rack and pinion idea

mxsman · Jun 10, 2005

Looking over a lot of rack and pinions on the web. Seems like most people aren't 100% satisried with most upgrad R&P on the market. And if you have a big block with headers there are clearance issues. Anyone heard of anyone swaping the spindles. left side to right side so tie rod ends are pointing to the front and putting a mustang II front mounted R&P on it? Sounds like something to try, but just wondering about geometry.

brianj5600 · Jun 10, 2005

Geometry would be dangerous. The spindle would be ahead of the king pin. Picture a shopping cart with the front casters facing forward.

C0V3R · Jun 11, 2005

That sounds incredibly scary and prone to breakage. I wouldn't touch it with a 40ft pole, nor would I get in a car designed that way.

mxsman · Jun 11, 2005

I thought about the same thing. Just that all the new cars are set up that way. Just an idea, not that I'm going to run out and swap them without doing a lot of measureing and checking with some alignment shops for inputs. Rodders do a lot of stuff like that, if they didn't we'd still be using leaf spings and solid axles from the model T days. Arlene coming, time to move the stang into the garage.

96 DOHC Cobra · Jun 12, 2005

I was hoping the idea would be workable too but found the same answer you got here. I have a different idea I'd like to toss out for discussion. Hope I'm not hijacking your thread because it's still on the same rack and pinion subject.
What about casting a steering arm that would bolt onto the stock spindles converting them to front-steer? Some early GMs had them. Same spindles used these arms (just flipfopped) for either front-steer or rear-steer on different applications. If people can cast entire new spindles, small parts like this should be easy.

reenmachine · Jun 12, 2005

C0V3R said:
That sounds incredibly scary and prone to breakage. I wouldn't touch it with a 40ft pole, nor would I get in a car designed that way.

When a car is designed that way, it's not a problem at all. Front steer is commonplace. It's when someone just swaps spindles from side to side that it's dangerous. A front steer spindle for the early Mustang could easily be designed by someone with an understanding of Ackerman steering principles, bump steer, caster, kingpin angles, etc.

boss66tcode · Jun 12, 2005

rack and pinion

You'll need a rear steer rack and pinion. The one I am using is from a 92 tuarus. I ahve a granada disc brake conversion. If you use (I know it sounds funny) fiero tie rod ends it works. 67 and 68 cars are fine with it as it. 65 and 66 cars will need to shorten the portion where the tie rod end screws on by 1 inch on each side.

I'm also told omni rack and pinions will work too.

C0V3R · Jun 12, 2005

reenmachine said:
When a car is designed that way, it's not a problem at all. Front steer is commonplace. It's when someone just swaps spindles from side to side that it's dangerous. A front steer spindle for the early Mustang could easily be designed by someone with an understanding of Ackerman steering principles, bump steer, caster, kingpin angles, etc.

You're most probably right, I think my reaction was mostly related to his intended direction. It didnt sound like any measurements or rudimentary calculations on geometry were going to be done - very worrying with important things like steering and suspension.

HHStang · Jun 12, 2005

I couldn't be happier with my Rod & Customer conversion R&P.

bnickel · Jun 12, 2005

boss66tcode said:
You'll need a rear steer rack and pinion. The one I am using is from a 92 tuarus. I ahve a granada disc brake conversion. If you use (I know it sounds funny) fiero tie rod ends it works. 67 and 68 cars are fine with it as it. 65 and 66 cars will need to shorten the portion where the tie rod end screws on by 1 inch on each side.

I'm also told omni rack and pinions will work too.

dodge caravan racks work as well. i know a guy who has done a few of these conversions and they seem to work pretty well on the 67-up cars.

yeloxr7 · Jun 13, 2005

Not ALL current cars have front-steer rack-and-pinion systems, If you check, you'll probably find that it is 50/50, just like it was with the old recirculating-ball steering setups.....

There are people that have adapted Taurus steering gears to the early Mustangs and they work OK up to a point, but the turning radius is HUGE (there is/was a guy in Holland thet was making brackets to bolt a Taurus rack in). MOst of the aftermarket rack setups being sold are based on either the GM J-car or Chrysler Omni/Horizon/K-car systems. All have their little problems which are well-documented here and on other vintage Ford message boards. So pick your poison.....

67efivert · Jun 13, 2005

guess im sorta gonna hijack this thread too.Need opinion between dodge rack and tarus rack which would yall use??

yeloxr7 · Jun 14, 2005

67efivert said:
guess im sorta gonna hijack this thread too.Need opinion between dodge rack and tarus rack which would yall use??

I'd get a decent (Borgeson) stock-style steering box and replace all the other linkage parts and live with it.

67efivert · Jun 14, 2005

yelo if i was the only one that drove the car i probally would but the power steering is bout a must and im tired of the stock style crap

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