So, in the spirit of hot-rodding, I have a question...
 

A lot of people talk about wanting rack and pinion steering for their FBs instead of whatever the hell is on there now.

I know CP Racing offers some sort of rack and pinion, but I also now CP Racing licks the sweat out of transvestite butt cracks, and they want $850, so...

Most hot rodders use Ford Pinto/Mustang II steering systems for that.

Summit sells 'em, and they are under $200:

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

Has anyone tried that, or will I have to be the first (someday...)???

Don't know, but I recall CP uses a VW box.

CP USED a VW box, they go out of business because they suxor teh coxor.

Well, be the first one to try it, after you catch up on your other projects, lol.

Are you saying CP shut down? If so, then thank the rotary gods.

No wonder they never answered my email. ;)

I'd be willing to work on a Pinto/Mustang II conversion with someone, I just can't afford to buy the parts right now. If someone wants to buy the rack, I can do most of the mechanical, and can easily enough sort out what we would need for proper mounting and idler arm/Pitman arm/tie rod ends and such-like to make it a "plug and play" setup.

If someone wants to give this a go, let me know. I'm in far NorCal, but would be happy to work with someone in SW Oregon or in Cali as far south as the SF Bay area (no further south than Monterey, IOW).

We are working on an assembly that would allow you to choose to use those racks. Hang off for a month and this will all be easier than you ever imagined :)

-billy

^^^

Thats what im talking about!

PM FDRacer (the dude with turbo RX-4 stationwagon). He did it in his FB but took it out. He is your best source for feedback.

I have a FC rack and pinion steering in my FB, see the, how fix front suspension thread.
Dave

From what I understand, the problem is that most of the Rack and Pinion racks out there are Front Steer, while our steering system is Rear Steer.

The VW rack happens to be one of the few racks that's rear steer, and with a few pieces of steel and some u-joints it can be turned into the CP Racing conversion kit.

Of course, the use of two U-joints to join between the steering column and the rack make the steering feel a little less than perfectly linear, and the turning radius is reduced a bit, and you can't go back once you've made the conversion... but other than that I dont' think there are any major problems to their approach.

I can't remember where but there was a thread about this quite some time ago... it's unfortunately not easy to convert from rear steer to front steer on our cars, and if you use the wrong rack in your setup, when you turn the wheel one way, your car will turn the opposite way.

Jon

I just got a crazy idea though..

Take a front-steer rack for a RHD car
Flip it
You now have a rear-steer rack for a LHD car!

I wonder if that could be made to work....

Jon

Hmmm, that's not a bad idea at all, Jon!

...I didn't think it was all that hard to find rear-steer racks.... I mean, last time I checked honda's where mostly (all?) rear steer, new mazda3/focus/volvo... in fact most newer cars are rear steer for safety reasons (placing the rack behind the engine reduces the chances of cabin intrusion in head on impacts)

...but maybe I'm just looking at bad examples? ;)

Billy: Thats great news.... I just feel dirty using truck steering.... ;) (j/k) ...I'd love some R&P steering... :D

I'm in the middle of playing around with a FC rack in my project FB. If I can get past the problem of it being a few inches too wide I'll be golden. Being front or rear steer should really matter as you have to customize a good portion of the parts anyway. A rack and pinion is just that, a rack and pinion, you turn the pinion and the rack moves one way or the other, so what if it originally sat in front of the crossmember? I'm fairly certain it'll work, if anyone really cares I can post my progress...
On a side note definatly looking forward to what respeed is gonna unveil.... They make good stuff.

Agreed. I still want to get my hands on one of those oil filter pedestals, and I love the fuel pressure guage and quick-disconnect I got from them.

Jon

that would be nice... how about for old school cars like r100, rx2, rx3, and rx4?

Well, although it really does matter which side of the crossmember the rack is on, the main concern is which side of the wheel (front or back) the rack+pinion is on. When you put a front steer rack in the place of a rear steer rack, when you turn the wheel to the left the wheels will turn right.
The main difference is in the placement of the pinion on the rack. If your pinion is above the rack, the system is designed to be installed behind the wheel center line, and If its below the rack then its designed to be installed in front of the wheel center line.

This is definately important so you dont go installing a rack and pinion setup from the wrong car and realize your front wheels turn the opposite direction of the steering wheel.
This is why you cant just take any old R+P steering setup and slap it on our cars.

D'oh, the one thing I didn't think of. Just my luck, guess I should have re-read some of those old r/p threads out there. Too bad too, I had the mounts all worked out, as well as the narrowed inner tie rod ends that would have been nessesary. Guess its back to the drawing board.

there was an old thread on this weather or not what racks would work. I still think a EF honda rach would be best. They're rear steer have amazing turning radius and quaife even makes a quicker ratio for the rack if stock isn't quick enough for you.

Hmm, I seem to remember that thread from way back when CP/J Oliver started making their crappy VW kits. As you guys have said, most Honda's are rear steer.. I'm still curious about what rack REspeed is gonna use.

REspeed seems to be doing quite a lot for our cars now... For a car that stopped production 21 years ago, I wouldn't imagine anyone would want to pick up and start working on it again other than for a hobby.

I'm extremely glad though.

Just for the record, Im 90% sure that 240sx's are rear steer...

I believe that you could learn to drive/steer that way after a bit of practice. Then watch the parking valet's face as he drives into a Bentley or a Rolls all the while turning harder and harder the wrong/right direction ! :rlaugh:

I'll admit that would be quite hilarious :D