First gen f body front steer rack ok ? And other related????

[Death trap]

I have a 68 firebird I'm considering fabbing up a front steer rack set up in like i saw them do on an older episode of muscle car TV. I've been trying to look up information on doing this and am having a hard time. I'm seeing pics people have posted of it done but no good information. Also have read that switching the spindles side to side will mess up ackerman? But not sure about that cuz other cars use the same spindles and are front steer..... Figured I'd ask the experts. Does switching spindles side to side screw up the ackerman? Anyone have any info on putting together a front steer rack set up in a first gen f body or nova? Any help would be greatly appreciated and if I do this ill be sure to do a good build thread for others to see.

[Carl @ Chassisworks]

The spindles are the same L/R but the steering arms are not. Simply flipping them to the front will create many issues, Ackermann being one of them. You will need custom steering arms made to fit the geometry that you develop for your application.

[TheJDMan]

Speed Tech makes a rack conversion kit that includes all the parts to do the conversion. Only thing is I think it is rear steer.

http://www.speedtechperformance.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=results/category_id=25/mode=cat/cat25.htm

[Death trap]

Thanks for the reply Carl. I have been trying to do my homework and have noticed that most kits have new steering arms. Seems like most people that have done something like this ha e used a pinto rack or an 80s cavalier/sunfire rack. I wonder how well a rack meant for such a small car would hold up in a swap like this?

[Death trap]

TheJDman, I'm looking to move the rack to the front partly for oil pan clearance. I will try and post a pic of something similar to what I'm thinking of doing. And as much as buying a kit would probably be cheaper and faster in the long run, this car is a toy and I enjoy learning and working on it probably more then anything. So I think putting this together myself is the way its going to go down. But thank you for posting up the kit

[Death trap]

Can't remember were I saw this, wish I remembered so I could give them credit for the pic.

[Death trap]

Another one I thought looked well done

[yellow1098Greg]

I thought I saw a bolt in rack in the new classic industry catalogue I just received!

[Carl @ Chassisworks]

Thanks for the reply Carl. I have been trying to do my homework and have noticed that most kits have new steering arms. Seems like most people that have done something like this ha e used a pinto rack or an 80s cavalier/sunfire rack. I wonder how well a rack meant for such a small car would hold up in a swap like this?

Whatever rack you choose to go with, make sure the pivots are in the correct location for your a-arm geometry. The pics you posted are of a DRAG RACE Pinto rack conversion from TRZ motorsports. Not good for a handling car with wide tires.

I would suggest getting a copy of Mark Savitske's book, How To Make Your Muscle Car Handle, and do some reading on this topic. It's like 20 bucks on Amazon.

[Death trap]

Thanks again Carl. I have definitely been doing some homework and will continue. Also thanks for recommending the book, I'll be sure to check it out, I don't have that one yet.

[bret]

Another one I thought looked well done

Questions to ask of any rack conversion/installation : 1. Bumpsteer numbers...not the only steering geometry issue, but the most important. 2. Turning radius compared to stock? 3. Mounting bracket flex? 4. Rack flex with a large sticky tire (what was the donor rack originally designed for?) 5.steering column modifications required? 6. Number of ujoint required for installation?

[Death trap]

Questions to ask of any rack conversion/installation : 1. Bumpsteer numbers...not the only steering geometry issue, but the most important. 2. Turning radius compared to stock? 3. Mounting bracket flex? 4. Rack flex with a large sticky tire (what was the donor rack originally designed for?) 5.steering column modifications required? 6. Number of ujoint required for installation?


All good points Bret, thank you