Rack and pinion kit?
02-17-19, 09:53 AM
#76
Possible Alternative Steering Rack set-up
All,
Last night being bored to death I happened to venture over to the Australia 1 Gen RX-7 site, and discovered this little gem. I provide or attempted to submit a Hyperlink to the article, but if it does not work, search under the heading below.
http://web.aanet.com.au/~arran/car/projectpart7.htm
Last night being bored to death I happened to venture over to the Australia 1 Gen RX-7 site, and discovered this little gem. I provide or attempted to submit a Hyperlink to the article, but if it does not work, search under the heading below.
http://web.aanet.com.au/~arran/car/projectpart7.htm
Project Part 7 - Engine Build, Megasquirt, SDR manifold, rack and pinion steering
02-17-19, 11:37 AM
#77
All,
Last night being bored to death I happened to venture over to the Australia 1 Gen RX-7 site, and discovered this little gem. I provide or attempted to submit a Hyperlink to the article, but if it does not work, search under the heading below.
http://web.aanet.com.au/~arran/car/projectpart7.htm
Last night being bored to death I happened to venture over to the Australia 1 Gen RX-7 site, and discovered this little gem. I provide or attempted to submit a Hyperlink to the article, but if it does not work, search under the heading below.
http://web.aanet.com.au/~arran/car/projectpart7.htm
Project Part 7 - Engine Build, Megasquirt, SDR manifold, rack and pinion steering
02-17-19, 01:23 PM
#78
Understood, and I want to preference all of this steering rack research, with it's my intention to exhaust all of my quality RX-7 circular ball steering box's first. Before ever employing this type of rack and pinion modification.
I am fully aware that there's a mechanical science, with a touch of mathematical calculations required for a quality R&P rack selection and installation.
But I thought this article was a hidden gem that our 1 Gen RX-7 community should be aware of to investigate as others have tried and succeeded in this mod.
I am fully aware that there's a mechanical science, with a touch of mathematical calculations required for a quality R&P rack selection and installation.
But I thought this article was a hidden gem that our 1 Gen RX-7 community should be aware of to investigate as others have tried and succeeded in this mod.
02-17-19, 04:28 PM
#79
www.AusRotary.com
The efforts of the Australian community to come up with a decent rack and pinion conversion are well documented on the AusRotary forum. Many of us tried to get a RHD version of the ReSpeed kit off the ground, but it was quickly determined that a rear mounted rack setup would work better if you stuck with the standard 1st gen uprights and steering knuckles.
The solution arran came up with is excellent. It might still be applicable to LHD owners. The car the rack was sourced from, the Holden Barina, was sold under the Vauxhall/Opel brand in Europe as the "Corsa". I believe the Opel Corsa was available in LHD throughout continental Europe, but you'd need to check the exact year. The Vauxhall/Opel Corsa also happens to be the car which had the electric-assisted steering column, which the EPAS motor located on the column body. This is commonly used in rally cars and there are a few aftermarket companies which have come up with controller boxes to allow the driver to fine tune steering effort offered by the EPAS motor. I looked into this as an option for my 1st gen RX7, but quickly determined that the space for the EPAS motor was quite limited in our cars - they are not a tall vehicle with lots of leg room like the Barina/Corsa.
You can see some of the discussion on rack and pinion conversions and more detailed photos here:
1st Gen Power Steering Options. - AusRotary
Rack and Pinion conversion, Gen 1 rx7 transplant. - AusRotary
1st gen RX7 Rack & pinion "kit" - Thoughs on direction - AusRotary
Steering box alternatives 1st gen rx7 and early rx - AusRotary
S3 with S5 rack and pinion, suspension and steering...again! - AusRotary
The solution arran came up with is excellent. It might still be applicable to LHD owners. The car the rack was sourced from, the Holden Barina, was sold under the Vauxhall/Opel brand in Europe as the "Corsa". I believe the Opel Corsa was available in LHD throughout continental Europe, but you'd need to check the exact year. The Vauxhall/Opel Corsa also happens to be the car which had the electric-assisted steering column, which the EPAS motor located on the column body. This is commonly used in rally cars and there are a few aftermarket companies which have come up with controller boxes to allow the driver to fine tune steering effort offered by the EPAS motor. I looked into this as an option for my 1st gen RX7, but quickly determined that the space for the EPAS motor was quite limited in our cars - they are not a tall vehicle with lots of leg room like the Barina/Corsa.
You can see some of the discussion on rack and pinion conversions and more detailed photos here:
1st Gen Power Steering Options. - AusRotary
Rack and Pinion conversion, Gen 1 rx7 transplant. - AusRotary
1st gen RX7 Rack & pinion "kit" - Thoughs on direction - AusRotary
Steering box alternatives 1st gen rx7 and early rx - AusRotary
S3 with S5 rack and pinion, suspension and steering...again! - AusRotary
02-17-19, 06:46 PM
#80
Old [Sch|F]ool
The rack kit I installed in a Torino was from a Chevy Cavalier. The Prothane rack mounts were for a Holden Camira (sp?) which was a J body, however J bodies were rear steer, so to make a LHD steering conversion to a rear steer car, you'd need a LHD rear steer rack.
So the guy bought an American rack shipped to Australia, packaged with some pieces of steel and aluminum milled/welded in Australia, and shipped back to the US. Some of the other bits were also made in the US.
