Unisteer Rack & Pinion Install Problems

[Phillip_L]

I am trying to install a Unisteer rack and pinion. I am having some serious clearance issues. The motor in this car looks like it is sitting very low or the oil pan is a little larger. Attached are three pictures.



The first picture shows how far I need to go. I can hang the rack on the driver side and when I raise it up to the passenger side; I am missing by this amount (a lot).



The second picture should show the motor mounts. Is there some way to raise up the motor? Switch mounts, space with washers, etc.

The third picture shows the oil pan and cross member (very close, I can not see daylight).



Any suggestion? The stock system worked fine. The motor in the car was there when I bought it (not original). I plain on pulling this motor in 6-8 months and going with a LS1, LS2, or LS6 motor. I would like to get the car running and drivable. Then start work on the EFI motor.

[David Pozzi]

Look on my firstgen suspension page, I have a motor mount page there with some dimensions and part numbers, maybe that will help. I don't see how a motor mount change will allow you to raise it enough though. Is the pan hitting the rack? maybe you need to change the pan.

[Phillip_L]

Yes, it is hitting the oil pan. The looks like a 5 quart pan. Nothing exotic. I am missing by so much, I do not think the pan is the problem. I have never seen a motor so low. It is basically resting on the cross member.

[paul67]

I would becarefull about raising engine as it can cause other probs. What year is the engine out of.
paul67

[paul67]

Just remembered if the engine is out of a vette the oil pan is deeper than the camaro pan by about 1 1/2"
paul67

[Phillip_L]

I have not idea where the motor came from. I plan on pulling it out in about 6 months along with the Turbo 350. The car was originally a manual trans mission car (clutch pedal under carpet) converted to an automatic. I want to go with a LS1 or LS2 with a T56 trans (Blower or turbo). I would like to get the car running so I can enjoy it while I build the new motor and give my bank account some time to recover.

Phillip

[paul67]

If thats the case ask on engine section if anybody can measure there oil pans.
paul67

[paul67]

See if these measurments helps, this is a 94 LT1 vette engine.
from the rad mount to the front of the engine block, not pump
17", front top of front crossmember to the centre of balancer 4 1/2", from passenger side rear hedder bolt to the fire wall 2 1/2", from the same header bolt to the lip of fire wall 13", the oilpan depth deep part 7" ,distance from back of rear crossmember to were the oilpan goes deep @ 3" . Also my engine mounts were sat on a plate to the rear of cross member to miss the steering arms. Hope this is of help because I'm thinking of buying this kit.
paul67

[NovaPwr]

philip, just checked my rack to pan clearance for you, it is real close, probably only 3/8" clearance. Pan to crossmember about a 1/2". This is a Moroso 7 qt kicked out pan. There were several different motor mount/frame mount combos used on the Novas, this was discussed at length on the Nova listserve before. When I went from my 307 to the 350, I kept the frame mounts and used 307 motor mounts because my HEI drops right in with room to spare, no firewall bashing. On my buddies factory 350 Nova, there was no way the same HEI dist. was going in without a little hammer massage on the firewall. Hth.

Dave




I am trying to install a Unisteer rack and pinion. I am having some serious clearance issues. The motor in this car looks like it is sitting very low or the oil pan is a little larger. Attached are three pictures.



The first picture shows how far I need to go. I can hang the rack on the driver side and when I raise it up to the passenger side; I am missing by this amount (a lot).



The second picture should show the motor mounts. Is there some way to raise up the motor? Switch mounts, space with washers, etc.

The third picture shows the oil pan and cross member (very close, I can not see daylight).



Any suggestion? The stock system worked fine. The motor in the car was there when I bought it (not original). I plain on pulling this motor in 6-8 months and going with a LS1, LS2, or LS6 motor. I would like to get the car running and drivable. Then start work on the EFI motor.

[Phillip_L]

Thanks for everyones help. I will measure my oil pan tonight. I have also emailed pictures to Unisteer. I really would like to put rack on now, but I may need to wait until I put in the LS1.

[Phillip_L]

Well, I finally got the rack to fit. I shimmed up the tail shaft of the transmission a little and took the step out of the pan. I used a hammer and floor jack with a wooden 4" x 4".

Thanks again.

[Damn True]

Cross your fingers and pray you didn't hit the oil pump pickup when you massaged the pan.

[Phillip_L]

The pickup should be in lower part of the pan toward the back. I adjusted the toward the front.

[Damn True]

Whew! Glad to hear it.

[Serpa69]

Your motor mounts are upside down

[Jon69RagTop]

Great Eye for detail. I confirm.

[Phillip_L]

Thanks for the info. Again, I did not install the motor and I will be pulling it out soon. Is there any harm to running them upside down? I would assume there is no real advantage to flipping them back over for the short term.

Phillip