Re-speed 1st Gen Rack & pinion RHD
10-26-07, 07:28 AM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Re-speed 1st Gen Rack & pinion RHD
Hey guys, i contacted Re-speed in regards to getting their Rack and pinion setup for First gens made RHD for us here in OZ, they said it could be done but id have to source a suitable RHD rack. Firstly has anyone dont this mod in OZ yet? if so what was the Rack used?
http://www.mrcmfg.com/respeed/catalo...da14f1daa79390
http://www.mrcmfg.com/respeed/catalo...da14f1daa79390
12-29-07, 03:06 PM
#6
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I've actually got a Series 3 with a Series 5 subframe, suspension and steering fitted. I didn't do the job but it doesn't look hard to do. One of the original subframe bolts is used to mount the subframe and then holes drilles across the chassis rails to accomodate the other 4 mounting bolts. The sides of the engine bay apron need to be clearanced to allow the subframe to be seated against the chassis.
Now the standard track for gen 1 is 1420. The gen 2 is 1450. You can actually move the bolt holes for the lower control arms and reduce the track to 1430 quite easily. You could also reduce it with custom hubs and bigger disks with a lower profile. However, Series 1 and 2 use +20 offset rims. It is difficult to buy rims with the Mazda boltpattern. But using the Gen 2 bolt pattern makes wheels easy to find. The offset of +35 is very common. So if the wheels have 15mm more offset inboard, and the rack is 15mm longer per side, then everything should just bolt in.
I have a set of 17 x 7 wheels coming very shortly with +32 so I will get to see if it works out or not. If it does, this would be a very easy mod for anyone with some engineering nous and a bit of skill. It does help me that I'm a fitter and turner machinist/fabricator but the job just isn't that difficult. I've also seen a S5 steering column fitted to a S3 to make the connection simple. The centre shaft could just be fitted and a bush put in the bottom of the column too.
Now if this wasn't eveyone's chioce of mod, why not just use the Gen2 rack? The screwed ends on the rack should allow a little shortening and machining would definately get the rack the perfect length. Food for thought I guess. There must be a reason why this rack is overlooked. Does everyone want a manual rack?
Cheers.
Chris.
Now the standard track for gen 1 is 1420. The gen 2 is 1450. You can actually move the bolt holes for the lower control arms and reduce the track to 1430 quite easily. You could also reduce it with custom hubs and bigger disks with a lower profile. However, Series 1 and 2 use +20 offset rims. It is difficult to buy rims with the Mazda boltpattern. But using the Gen 2 bolt pattern makes wheels easy to find. The offset of +35 is very common. So if the wheels have 15mm more offset inboard, and the rack is 15mm longer per side, then everything should just bolt in.
I have a set of 17 x 7 wheels coming very shortly with +32 so I will get to see if it works out or not. If it does, this would be a very easy mod for anyone with some engineering nous and a bit of skill. It does help me that I'm a fitter and turner machinist/fabricator but the job just isn't that difficult. I've also seen a S5 steering column fitted to a S3 to make the connection simple. The centre shaft could just be fitted and a bush put in the bottom of the column too.
Now if this wasn't eveyone's chioce of mod, why not just use the Gen2 rack? The screwed ends on the rack should allow a little shortening and machining would definately get the rack the perfect length. Food for thought I guess. There must be a reason why this rack is overlooked. Does everyone want a manual rack?
Cheers.
Chris.
03-05-08, 10:02 AM
#7
Full Member
Thread Starter
I've actually got a Series 3 with a Series 5 subframe, suspension and steering fitted. I didn't do the job but it doesn't look hard to do. One of the original subframe bolts is used to mount the subframe and then holes drilles across the chassis rails to accomodate the other 4 mounting bolts. The sides of the engine bay apron need to be clearanced to allow the subframe to be seated against the chassis.
Now the standard track for gen 1 is 1420. The gen 2 is 1450. You can actually move the bolt holes for the lower control arms and reduce the track to 1430 quite easily. You could also reduce it with custom hubs and bigger disks with a lower profile. However, Series 1 and 2 use +20 offset rims. It is difficult to buy rims with the Mazda boltpattern. But using the Gen 2 bolt pattern makes wheels easy to find. The offset of +35 is very common. So if the wheels have 15mm more offset inboard, and the rack is 15mm longer per side, then everything should just bolt in.
