I have a 72 Convertible and I'm looking for Rack and Pinion steering options for it. Any ideas? Can seem to find any aftermarket racks specific to the 71-73 body style.
I have a 72 Convertible and I'm looking for Rack and Pinion steering options for it. Any ideas? Can seem to find any aftermarket racks specific to the 71-73 body style.
do you have the add-on style Bendix power system or the integrated saginaw type box currently? if you have the add-on style Bendix system consider upgrading to the integrated saginaw type box or if you already have the integrated saginaw type box consider having it sent out for performance rebuild/blueprint. 4musclemachines sent the box for his boss 351 out to have a performance rebuild done and i believe he was quite happy with it.
as for a rack and pinion the only install i have ever seen of a rack on a big bocdy stang was done Brion Gluck at dark horse performance, he used a TCP rack but it was a total one off deal and required mucho fabrication. personally, i'd go with one of those Lee engineering power gear boxes and upgrade the rest of suspension as well.
Yeah I entertained the idea of doing a rack and pinion install and myself and a few guys started looking for components. We kinda just researched like crazy and then backed off the idea. The problem is that the brace that runs under the engine on our cars is right where a rack would go. Dark horse actually cut out that brace and fabricated one that would hold the TCP rack. I'm not a welder and I also didn't really want to take a chance on removing that piece on my old 73 conv.
Course if you were to some how use the late model stang front steer spindles you could get away form the brace, placing the rack in front of it. The problem with that though is you'd have to be sure to get the suspension geometry right.
I finally bought one of the newly offered flaming river rebuilds off NPD. I haven't drivin my stang beyond my driveway though so I can't give a report on how well it works.
I had Lee Engineering bebuild my constant ratio Saginaw to a variable 12:1 ratio. I also had the front suspension rebuilt to mostly stock. The only additions were the 1" lowering springs and IAS shocks. Unfortunately I don't have the car back from the shop yet to tell you how much better it is. I expect to get the car back next week and I'll post my driving impressions.