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Chip Motorsports or Grannas Manual Rack Review?

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Old 08-26-20, 04:39 PM
  #26  
It Just Feels Right

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i can get just about every part for my 50 yr old British motorcycle, but my 25 year old Japanese car, forget it
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Old 09-14-23, 03:35 PM
  #27  
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Chips Motorsports Rack

I am very interested in fixes, opinions or any other help on the subject of a poor performing chips motorsports rack. I have been building my car for about ten years. it is just now on the rpoad and the steering is naturalluy stiff because it isnt power, but also jumps and jerks when going around corners with the slightest bumps. It dosnt seem to have slop or play. It is just very twichy in a way that does not inspire confidence. When it jerks, you don't feel in control. It is brand new about six years ago years ago and has maybe 150 miles on it. Any suggestions will be helpful. Thanks everyone.
Old 09-14-23, 03:45 PM
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No power steering doesn't make the car feel raw and connected, it just makes it feel heavy and more difficult to catch a slide on a curvy road, not to even mention the parking challenges.

No power steering is for sports cars from the 50s and 60s that weigh 2,000 lbs and have 165 section-width tires.
Old 09-14-23, 05:59 PM
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I personally though the OEM power steering was too much as well.

I wouldn't get a modified manual rack. I had that, and now have the AtomicRex (NLA) which was a native manual rack with a quicker ratio. I believe the Grannas may be the same. It does make it more difficult to park or make a 3 point turn, not going to lie, but once moving I like it better and I wouldn't say it makes it more difficult to catch a slide or anything like that.

'course I do have those guns a blazin' ;-)
Old 09-14-23, 07:27 PM
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My original post was to see if any of you had experienced jerking of the steering wheel while cornering on bumpy roads. that part of my post got over run by the manual rack topic. I agree that the manual rack was a bad decision, but I have been working on this car for 10 years and it appears there is no way to go back. I don't have the original parts and it looks like the supply chain is empty. This has been a rough road. The car litterly robbed me of my sports car driving years. I'm 66. Car looks beautiful, but its not fun to drive.
Old 09-14-23, 07:41 PM
  #31  
Time or Money, Pick one

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Talk to member toms16 if you want to go back to power. He has tons of stock parts for sale.
mom sure someone would want to buy yours if you’re selling.
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Old 09-14-23, 08:49 PM
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I feel like there's somebody now with an electric assist for manual racks. Might be Sikky or one of those?

You will get more feedback through the wheel with manual—its bumpsteer, especially on a lowered car.
Old 09-14-23, 11:02 PM
  #33  
Time or Money, Pick one

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Your car looks nice btw ChrisH. What size are your rear tires? They look meaty in the pic.
Old 09-14-23, 11:28 PM
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Originally Posted by CrisH
I am very interested in fixes, opinions or any other help on the subject of a poor performing chips motorsports rack. I have been building my car for about ten years. it is just now on the rpoad and the steering is naturalluy stiff because it isnt power, but also jumps and jerks when going around corners with the slightest bumps. It dosnt seem to have slop or play. It is just very twichy in a way that does not inspire confidence. When it jerks, you don't feel in control. It is brand new about six years ago years ago and has maybe 150 miles on it. Any suggestions will be helpful. Thanks everyone.
Car looks great
One of best features of an FD is handling so something(s) may be wrong with your suspension and maybe NOT rack related.
What size wheels & tires? What shocks & sway bars are you using.? Any other none-stock suspension components?
Old 09-15-23, 10:49 AM
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Originally Posted by CrisH
I am very interested in fixes, opinions or any other help on the subject of a poor performing chips motorsports rack. I have been building my car for about ten years. it is just now on the rpoad and the steering is naturalluy stiff because it isnt power, but also jumps and jerks when going around corners with the slightest bumps. It dosnt seem to have slop or play. It is just very twichy in a way that does not inspire confidence. When it jerks, you don't feel in control. It is brand new about six years ago years ago and has maybe 150 miles on it. Any suggestions will be helpful. Thanks everyone.

Unless Chip does something to the mounting points and/or weirdly changes the tie rod ends, this just sounds like run of the mill bump steer issues. FDs weren't known for being completely void of it even from factory.
Old 09-15-23, 12:09 PM
  #36  
needs more track time

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@ChrisH what are your car's alignment specs?
I have found that the car does feel a bit twitchy on rough roads but that alignment does play a part. So does suspension stiffness.
Old 09-15-23, 01:12 PM
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@CrisH have to ask this: what other steering/suspension mods have you done?
Old 09-15-23, 04:14 PM
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To Silvertrd --- I am running Toyo Proxes 888's. 255-35-R18 on the front. 335 - 30 -R18 on the back. I widened the rear and the doors in metal to accomadate them. I am now breaking in the Pineapple motor I had installed and breaking it in over a 1400 mile period to make sure it can hit the dyno safely. This will be the forth engine in this car. All four engines got me 300 miles of driving. 200 of them are on this motor. The first was a 3 rotor. Poor fit but ran well on e85. Sold it. T



