Rack and Pinion in your bucket

[fordsbyjay]

I didn't want to take over Laplanders post on vertical steering columnswith rack and pinion tech so I started it's own thread. I got my steering box back from Flaming River and while they serviced it for free (excellent customer service I must say) I am not happy with the amount of play in it. In my previous posts I mentioned there is about 2 1/2" of play in the steering box and I guess Flaming River considers this normal. I find it all over the road myself. Therefore I am going to try a R&P setup along the lines of what Jerry did on his car. In general they are no more expensive than a steering box.

I was wondering if I could use a 28-34 cross steer rack but place it under the body and attach it to the steering arm in a similar fashion as the steering box.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/1928-1934-Cross-Steer-Rack-and-Pinions,2033.html

 

[Gerry]

I didn't want to take over Laplanders post on vertical steering columnswith rack and pinion tech so I started it's own thread. I got my steering box back from Flaming River and while they serviced it for free (excellent customer service I must say) I am not happy with the amount of play in it. In my previous posts I mentioned there is about 2 1/2" of play in the steering box and I guess Flaming River considers this normal. I find it all over the road myself. Therefore I am going to try a R&P setup along the lines of what Jerry did on his car. In general they are no more expensive than a steering box.

I was wondering if I could use a 28-34 cross steer rack but place it under the body and attach it to the steering arm in a similar fashion as the steering box.

http://www.speedwaym...nions,2033.html

That rack looks like it would work. Loose the big black bracket and weld a new one on to the chassis to take the 4 mounting bolts. Just be careful to look at all your clearances before you finally weld. Its easy when trying something new to get it all wrong. I speak from experience.
Biggest probelm I had was getting one slim and small enough to tuck up between the chassis rails but still have clearance for the drag link. I tried to trial fit a number of standard Euro compact racks but they were all to big. I looked VERY seriously at putting a hole trough the chassis torun the the drag link through, but in the end did nt need to go to that extreme. Mock it up and see where you are. Plus my T rides very low to the ground so everything was tight, close and needed a bit more work than the normal stuff.
Hope it works out because racks are Sooooooooo much better than boxes.
gerry

 

[fordsbyjay]

That rack looks like it would work. Loose the big black bracket and weld a new one on to the chassis to take the 4 mounting bolts. Just be careful to look at all your clearances before you finally weld. Its easy when trying something new to get it all wrong. I speak from experience.
Biggest probelm I had was getting one slim and small enough to tuck up between the chassis rails but still have clearance for the drag link. I tried to trial fit a number of standard Euro compact racks but they were all to big. I looked VERY seriously at putting a hole trough the chassis torun the the drag link through, but in the end did nt need to go to that extreme. Mock it up and see where you are. Plus my T rides very low to the ground so everything was tight, close and needed a bit more work than the normal stuff.
Hope it works out because racks are Sooooooooo much better than boxes.
gerry

So does your drag link go above or below the frame? IIRC the rack is mounted inside the frame rails correct?

 

[Gerry]

So does your drag link go above or below the frame? IIRC the rack is mounted inside the frame rails correct?

drag link below (just) rack is mounted at and angle so its a straight push to the steering arm with the wheels dead straight. Draw a line from the steering arm to where the end of the rack is planned to be then mount the rack at the same angle. It should all be in a straight line, if you see what i mean

Gerry

 

[Gerry]

drag link below (just) rack is mounted at and angle so its a straight push to the steering arm with the wheels dead straight. Draw a line from the steering arm to where the end of the rack is planned to be then mount the rack at the same angle. It should all be in a straight line, if you see what i mean
[attachment=4729verview-of-col.jpg]
Gerry

just found this pic. You can see the rack in the bottom right of the pic at an angle to the chassis

Gerry

 

[fordsbyjay]

That's awesome, thanks Gerry.