Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

still working on it. As a plus, the guys at Painless are building a C-10 for the Power tour, and they made me promise to have one for them. So, now I have a deadline, to help spur me along.

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

Hey Rob,

No disrespect to Nate as he's helped me out a bit and a super fellow by email, but I have CPP upper and lower tube arms, bags etc already. I'm trying to save a bit on an expensive build that has just started(or my wife will shooooot me!). Would your new drop member be compatible with other control arms?

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

We're not planning on competing with Porter's Dropmember. What we have in the works is a Power Rack and Pinion upgrade to the stock crossmember. As it will be a tunabe install, it should work fine with ANY aftermarket set of arms. - regardless of any wheel placement or caster changes from the arms. - - - Buy your wife a nice Valentines gift. Happy Wife = Happy Life.

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

I here ya....you both sound like you have great integrity.....good stuff. I own a business here as well and do the same. U 2 are awesome...keep it up....you'll go along way...you too Rob.

OK...so either a change all or try the R/P with my existing K-member.

Super.....I'll watch and decide. And I will.....but she still loves me????......I hope...LOL

thanks

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

ok, I have 2 questions about this set-up. Should be fine with a 6-cyl application right? and manual rack should work just fine as well, right? Thanks! $775 seems fair

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

Hmm, never thought of that one. 6 cyl. is no problem, but we will not be offering a manual rack option - sorry. If we did, I don't think you would be happy with us, and it would end up a loose-loose. We try to avoid that as much as we can. It would be easy enough to put a p/s pump on the 6 cyl :)

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

If anyones interested I did a power rack on a C10 about 8 years ago.
heres a link to it. It cost about $300 to do. You will need some good fab skills.

http://www.thehollisterroadcompany.com/rackpinion.html

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

That link looks like lots of work and the outcome doesn't look that great. To many ifs. Im gonna wait it out till robs done then make a choice from there..thanks for the link tho.
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Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

Its does have some ugly on it, But it was a first attempt and has been refined greatly since then. The out come was to have a truck suspension under a truck that was driven daily and not have to turn the wheel 5 turns from lock to lock. As far as looks unless I planned on having the guys over to stare at my rack for the afternoon and not the gril next stores rack then I would have done a C5 or something ;)

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

I'm not so sure about that.
250 and 292 P/S brackets and pulleys are getting harder and harder to come by.

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

How hard would it be to make a set? Could a more common pulley be used if someone stepped up and fabbed the brackets?

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

I'm interested, Have you drivin with this set-up? We looked at the mustang/T-Bird R/P, but it seemed to have limited movement. 5.18" total stroke, compared to 7.36" stroke lock-to-lock on the stock steering stops. Do you get full turning? Sounds like a good aproach.

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

You got my hint! Ha.
A cool serpentine set-up would be cool also.

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

well guys this is interesting and I will keep watching this.
so far I have built and installed an ls motor did this before it was popular so i built my own mounts so it is in a different spot than all else. I have also cut and built coil over setup for mine.
the rack and pinion would be a welcome addition however with what was said about teh engine mounts I am wondering if this will work for me? I will watch wish i was closer to california, well no I dont lol i wish u guys were closer to Missouri...
Thanks and keep us updated as you are.
Dave

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

I haven't done any hiway driving, only around the block driving. It seemed to turn ok but I really didn't pay a whole lot of attenion to the radius. I have since pulled the truck apart so I haven't driven it for a long time. I can check the lock to lock angles at the outside of the wheels and let you know just what it comes out to be.

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

bring this back up as I am interested to see what will be available and when. Like I said before my setup is way different than most as I have built what I needed to make my truck what it is but this looks like a neat option.
Dave

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

don't worry, I'm still working on it.

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

update? :smoke:

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

We are now driving, and testing. Also, we have to work with a rack manufacturer, to get them the way we want, so that is still in negotiations. I should know more next week.

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

Just out of curiosity, how is the clearance between the engine and the rack? I've got my engine set as low and as far back as I could get it without major cutting and there is barely an 1/8" of clearance between my crank pulley and my center drag link.

