Any new rack and pinion choices ?

mcode · Sep 6, 2005

Any new rack and pinion choices in the future or should i get the tcp rack as it seems to be the best.----I like randalls rack but the turning radius is increased and bumpsteer as apposed to tcp or is it the same. Also the 1970 colapsible column will no longer function with randalls but will with tcp. Plus the fabrication of cutting inner tie rods and steering shafts

bnickel · Sep 6, 2005

check out www.randallsrack.com he has about the best setup going right now for the money, it's less than half of the TCP rack and is probably as close in quality as you can get to the TCP unit as well.

whatever you DO NOT get a flaming river kit, THEY SUCK BAD i can't tell you how many have had problems with not being able to install it, they have been unable to recieve any good advice from FR and they seem to have gotten the runaround more from flaming river more often than not. the customer service is extremely poor, with most people having to send their kit back multiple times for modifications that don't work and the customer has to pay the shipping bot ways, Flaming river would not take responsibility fro their screw ups at all.

for my dime i'm going to coin up for the randallsrack kit. Randy seems to be a really great guy and almost always gets back in touch with you about any questions you have before and AFTER you buy the rack, people have actually received calls from him on sundays and when he is at car shows on sundays, can't beat customer service like that.

i probably have another year before i can afford to buy his kit but i can pretty much guarantee you that is who i will buy my rack kit from when it comes time. check out his site and give him a call if you have any questions, i promise you won't be disappointed.

70vert · Sep 6, 2005

I would second that

Give the Randall's Rack a try, lots of people have installed and been happy. Apparently FR has some issues and Steeroids requires modification to the collapsible column. Maybe that RRS Online Aussie rack, but that would be no cheaper than TCP to your door. The Randall's is probably the best "bang for the buck", but if money is no object maybe the TCP or the RRS.

http://www.rrs-online.com/html/steering.htm

The "Linear Tracking System" is interesting, I think it's that rod on the side and the bracket to mount to the rack. The idea is to keep the rack from flexing (I think) - I think a forum member named Håkan has a similar design.

mcode · Sep 6, 2005

Randalls less than half the price or Tcp?

Bnikel --you say that randalls rack is less than half of tcp --well the rack is selling for 1200 instead of 2000 also rack and pump is 1495 as apposed to 2600 i still don't see how this is less than half. Also Randalls doesn't have a specific rack for big block (cleveland etc) as tcp does seems to me as on rack fits all . Or is there a specific cleveland crossmember with randalls . I have yet to read of anyone on any forum that has actually driven a latter year mustang with randalls rack --Please reply if you have

streetgrande69 · Sep 6, 2005

You’ll be mighty disappointed when you bolt that tcp rack up and find out you have a larger turning circle, check your sources.

I agree with Brian, Ranadlls is a good bet for a less expensive version then tcp but if you have the cash and are willing to spend it on the rack, then do it. I love my tcp rack.

bnickel · Sep 6, 2005

if you'll not on the TCP site the prices they state say and up. there is also a hardware/installation kit that is required at least at on time it was anyway, that adds another couple hundred bucks to those prices.

stangman16 · Sep 6, 2005

Wow, I'm going to eventually get the randals rack. Hey, this may be a stupid question but - does the rack and pinion do away with the steering gearbox for my '66? I need a new one if not... just curious if I'd have to buy another gearbox once I get the rack.

bnickel · Sep 6, 2005

no, the rack replaces the gear box.

mcode · Sep 7, 2005

contacted tcp on prices

Well -Bnkicel i contacted lino at tcp and he says the tcp rack includes all hardware to install the rack included in the big block kit (tie rod adapters for 1970 -steering column for colopsible column adapter etc. all for 2000--) i agree that this is more than randalls but lets tell the people reading this the facts ---also Bnickel you have been all for the randalls kit in this web page and others yet you do not have one installed--i would like someone who has it installed to tell me the pros-or cons --also what is the alignment specs for randalls

bnickel · Sep 7, 2005

ok well they have changed that then because you ahve to buy an installation kit. as for me being all for randalls kit, it is because i have done the research and found that for the money randall has the best inexpensive kit available. not trying to badmouth the TCP kit at all, but that is damn expensive for what you get if you ask me. while it may technologically superior top randalls system i just don't see it being all that much better comsidering the extra expense. Lino is a great guy and he used to post here regularly.

as for the different crossmember of the tcp kit i don't know why you couldn't design one mounting system that works for all combos. Ford didn't need to change crossmembers neither does randalls kit. it works with all of the original engine combinations and most headers.

now for being all for randalls kit, he is running a small business and has a great product to offer. what's wrong with that? i uesd to have a small business myself and i know what it's like to not be able to eat because the larger companies can afford to do more volume sales or services than you can. nothing wrong with that either.

as for someone who has actually used randalls or tcp there are a few people here that have used tcp and really like it a lot, it's a good system. there aren't very many people on stangnet that have used randalls that i'm aware of but there are several over on the vmf that have and everyone of them that has randalls kit absolutely loves it. so you tell me is it wrong to recommend a system if you have done the research and feel that it's a quality product? i don't.

i have no affiliation at all with randall or his company i just feel that he has great product for a great price that will do exactly what most people want out of a system lilke this that covers most all applications.

