Last autocross I ran had a very tight course, I ran 6 or 7 times in my FB and then switched to my son's Miata. At the first corner I almost drove off the road the steering was so light and direct.

Have people installed rack and pinions in these cars? Do they use Miata or similar or Pinto Mustang 11 type or sprint car or is there a kit? I would really appreciate direction as my arms are still pumped.

 

I'm not much of an FB guy, so I don't know all of the options, but I know Re Speed offers pretty close to a bolt-in kit.

http://mrcmfg.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=112_133

Last I heard, RPM Motorsports were a Canadian dealer for ReSpeed. Might want to check with them.

 

I thought racing beat used to offer one aswell but i can't seem to find it.

 

It was not Racing Beat that had one, it was a company called CP Racing. It was cobbled together using a VW rack. Poor customer service pretty much put them at the bottom of the list of go to shops, and they haven't been heard from for quite some time. RE-speeds kit is probably the best option out there, and is also the best craftsmanship your going to see. It's very well built and does wonders for the feel of the car. I do not have one yet but it's been top priority for a while now. I have driven a car with one and it is night and day. They use a Fox body Mustang rack built by Flaming River. Either a stock ratio 20:1 or quick ratio 15:1. Kit is pretty much bolt in. No cutting or welding aside from a bar that attaches the steering U-joints to the stock steering shaft. Keep in mind if your running CSP this will put you up into SM2 because for CSP you have to retain the stock steering system.

 

Thanks. As usual great information. One of my friends is building a Locost and is using a sprint car rack. Very neat installation in very limited space.

The kit looks great (probably worth more than my car) and is certainly food for thought. I'll add it to my wish list. I think if I had to choose between more power or better handling; the handling would win out.

 

get a hold of Vipernicus42.
He had a NICE rack that he installed in his First gen,.IF I was a first gen Guy I would have been doing the same to the Rack.I hate the play in the old Cars..
After driving Sec gens,and trying the first Gen Original Rack,I swore I would never want a First gen,,That Rack if JON'S(Vip42) made me rethink owning a First Gen..I think that MOD is a Keeper!

 

The only real problem with the first gen is it's steering. Aside from that it's a great chassis and with a new carb and decent exhaust, some suspension tweaks and better tires they can be built to be a great DD and weekend racer. The simplicity compared to the newer gens as well as other cars in it's class is just one more pro for the list. It's unfortunate that Mazda couldn't be bothered to work past making the car cheap and actually put a suitable steering system in from the factory. I'm sure they weren't as bad right off the plant line, but it's still an oversight on their part.