1st gen rack and pinion results
 

After the 1st 350kms on the rack and pinion conversion I am glad to report the system is functioning well. To put to rest some concerns initally brought up, the "severe" unverisal joint angle located on the end of the steering column has be addressed to put everyones mind at ease. As is evident by the pictures in the link attached the angle has been greatly reduced and there is no possiblity of bind under any conditions. The steering rack tie rods are also excatly parallel to the sub frame. This means no bump steer. Having traveresd both smooth city, highway and horrible dirt roads at all speeds there has been no bump steer. The steering feel of the vehicle is comparable to that of a second generation rx7. There is no play of any kind, ever. The minute the steering wheel is moved, the wheels move. This does not translate to darting or hypersenstive steering. The previous concern that with enough suspension travel the rack will bottom out and that the tie rod would contact the frame, are both not possible. As can be viewed in the link. Mathematically, the tierod would have to travel 7.5inches straight up for the rod to contact the frame, impossbile. The rack design was over engineered to assure there would be no movement, flexing or distortion after abuse. Needless to say the "newer" design incorporates strengthing overall as well as a new HIGHER ride height. The vehicle was aligned by a mechanic that got no heads up on the change over, I gave the factory specs from the alignment program and he set them, problem free. Now, the drive...no more white knuckled highspeed turns or oversteering by mistake in twisties. 175kms/hours plus perfectly stable, crisp , vibration free steering. When pushed threw tight turns on unlevel surfaces, response is impressive and control remains constant. Any concerns that the car may handle unpredicatbly due to geometric changes are unfounded. Drivers that have never piloted an rx7 if not informed would be unaware of any changes to steering or steering related compontents had occured. This is what mazda should have done. Brutal Testing will continue for the next 2 weeks which will accumulated roughly another 4200kms. Daily checks of hardware and subframe are being conducted. J.O and CP RACING have reached an agreement regarding production and distribtion of the now coined, J.O 1st gen rack conversion. Complete kits and lone subframes will be available on or around months end. Cost is still being calculted but should not be far off from original estimates. Any questions or concerns relating to testing, install or other can be directed to farmz1@hotmail.com or call the shop at 519-940-9225. I will post regularly to keep you all up to date on how the kit is performing. This alliance between J.O and CP will be yielding quite a few new and improved Rx7 goodies. Will have more info soon. Take care all.

http://ca.photos.yahoo.com/bc/farmz1....jpg%26.src=ph

what were the "original esitimates" for cost? I missed that somewhere...

just need a rhd version now :(

Re: 1st gen rack and pinion results
 

What do you mean by newer ride height? Do you mean the actual car or the bracket? Thanks!

I believe it was around 200$?

it may have been 200 cdn money.

thats what i heard..

Hmmm.... this all sounds pretty good but how much better is it than a well adjusted stock steering box?

ya, cuz I have a perfectly tight and good shape box for my car

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
much better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
I really could not believe it when I was in the car today.
It is an absolutely different car to drive soooo precise.
Oh ya, It in no way can be compared to a well adjusted steering box. I dont care how good it is there is no comparison. Old fart or not you wont beleive how well it works. As I've said before, "You are all about to become much better drivers"
Thanx again!
So who wants one?
Contact CP Racing.

uh.. okay. how?

dale

So which thread has the price and contact info?

my bad..

farmz1@hotmail.com or call the shop at 519-940-9225

see the first post in this thread

EDIT - haha you edited first :)

heres a question for ya, does the steering take any more effort to turn than the old steering box style, or is it easier?

is this the same CP racing that makes that sick widebody kit for $850

It is easier and a beautiful thing and yes CP does make a sick wide ass body. We will post price soon.

CP Racing needs to establish a website, because I think there's a lot of stuff people would buy if it was easily found. I know personally I'd love the rack&pinion, the T2 hood scoop, and the strut brace (which I could get through Manntis), but all I see are pictures on yahoo... =P

Re: 1st gen rack and pinion results
 

Cool, you guys are coming uo with some nice stuff. widebodies, TII hood scoops (I want one), now rack and pinion steering kits.

Not bad. BTW, how would the rack and pinion kit work with the Power Steering models?

umm heres a question for you. this my saoud dumb but its some thing i just thought of. how will this hold up in hard racing? as in drfting? like whiping the wheels hard then back for couter steering? is there a chace it can break under presser like that? i like to beging my slides befor the turn :)

is this the same CP racing that makes that sick widebody kit for $850

:D

ditto
i would like all those parts as well and its a pita to find where to get it and prices listed too. i want a backwards tII scoop for a vent :D

gamble

This is almost like finding out you've won allot of money. I'm just having warm fuzzys running up and down me. J Oliver, can I be the beta tester for the V8 guys? Please let me know cdsimmons@comcast.net. Man it's like get a new kidney or something. J Oliver is should now be know as The Saviour of the 1st gen.

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: > J Oliver. :D

Hopefully this will be available in RH drive by the time I get another 1st gen.