinding on the aluminum bracket it will fit just fine. That will allow you to use the other stock Ford bracket that mounts to the water pump. The Fox pump's output is well matched to the GM J car rack, and the original style pulleys line up perfectly. I went so far as to paint mine the goofy green-blue color Ford painted the stock pumps. I used AN style adapters on both the pump and rack and made my own hoses. It's leak free and easy to remove/install.

66Runt · Jul 26, 2008

I'll be running the Fox pump with my Randall's Rack (J-car R&P) as well due to the EFI swap.
I do have the complete setup for running the GM pump with black anodized aluminum brackets, polished aluminum pulley, and the aluminum adjustable strut.

If you don't go Fox, I'll sell this whole setup for $175.00 shipped lower 48 states. Power Steering Pump

jhbus · Aug 4, 2008

Does that include the pump?

I decided to go with the Steeroids power set up. I ordered it today! Hopefully I will be cruising again by the end of the month. Thanks to everyone for your input!

KiwiGT · Aug 4, 2008

havi said:
Since we're on the subject. RRS :: Classic Vintage Ford Mustang Disc Brake and Coil Over Strut Kit :: Vintage Rack and Pinion :: RRS is another option, though I haven't purchased anything from them yet. I'm considering it for my Meteor, though it is a pricety unit as well. Thought I'd ask if anyone has had experience with them?

I've purchased two items from RRS for my '66, the power steering rack, and their LCA strut rods. Both items required machine work by me to make them function correctly. On the power steering rack the supplied front pulleys didn't come anywhere near close to lining up, and the power steer hoses came crimped with the wrong ends on the hoses to connect to their RRS power steer pump. On the strut rods the bronze bushes supplied were way too long and had to be machined down, I couldn't fit the lock nut on the end. I was disappointed with my purchases and ended up not using either the rack or strut rods.

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