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

I think it will be OK, top of the rack body is 3/8" lower than the top of the stock drag link

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

Cool, any ballpark guesses when you'll have it ready for market?

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

Well, in typical No Limit style, it may take a few months. I'd say July is a safe bet. I can't, in good conscious, sell a new part that we have'nt beat on for at least 5k miles, then dis-assembled and tested. After all, these are steering parts, and we would hate to kill someone. :), but i will keep everyone up to date. Thanks for the interest.

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

Any pics?

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

Here's a few spy shots. The new mounting does not require any cutting or welding to the crossmember. Just drill five mounting holes. A small notch is needed to clear the steering. This unit is mounted on the JT, and will be in Del-Mar next week. We are now moving into the production phase.

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

Put me down for the first unit! This falls into what I have been going for on project cod fish! Old school look with modern technology. I am very excited to see this come about thanks for all you guys do to make our trucks better!

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

Hey Rob,

Any pics of the driver side motor mount/rack clearance?

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

Looks good Rob :) Just curious, is it set up for optimum bumpsteer with stock caster, or is it set up for arms with increased caster?

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

Let's us know when they are available for purchase ill take one. Thanks for keep us posted
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Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

Mech77, It is a tunable set up. The new tie rod end sits under the steering arm using a high-misalignment rod end. With stock arms, (and 2 or 3 deg of caster) use no spacers, then add 1/8" spacer for each 3* of increased caster.

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

Hey Rob, Ive been following your threads with drool running, You once stated the lower and further back the better, sooo. How about ten inches back and four inches lower. Ill have some pictures later.

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

I guess that's not with a stock firewall :), Is oil pan clearance an issue? Love to see it.

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

Awesome....still looking at $600-$700 for the kit? Also, any closer guess on when it will be available?

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

I like the spy pics. glad this is commong along. thanks for the updates:
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Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

I assume this set-up will work with the 73-87 GM trucks, maybe with a different outer tie rod end? Or, does it use the stock outer tie rod end?

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

I'm interested too. Been thinkin of changing over to a later o-ring style steering box that I could run with the hoses from the hydroboost. So maybe upgrading to a power R&P that bolts in might be even better. I'm gonna make a wild guess that the R&P will take the o-ring type hoses.

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

1. Yes, it's an O-ring style rack.
2. We drove on this set up last night, at our local test track, and everything is working great. Perfect steering, good feedback, no bumpsteer, and no noise. Soon we will have them ready for sale. hopefully in early may.

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

hey what a coincidence my birthday is in May. sounds like an awesome present...hint hint.
that is great. I have driven thes old trucks for a long time is the no bumpsteer the main reason for the swap? I guess is there a "list" of here is why I would want a RP steering? it sure seems like a good idea since the trucks now have all the different linkages.
again thanks for the support.

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

Why? Far more precise input and feedback; aside from my GMC, every vehicle I've owned has had a rack and pinion, and every vehicle I've owned, including the crapbox '98 Ranger I bought with 164k on the clock and a worn out front suspension, and my old '88 Volvo with 180k on it, is/was more pleasant to drive in the curves and easier to place on the road than my GMC, despite all of the lowering goodies.

This is to say - I really, really want one :) It sounds weird to say, but if I could make my truck actually turn and stop like my Volvo did, except with roughly 3x the horsepower, I think I'll be set.

Re: Bolt in steering rack
 

Weekend update. We had a great time in Del-Mar this weekend at the Good-Guys show. We ran our JT truck in the autocross, and drove it all over town, as well as to and from Del-Mar. We are really happy with the steering, and the rack kit. Looks like a home run. We won the truck class in the Silver Bullit 55, with a 34.144, the JT ran a 36.647, and we really need a trans controller to keep it in low, Rob Mcewen's Dueces Wild 67 F-100 ran a 35.153 (class 2nd), and Rob Phillips 69 C-10 ran a quick 34.557 for 5th in the Vendor class. If the JT's times look slow, it still ran faster than half of the entries. Not bad for it's first outing.