he next two were blown up on the dyno. This last one will go to a different tuner. Naturally, I paid for all of them, because after all, I never touched them, drove them or tuned them, so it had to be my fault. That is the thing about rotary's. Everyone you do business with says they do great work. So far all the people I have done business with have just milked me for money. My son and I did all the assembly from ground up. We just sent it out for a look through and tuning. Ten years of no driving pleasyre. When it gets tuned and I know it is solid, it goes for sale.
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Old 09-15-23, 04:25 PM
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Here you go bud:

https://epowersteering.com/purchase/product/rx7-fd/

Old 09-15-23, 08:40 PM
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if it actually works that would be awesome. Mhy worry is if it will actually fit under the dash. Is there anyone who has actually did this and maybe can shoot a pic of under the dash. I would definitely be a player. Also, do you know if it is loud. I was going to do electric AC till I heard one on a supra. Soundeed like you had your home air compressor in your car. Really loud. thanks again. All you guys have been super cool. I appreciate it.
Old 09-15-23, 09:13 PM
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Originally Posted by CrisH
if it actually works that would be awesome. Mhy worry is if it will actually fit under the dash. Is there anyone who has actually did this and maybe can shoot a pic of under the dash. I would definitely be a player. Also, do you know if it is loud. I was going to do electric AC till I heard one on a supra. Soundeed like you had your home air compressor in your car. Really loud. thanks again. All you guys have been super cool. I appreciate it.

They work very well, though my installs have only been on full tube frame GT cars. It may dampen the unsettling jerks that you're feeling, however it's just a mask of the underlying issue of bump steer and unintentional toe.
Old 09-16-23, 07:33 PM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by dguy
Unless Chip does something to the mounting points and/or weirdly changes the tie rod ends, this just sounds like run of the mill bump steer issues. FDs weren't known for being completely void of it even from factory.
Do you have a recommended solution for FD bump steer? I don't live near enough to bring my car to your shop, but do you sell parts that could address it on a mostly-stock car?
Old 09-16-23, 08:10 PM
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I mean, some amount of bumpsteer you just live with. Unless your car is way over-lowered or super stiffly sprung, the bumpsteer shouldn't be intrusive, especially with an assisted rack that smooths it out a bit. I'd get all the bushings checked to be sure what you're feeling isn't something else.
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Old 09-16-23, 09:27 PM
  #44  
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Bumpsteer

My car has all new ball joints, bushings and tie rods. It is not lowered. Running Chips Motorsports Rack, (new). I dont think it is bump steer. My friend, howard Coleman has the same setup down to the tires, except the coilovers and his car drives beautifully. Everything is tight.
Old 09-17-23, 10:34 AM
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I try not to reinvent the wheel, check out Ronin Speedworks' bumpsteer videos (to show you that it does, in fact exist even in stock form - I've confirmed this with my own gear) as well as their kit itself. It's not exactly plug and play but it's the most comprehensive I've found, make sure you click 'omit steering rack spacers' if you're doing this on a factory 13B and aren't swapped.


https://www.roninspeedworks.net/inde...product_id=114
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Old 09-17-23, 12:35 PM
  #46  
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Originally Posted by CrisH
My car has all new ball joints, bushings and tie rods. It is not lowered. Running Chips Motorsports Rack, (new). I dont think it is bump steer. My friend, howard Coleman has the same setup down to the tires, except the coilovers and his car drives beautifully. Everything is tight.
Appears you have all bases covered.....what coilovers ??
From our experience Ohlins DFV provides maximum handling and ride quality.
Very expensive but they will TRANSFORM an FD.... have them on my street '94 and they are amazing
Old 09-18-23, 03:37 PM
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Ronin

Thanks.
Old 09-18-23, 03:47 PM
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Originally Posted by crish
to silvertrd --- i am running toyo proxes 888's. 255-35-r18 on the front. 335 - 30 -r18 on the back. I widened the rear and the doors in metal to accomadate them. I am now breaking in the pineapple motor i had installed and breaking it in over a 1400 mile period to make sure it can hit the dyno safely. This will be the forth engine in this car. All four engines got me 300 miles of driving. 200 of them are on this motor. The first was a 3 rotor. Poor fit but ran well on e85. Sold it. T



he next two were blown up on the dyno. This last one will go to a different tuner. Naturally, i paid for all of them, because after all, i never touched them, drove them or tuned them, so it had to be my fault. That is the thing about rotary's. Everyone you do business with says they do great work. So far all the people i have done business with have just milked me for money. My son and i did all the assembly from ground up. We just sent it out for a look through and tuning. Ten years of no driving pleasyre. When it gets tuned and i know it is solid, it goes for sale.

now that looks like a high dollar fd!
Old 09-19-23, 10:17 PM
  #49  
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unless Chip has one in stock you likely won’t be getting one soon, he told me today he just got back from being out of the shop for three months and is so deep under he’s not taking on any new work.
.
Old 09-20-23, 08:22 AM
  #50  
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From my experience driving 295/30-18 R888 on 18x11 +45f ront and rear.

I suspect its the beautiful stiff sidewall of the R888 tires feeding all the forces of the wrong offset rear wheel back into the chassis.

Howard probably has a tire with a softer more forgiving sidewall that masks the chassis issues you have introduced with your wonky set-ups.

If you want me to be more specific-
Rear toe changes are amplified by your low offset wheel.

Some tires drive straight if you jiggle the steering (front or rear) back and forth a bit. R888 are very responsive snd dont drive straight with this input.


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