stock K frame and rack and pinion steering
#2012685
02/15/16 08:34 PM
02/15/16 08:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,247 Mt. Vernon, Ohio
dartman366
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OP
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Mt. Vernon, Ohio
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anyone made this conversion from the conventional steering box over to the rack system? what all is involved to do this and any pics would be great, not interested in a complete tubular K frame as every thing I have has been updated with tubular upper and lower control arms, aluminum radius rod's and have removed the torsion bars and installed coilover's so I have no need to replace all that, just want to install RP steering.
Light travels faster than the speed of sound,,,this is why some people seem bright untill you hear them speak.
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Re: stock K frame and rack and pinion steering
[Re: dartman366]
#2012709
02/15/16 09:13 PM
02/15/16 09:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,285 fredericksburg,va
cudaman1969
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,285
fredericksburg,va
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We did a 68 dart back in the day, used the later k-frame where sway bar went through the k. Used a pinto rack. Got it as close to being straight with the arms to each spindle. The more angle there is the more problems with turning and backing. If you look at the stock pinto-mustang II, the rack is behind the spindle ends(tie-rod). I switched the lower BJ from side to side, might have done the upper also, been awile. Never had any adverse affect on the car backing or turning, car went 131 mph, straight, keep all the other stock stuff just looking for oil pan clearance, since engine was set way back. Saw a few cars with turning problems and wondered what they did wrong. They had the rack way out front and arms at a 22-30 degree angle back, tie rod will go past center and wheel goes to frame. Then the wheel has to be pulled back by hand. This changeover is not perfect but will work. I spent a lot of time doing my tube chassis car making the rack shorter, setting in the right place so I had no bump steer or ackerman problems. One other thing, the swivel joint on the rack has to line up with the lower CA pivot for both sides or you get bump steer problems. Good luck.
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Re: stock K frame and rack and pinion steering
[Re: Monte_Smith]
#2012756
02/15/16 10:37 PM
02/15/16 10:37 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,330 Lynchburg, VA
Leon441
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master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,330
Lynchburg, VA
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Swap the lower BJ side for side.......mount the rack inside the k-member, keeping it all in a straight line and the proper length rack, it will all work just fine Seen this done. Had to grab the wheel and help pop it out of bind when it was over steered backing up. Guy went and had arms bent out to correct. He later bought a k-member
Career best 8.02 @ 169 at 3050# and 10" tires small block power.
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Re: stock K frame and rack and pinion steering
[Re: dartman366]
#2012766
02/15/16 10:44 PM
02/15/16 10:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,243 Charlotte, North Carolina
sgcuda
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master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,243
Charlotte, North Carolina
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When I originally set up a Pinto rack and swapped balljoints, I had 1/4" thick washers added to one side of the balljoint mounting holes, then flat milled across both mounting holes. Keeps the tie rod end straight, doesn't bind backing up any more.
[image][/image]
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Re: stock K frame and rack and pinion steering
[Re: Monte_Smith]
#2012783
02/15/16 11:02 PM
02/15/16 11:02 PM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,107 Western Md.
skicker
"The Champ"
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"The Champ"
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,107
Western Md.
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Isn't it crucial to get the rack pivot points to align with the lower control arm pivot points? Or at least close... I seen one done a few years ago that bent the rack when he hit a bump... That car also had terrible bump steer...
...FAFO...
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Re: stock K frame and rack and pinion steering
[Re: Monte_Smith]
#2012811
02/15/16 11:28 PM
02/15/16 11:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,247 Mt. Vernon, Ohio
dartman366
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OP
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Mt. Vernon, Ohio
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Thank's guys,I thought I had seen it done before on some cars somewhere, pic's if possible would help me out the most, once I see it then I have a better idea in my mind what to do and what I need to watch for, I have no problem getting thing's fabbed up just need to make sure it's all in the right place.
Light travels faster than the speed of sound,,,this is why some people seem bright untill you hear them speak.
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Re: stock K frame and rack and pinion steering
[Re: Darryls-Demon]
#2012827
02/15/16 11:45 PM
02/15/16 11:45 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,155 Tucson, Arizona
clonestocker
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,155
Tucson, Arizona
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I to would like to go this route for my next street-strip car, that way I would not need to cut up my oil pan to clear an after market cross member. You don't have to modify the oil pan with a small block.
[img] [/img]
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Re: stock K frame and rack and pinion steering
[Re: dartman366]
#2012893
02/16/16 01:27 AM
02/16/16 01:27 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,448 Phoenix, AZ
MoparBilly
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,448
Phoenix, AZ
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Here is some pics of my old Challenger racecar with the rack in the middle of the stock k. Was great in a straight line, no bump steer at all. Ackerman though, this thing would go through a set of front tires every other season. Perfect for a drag car because it wanted to go straight, couldn't oversteer the thing if you tried!
"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks"
4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
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Re: stock K frame and rack and pinion steering
[Re: Monte_Smith]
#2013105
02/16/16 01:46 PM
02/16/16 01:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,032 MN
JERICOGTX
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I Live Here
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MN
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My rack K member. It started out as a stock piece. Flame away...
69 GTX
68 Road Runner
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Re: stock K frame and rack and pinion steering
[Re: JERICOGTX]
#2013521
02/16/16 11:18 PM
02/16/16 11:18 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,247 Mt. Vernon, Ohio
dartman366
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I Live Here
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OP
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Mt. Vernon, Ohio
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thanks for all the replies guy's, keep it coming
Light travels faster than the speed of sound,,,this is why some people seem bright untill you hear them speak.
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Re: stock K frame and rack and pinion steering
[Re: Monte_Smith]
#2013524
02/16/16 11:22 PM
02/16/16 11:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 104,346 Garden Grove, CA
OzHemi
Penguin-hating Ginger
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Penguin-hating Ginger
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 104,346
Garden Grove, CA
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Personally, no way I would do the rear steer rack. Whats the point. It's in the way just as much as stock stuff.
On Billy's pics, the reason the ackerman is off is the position of the steering arms. Fix it like gut's and the problem is gone Monte... I think it is common on the Aussie cars because they originally had the steering box mounted further back and on the frame rail then a US car, so the rack makes a bunch more room, especially on the "driver side" then having the box squished in there. In my case, it was not a drag car, but a Hemi6 with six-pack but I wanted the much better ratio then the steering box originally had. Rack setup saves weight over the box as well..
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Re: stock K frame and rack and pinion steering
[Re: JERICOGTX]
#2013657
02/17/16 01:18 AM
02/17/16 01:18 AM
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 19,318 State of confusion
Thumperdart
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I Live Here
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 19,318
State of confusion
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My rack K member. It started out as a stock piece. Flame away... I like it...........
72 Dart 470 n/a BB stroker street car `THUMPER`...Check me out on FB Dominic Thumper for videos and lots of carb pics......760-900-3895.....
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