The kit was beautifully done, I would like to point out. It kept the bumpsteer and Ackerman geometry correct, because the rack was able to sit off to the side since it was a just a center takeoff rack with a milled aluminum "center link" bolted to it. And unlike a lot of aftermarket "kits", everything really did bolt in without any screwing around. The only difficulty was having to modify the weird longtube headers on that particular car.
So the guy bought an American rack shipped to Australia, packaged with some pieces of steel and aluminum milled/welded in Australia, and shipped back to the US. Some of the other bits were also made in the US.
The kit was beautifully done, I would like to point out. It kept the bumpsteer and Ackerman geometry correct, because the rack was able to sit off to the side since it was a just a center takeoff rack with a milled aluminum "center link" bolted to it. And unlike a lot of aftermarket "kits", everything really did bolt in without any screwing around. The only difficulty was having to modify the weird longtube headers on that particular car.
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Kentetsu (05-24-19)
02-26-19, 06:26 PM
#81
OG Member
Thread Starter
*update* the company emailed me back
Company:That is quite a lot of individual components to scan and reverse engineer.Is there anyone in your group who had 3D modeling experience?
Me:I am not quite sure. I can ask. Does this mean you can't do it?
Company:We can definitely do it, but it is likely to be cost-prohibitive if we are to scan, model, and create manufacturing drawings for each those individual components.
There looks to be at least a couple dozen of different parts. If the majority of the components are off-the-shelf and could be sourced, then it would save a lot of time and cost
Company:That is quite a lot of individual components to scan and reverse engineer.Is there anyone in your group who had 3D modeling experience?
Me:I am not quite sure. I can ask. Does this mean you can't do it?
Company:We can definitely do it, but it is likely to be cost-prohibitive if we are to scan, model, and create manufacturing drawings for each those individual components.
There looks to be at least a couple dozen of different parts. If the majority of the components are off-the-shelf and could be sourced, then it would save a lot of time and cost
05-24-19, 10:03 AM
#83
Lives on the Forum
I have met Mike at the races, and he's a stand-up guy who's been around for a long time. I believe he can be trusted with this, if anyone is interested. Also, he is local and I can find him if needed. 
I once purchased Billy’s R&P setup, but never installed it and eventually sold it when I scrapped my ‘85 GSL. It was a beautiful thing. Wish I still had it as I now have the ability to scan it.
If someone was willing to ship me one, I could scan it and at least create the correct data file(s) to have one piece of the puzzle completed. Manufacturing drawings and files...that’s another story. I manage automotive designers and engineers, daily, so I might be able to find someone who would tackle them for cost of time spent, but can’t commit to producing them at this time. All of this is contingent on there being no conflict with pattents/design ownership, if we can dig into that.
I know that I would be extremely reluctant to hand over my treasured kit to a stranger, but I’m just offering it up. Contact me or discuss it in the thread, if anyone is interested. Located in mid-Michigan.
Thanks, Mike
If someone was willing to ship me one, I could scan it and at least create the correct data file(s) to have one piece of the puzzle completed. Manufacturing drawings and files...that’s another story. I manage automotive designers and engineers, daily, so I might be able to find someone who would tackle them for cost of time spent, but can’t commit to producing them at this time. All of this is contingent on there being no conflict with pattents/design ownership, if we can dig into that.
I know that I would be extremely reluctant to hand over my treasured kit to a stranger, but I’m just offering it up. Contact me or discuss it in the thread, if anyone is interested. Located in mid-Michigan.
Thanks, Mike
06-23-19, 11:47 AM
#85
The rack kit I installed in a Torino was from a Chevy Cavalier. The Prothane rack mounts were for a Holden Camira (sp?) which was a J body, however J bodies were rear steer, so to make a LHD steering conversion to a rear steer car, you'd need a LHD rear steer rack.
So the guy bought an American rack shipped to Australia, packaged with some pieces of steel and aluminum milled/welded in Australia, and shipped back to the US. Some of the other bits were also made in the US.
The kit was beautifully done, I would like to point out. It kept the bumpsteer and Ackerman geometry correct, because the rack was able to sit off to the side since it was a just a center takeoff rack with a milled aluminum "center link" bolted to it. And unlike a lot of aftermarket "kits", everything really did bolt in without any screwing around. The only difficulty was having to modify the weird longtube headers on that particular car.
So the guy bought an American rack shipped to Australia, packaged with some pieces of steel and aluminum milled/welded in Australia, and shipped back to the US. Some of the other bits were also made in the US.
The kit was beautifully done, I would like to point out. It kept the bumpsteer and Ackerman geometry correct, because the rack was able to sit off to the side since it was a just a center takeoff rack with a milled aluminum "center link" bolted to it. And unlike a lot of aftermarket "kits", everything really did bolt in without any screwing around. The only difficulty was having to modify the weird longtube headers on that particular car.
At at this time I am looking for solutions on a rack and pinion or steering box replacement
I really like the idea of this center rack
however the cavalier was not a rear steer car
any center racks available that are rear steer?
08-10-19, 11:12 AM
#86
I am shooting out ideas on potential racks if people were still looking for options out there
As i was changing brakes
VW golfs MK6 and MK7 are rear steer rack and pinions
MK7 are electric
for simplicity a MK6 rack might work better
need to get a measuring tape out now...
As i was changing brakes
VW golfs MK6 and MK7 are rear steer rack and pinions
MK7 are electric
for simplicity a MK6 rack might work better
need to get a measuring tape out now...
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