rack/shaft issues

[ShallowGrave]

I'm having problems once again in an attempt to get my car on the road again.

Originally I had a 4 cyl that I converted to 5.0. I kept the rack, shaft and column from the 2.3 but since the rack was leaking at the ends I just bought a new GT rack from Autozone. When the bolt is in the shaft (towards the dash) the shaft is about 3/4 of an inch short of the groove at the rack. I know for a fact that the shafts from 2.3s and 5.0s are the same because I have both side by side. My question is:

is the 5.0 column longer? or did I end up with a stupid parts guy that gave me a rack of an 84 or something? Is there perhaps something else I'm missing here?

 

[ShallowGrave]

anyone?

 

[ShallowGrave]

Any new thoughts here? I still have this old setup that cannot fit the stock bolt in the shaft/column hole. I have a small machine screw in there now.

 

[jrichker]

I replaced two racks in the old 89GT I had and did not have any problems with the fit. The steering shaft will slide up and down a bit so that it will collapse in the event that there is a front end collision. That sliding slack may be the cause of your problem.

 

[FoMoCo17]

If I'm reading it correctly ....Could the hub on the new rack that connects to the rag joint be at a different height than your old one creating that gap? I have replaced several and never ran into what you describe.

 

[ShallowGrave]

It's either that, or the columns were different lengths, but I don't see why they would be.