4th gen camaro vs C5 steering rack width

[nickcornilsen]

Hi

What is the width of a fourth gen camaro steering rack, as well as the width of a C5 rack? I've been googling for over an hour on this and can't find ****. Seems like google lost its ability to filter out the robot sites that "have best price on steering rack dimensions!"

I've got a C5 suspension setup I'm trying to put under my nova... and it looks like it'll be cheaper to narrow the suspension up than it would be to get wheels that are offset enough to tuck them under the car.
alternatively, is there a wheel supplier that can make a simple 5 spoke corvette wheel, 9 inches wide with a 70mm offset, or a 8.5 with a 63/64mm offset?

thanks,
Nick

[19,69camaro]

Unless you are willing to set the engine back into the firewall you dont want to use the c5 rack because it sits in front of the crank pulley. Almost all aftermarket c5 subframes use a fox mustang type rack and pinion (the AGR can be had for around $250) and drop steering arms to fit the rack underneath the oil pan. Oh and as far as wheels go you are going to need at least 17" wheels to clear the brakes. Good luck with your build

[nickcornilsen]

Thanks... now these drop steering arms, where can I find those? am I replacing my spindle now?
And do you know the inner tie-rod to inner tie-rod width of these versus a corvette?

[silver69camaro]

The inner tie rod width of a Fox rack is 12.225" (to C/L), and the C5 is significantly wider. I see no way of using the C5 rack without moving the engine back about 6". For the dropped steering arms, I think you can buy ours but the knuckles need to be modified in order to make them fit. Difficult and expensive.

What year Nova are you working on? Hopefully '68 and later...

[nickcornilsen]

Yeah, Its a 72. I'll throw some pics up when I get a little further.

I am planning on moving the wheels forward about 1" to better position them in the wheel wells, and I've already made peace with setting the motor back about 6 inches.

The width of the front suspension package is making it seem necessary to narrow the front hub width to about 62. (from 66)

As such, I'm trying to find what the width, front inner tie rod to inner tie rod, of a stock C5 rack is, so I can find a rack that is about four inches narrower. Whatever the difference is, Is how much I'll narrow the front suspension. I'll also use the CAD models of the suspension to modify the placement to eliminate bump steer and move the roll center up to compensate for any changes made when narrowing. It seems like narrowing the front suspension will move the roll center up, which is what I want anyway I think.

I was thinking a 4th gen FBody rack was about that much narrower. just looking for confirmation.

I'm an engineer with a mill and lathe, and access to CNC equipment, so I'm not TO worried about mods requireing machining,but would rather not cut up my spindles of not neccessary.

[silver69camaro]

Unfortunately I don't have F-body stuff, maybe somebody around here has one laying around they could check. For reference, here's some others:

Cadilllac CTS: 740mm
C5/C6 Corvette: 835mm
2008 Mustang: 760mm

I think the Fox rack would be your best bet.

[dhutton]

BRP Hotrods used to sell a rack and pinion conversion based on the F body rack. He shortened the ends if I remember right and the steering radius was large.

[nickcornilsen]

The dimensions of the 'vette rack and stuff helps me a ton. Thanks!

I'm beginning to think there's a conspiracy to hide the width of the 4th gen FBody rack... noone seems to know what the width is or is willing to measure one!

Guess I'll be a ebay greaseball special and measure it myself pretty quick here! I think they're about 28" wide, which would be ideal.

-Nick

[CamaroAJ]

you could find an auto parts store with one in stock then measure it. that would be the free way to do it.

[DallasHolmes]

Really Nice solid models of the trans, Done in solidworks? Your nova should be a real ripper! Any chance of getting a x_t model of the Trans/Diff? Thanks