mcode · Sep 7, 2005

i agree with you

Hey-Bnickel --i agree with you i am just touching on some questions that i need answered and i did not mean to offend you. Yes randalls has a good product but did you know it was originally selling for 895 for the rack why has it increased by 300 dollars ( why because of the interest and randalls potential for more profit). Also is Randalls a bolt in with no cutting --then why must you cut the column (even on a 1970 -tcp no need to) and also the tie rods need to be shorten(lengthwise). Now you are comparing apples to oranges Tcp is a higher quality product that i might add will look much better under a expensive classic ( that is why shelby is using it on his mustangs and not randalls ) --Yes Randalls does the job but is it worth the price also lets us keep everything relative ( stock modified gm j car rack ) versus woodward enginering servo etc. ( my point is this the real comparison is how much profit margin is each company making ( ex 2000 for tcp say profit 500 for randalls 1200 say profit 700 therefore what is in fact a better value)

Just putting this out for everyone --i personally do not prefer one or the others

LMan · Sep 7, 2005

there's a feller on the VMF forum nicked "Cloudbuster", who has installed the randallsrack on his '66. Look him up for review/opinion....

streetgrande69 · Sep 7, 2005

its easy for us to speculate the profit margins between the 2 companies, its hard to actually get the facts though. i don't know if there is a signifigent differance between the 2. we don't know if randall has insurance or not either, it may acount for the increase.
btw randall has the racks modified from the stock version which closes the gap. tcp stuff is nice, well engeneered, i think it looks great under the car too if thats the goal, there is nothing wrong with that. it was one of my selling points.

i do agree, cloudduster i think has it and there are a few others around. i'll see if i can track down a few for you.

65mistress · Sep 7, 2005

Ok, a silly question. If the turning radiuses suck so bad on these R&P set-ups, can you swap in another rack that would allow for a better radius with the mounting brackets or cradles from these companies? A rack out of an Escort or something? I'm just using the Escort rack as an example, just curious as to if you can swap in a tighter turn radius rack without any serious repercussions?

streetgrande69 · Sep 7, 2005

no you can't because of the design differance, totaly different aminals and the turning radius doesn't "suck" its increased. don't blow it out of proportion.

bnickel · Sep 7, 2005

mcode said:
Hey-Bnickel --i agree with you i am just touching on some questions that i need answered and i did not mean to offend you. Yes randalls has a good product but did you know it was originally selling for 895 for the rack why has it increased by 300 dollars ( why because of the interest and randalls potential for more profit). Also is Randalls a bolt in with no cutting --then why must you cut the column (even on a 1970 -tcp no need to) and also the tie rods need to be shorten(lengthwise). Now you are comparing apples to oranges Tcp is a higher quality product that i might add will look much better under a expensive classic ( that is why shelby is using it on his mustangs and not randalls ) --Yes Randalls does the job but is it worth the price also lets us keep everything relative ( stock modified gm j car rack ) versus woodward enginering servo etc. ( my point is this the real comparison is how much profit margin is each company making ( ex 2000 for tcp say profit 500 for randalls 1200 say profit 700 therefore what is in fact a better value)
Just putting this out for everyone --i personally do not prefer one or the others

i see your points as well, BTW it is only the 65-66 cars that the tie-rods need to be shortened, it is for exactly that reason that randall also now has a different center link to alleviate that problem. randall has modified the j-car rack to put the centerlink behind the rack as opposed to in front of it on a production j-car rack. the TCP rack is very similar in form and function although it is a completely different animal altogether. i once made the mistake of suggesting that the TCP was based on the design of the j-car rack, Lino set me straight pretty quickly though, but that is how similar the 2 systems look to me, besides the obvious differences with the wilwood servo.

66Runt · Sep 7, 2005

If you don't mind a manual rack

Maval (or Marval) has a manual rack that from the pictures looks pretty nice. Designed specifically for the Mustang. It's just under $900.00. I talked to the plant manager at one of the car shows the other day. He says it has 6.5" travel and 3.5 turns lock to lock. The travel means you would loose very little turning radius. Maybe 1', probably less.
If anyone is interested, I've got the information at home and can post a link.

I just ordered Randall's Rack. For the money, it's not worth my effort to duplicate. Very sharp guy, able to answer all the important questions very thoroughly, and authoritatively. There are ways to pick up the loss in steering, but it means changes to the chassis, ride height, spindle or all three. Just depends on how you set up your car.

YMMV,

Scott

Tubo(2-bo) · Sep 7, 2005

The only problem with Maval, is no power rack. Long way away from installing a rack at this point. The Maval would be my first choice, with Randal's rack second.

twuxtop · Sep 7, 2005

mmm

mavals looks like flamerz and the site says only for 70's stangs, show me the link you are looking at. hey randall i still want one for my 66 fairlane adjustable, did you measure them yet?

bnickel · Sep 7, 2005

66Runt said:
Maval (or Marval) has a manual rack that from the pictures looks pretty nice. Designed specifically for the Mustang. It's just under $900.00. I talked to the plant manager at one of the car shows the other day. He says it has 6.5" travel and 3.5 turns lock to lock. The travel means you would loose very little turning radius. Maybe 1', probably less.
If anyone is interested, I've got the information at home and can post a link.

I just ordered Randall's Rack. For the money, it's not worth my effort to duplicate. Very sharp guy, able to answer all the important questions very thoroughly, and authoritatively. There are ways to pick up the loss in steering, but it means changes to the chassis, ride height, spindle or all three. Just depends on how you set up your car.

YMMV,

Scott

it loks like if you use the pro-motorsports bump steer kit, which also reduces the turning radius. so in theory it would work to gain some of the lost radius back after switching to a rack. the kit basically moves the tie-rod out, down and forward. that's what i plan on using.

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