I have a set of 17 x 7 wheels coming very shortly with +32 so I will get to see if it works out or not. If it does, this would be a very easy mod for anyone with some engineering nous and a bit of skill. It does help me that I'm a fitter and turner machinist/fabricator but the job just isn't that difficult. I've also seen a S5 steering column fitted to a S3 to make the connection simple. The centre shaft could just be fitted and a bush put in the bottom of the column too.
Now if this wasn't eveyone's chioce of mod, why not just use the Gen2 rack? The screwed ends on the rack should allow a little shortening and machining would definately get the rack the perfect length. Food for thought I guess. There must be a reason why this rack is overlooked. Does everyone want a manual rack?
Cheers.
Chris.
Now the standard track for gen 1 is 1420. The gen 2 is 1450. You can actually move the bolt holes for the lower control arms and reduce the track to 1430 quite easily. You could also reduce it with custom hubs and bigger disks with a lower profile. However, Series 1 and 2 use +20 offset rims. It is difficult to buy rims with the Mazda boltpattern. But using the Gen 2 bolt pattern makes wheels easy to find. The offset of +35 is very common. So if the wheels have 15mm more offset inboard, and the rack is 15mm longer per side, then everything should just bolt in.
I have a set of 17 x 7 wheels coming very shortly with +32 so I will get to see if it works out or not. If it does, this would be a very easy mod for anyone with some engineering nous and a bit of skill. It does help me that I'm a fitter and turner machinist/fabricator but the job just isn't that difficult. I've also seen a S5 steering column fitted to a S3 to make the connection simple. The centre shaft could just be fitted and a bush put in the bottom of the column too.
Now if this wasn't eveyone's chioce of mod, why not just use the Gen2 rack? The screwed ends on the rack should allow a little shortening and machining would definately get the rack the perfect length. Food for thought I guess. There must be a reason why this rack is overlooked. Does everyone want a manual rack?
Cheers.
Chris.
Im still looking for a suitable RHD rack kit for the first gen. I contacted Respeed about making a RHD version of thier kit but billy said they just dont have a RHD car for development, and it would be very costly on thier part, which i can understand.
So since this post was created has anyone had any luck soucing a RHD rack and pinion swap? I know the second gen subframe option keeps popping up so ill be looking into it.
Has anyone done the second gen subframe rack and pinion conversion?
Ill keep looking, there has to be someone out there with the nouce to achieve this.
Matt.
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07-08-10, 08:53 AM
#9
talking head
s4/5 subframe mounts are intended for s4-5 13b with the sump mounted foot for the turbo side and the middle plate mounted bracket on the spark side
this would exclude 12a's , unless of course it was a 12at ,, and you made a custom mount off the centre plate instead of the alloy sump foot
( 12at has a boss under the exhaust to mount off the middle plate for a HB cosmo ,, so does the RESI/GSL-SE 84-85 13b found also in HB cosmo/luce )
i have done some work on a s2 rx7 that already had a nicely done s4/5 subframe conversion ( excluding the P/S rack )
-- agree its a much better finished job than fitting all the front off a 12a onto a 13bt engine for s1/2/3 retro install
this would exclude 12a's , unless of course it was a 12at ,, and you made a custom mount off the centre plate instead of the alloy sump foot
( 12at has a boss under the exhaust to mount off the middle plate for a HB cosmo ,, so does the RESI/GSL-SE 84-85 13b found also in HB cosmo/luce )
i have done some work on a s2 rx7 that already had a nicely done s4/5 subframe conversion ( excluding the P/S rack )
-- agree its a much better finished job than fitting all the front off a 12a onto a 13bt engine for s1/2/3 retro install
07-11-10, 07:41 AM
#10
If one of you all Aussies will give Billy a hand with sourcing a RHD rack in the specs he wants I will send one of my JDM Savannas over to him to be used as a mock up. I currently have 3 S1 Savannas in Texas and can afford to let him use one as a R&D Mule. What do you think??? I know how great his products are I have his 82 Widebody R&D Mule that has the entire Re-Speed Catalog
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1st, conversion, drive, engineering, fb, gen, generation, hand, manual, mazda, pinion, rack, respeed, rx7, steering
