As part of my engine project in my SA I have to run a front steer setup. Even though I could easily go with a "one off" type solution I know allot of you guys are dieing for a affordable R&P setup. For that I will attempt to make a "bolt in" solution, I should have everything fabed up this weeekend, though the only issue is that my car isn't running just yet so there is going to be a little while before I can test it. C&P's kit is ~$550 and people seem to like it well enough, but I'm hoping I can do this for ~$100, so far only $25 invested in a rack and misc. I will be getting the matrial for mounting this weekend, the only thing I haven't got straight (just due to I haven't really looked at it yet) is connecting the Rack to the Stock Rx7 steering shaft.

What I'm hoping for is to be able to provide just a bracket and instructions for those interested, or just measurements and instructions for those that can weld.

Not having a rotary powered 7 I don't know if there will be anything in the way, so I may have to ask for someone with a close to stock 7 willing to help do R&D for that.

 

I am thinking on moving my R&P from the rear to the front due to the ratio I have now, I want to use a FC R&P I have on the shelf and reverse the FB steering mounts to the front. Still scratching my head on the details, I got my hands full with with the coilover conversion and the RE big brake conversion right now. Interested in how yours turns out.

 

it'd be great to have a cheap alternative, especially if you increased the ratio (less turns lock to lock) as that seems to be one of the major complaints about the CP racing kit, not to mention the slow shipping, bad customer service, etc. Hope it works out well, I'd very seriously consider it.

 

can you say hell yes! I am a non-welder so would need a full bolton kit, but would definately be interested.

 

get it done and i could be interested

 

I might be in. Money might be tight for a few months while I pay off a credit card though.

 

Ill be home for the holidays, you can use my car for the R&D. Hell you can keep it until Christmas time if you want.

Its up in NOVA btw, I think you saw it at hyper fest.

blue with black fender (thanks to my little brother) and 17's

 

The only thing that worries me a little is the welding. I have a MIG, but I'm not really sure I would want to trust my skills to welding steering components. I think that's something you would want a certified welder to be doing. Can you imagine the lawsuit if a weld came apart, and you wiped somebody out? (we're talking about street driving, not track I presume...)

 

What rack are you using?

 

I'm using a Gen1 Subaru Legacy rack. It has the closest dimensions to the stock drag link from pivot point to pivot point of the inner tie rod that I could find. Volvo 240/740 racks are close too, but the mounting would be much more difficult. Also I believe the 2nd gen legacy racks are the same.

With the welding: I'm by no means a certified welder, so if I can just make the plans and you can gather the material to be welded and assembled that would be cool too. I'm not out to make money on this; I hate the stock steering and 99% of other 1st gen owners
seem to as well.

Lawsuits = disclaimer; I, in no way am responsible for you thinking my idea is a good idea that you would try on your own car. Done and done.

HadaGSL-SE= It wouldn't be until after Christmas sometime before I could get to another car. If we can work something out (to anyone willing) we can/should sign an agreement stating that any damage and/or loss to your car due to my fault will be covered by myself. I know it should go without saying, but you want to CYA.

Really I'd love to by an S2 FB from someone for testing, but would need to be in good shape esp. body, I may (most likely) switch my work to a FB, I don’t think I like the SA as much as I thought.

 

id need this for an SA. i used to like the FB over the SA immensely, but now i dont think id drive any first gen except for an SA or GSLSE.

if you make a kit itll only work on the FB? or will you make it work for both or what?

 

Hmm, you made me think. The suspension in my SA is from a -SE, but I'm 99.234% sure that the dimensions of concern are the same between the SA and FB.

 

I was thinking about fabbing a rack mount for a toyota corolla (of the sr-5 or "ae86" variety) rear steer rack, and then use a FC column and see if it would "bolt up". It LOOKS close, but I never took the time to measure it out. Seems like others who have done the FC front swap modified the steering column to make it work, so maybe you could use a FC/FB hybrid column to make it work for your setup?

 

fyi, no matter what solution you choose, you will need to Modify(cut and weld in my case) the end of your current SA/FB lower steering rod(inner column) or replace it with a suitable splined lower column, that is the part of the CP racing kit that is the hardest to duplicate, the rest is straight forward fab work and welding( I cut the splined end from the VW off and welded it to my FB lower shaft). I would take the master brake cylinder out of the car if I had to do this again, it really got in the way. Sorry to keep jacking your thread.

 

Has anyone tried an early 90's Nissan Sentra rack? They're dirt cheap and very responsive. Tight radius, too.

 

Where is Cantonsville?

Someone had to ask, may as well be me....

 

what about swapping the 2nd gen cross member , wouldn't that bring the r&p to the equation. i think the 2nd gen rack is good.

 

Maryland,

Tight radius doesn't equal quick ratio. the turning radius more depend on the lenth of your steering knuckles, FB's seem to have a pretty long one though I haven't compared directly to a sentra.

When I went rack hunting I did research in to ratio's of differnent racks. I never did find exactly what the subaru is, but I'm sure it's around 16:1. BTW I have a suby for my DD and love the steering, another reason I pulled the suby rack for this duty.

Don't worry about hijacking anything, the more ideas the better, I want to end up with something that is pretty easy to do so that as many people as possible can do this. We don't all have money to throw at CP, so any possitive input into this is very welcome.

 

Absolutly, a 2nd gen cross member (and everything with it) will give you a good R&P setup. With ReSpeed making 2nd gen brake adapters, IMO, the subframe swap is a bit much for the results.

 

well you get the rack , the big brakes with the RIGHT offset so you dont have to use spacers and probably better selection for struts and springs, but what do you do about engine mounts when you cane subframe?

 

Bump to keep this alive!

 

Okie-dok, update

At a recent NE get together we had a (yes only one) 1st gen show up. It had AC and am sure that for what I'm doing to work on a rotary the AC will have to have not been there/ removed / relocated (if that's possible). The only other thing I looked at that my be a small issue is the motor mounts, I don't think so but I just want to throw that out there.

If anyone wants to donate or sale an fb (s2 perfered) for the R&D in early '06 please PM me.

 

bump for interest in thread

 

I am very interested in this. How is it going? I have an FB with an LS1 and would like to see how it fits as far as space on every side. For me it MUST be the front steer like you are saying and if this will in fact fit an FB and clear the front of the k-member I am all in.

PM me and we can swap phone numbers.

 

ttt for update