Flat-Out Engineering front end?

[Joyridin]

Hello...has anybody installed a Flat-Out Engineering front end under their truck? I have the set-up and just have a few questions about how the steering shaft from the column to the rack worked and whether you had to replace the steering column.

TIA

[SCOTI]

With any R&P set-up on a C10, you'll most likely need to adjust the column length to suit your needs.

I can't answer specifically about the Flat-Out set-up, but I had to shorten my column around 6" to have more room in the cab & get a clean, non-binding angle under the hood for a Porterbuilt set-up.

[Joyridin]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

With any R&P set-up on a C10, you'll most likely need to adjust the column length to suit your needs.

I can't answer specifically about the Flat-Out set-up, but I had to shorten my column around 6" to have more room in the cab & get a clean, non-binding angle under the hood for a Porterbuilt set-up.

Ok..thanks. Was the input shaft on the rack moved to inside the frame or was it left on the outside like the original steering box?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Joyridin

Ok..thanks. Was the input shaft on the rack moved to inside the frame or was it left on the outside like the original steering box?

It's inside the rails. My steering shaft runs between the upper a-arm + C/O mount & exhaust flange (Ramhorn style manifold). Getting the shaft centered between the 2 required getting column length just right.

[Joyridin]

Thanks for the info!

[wickedred]

I have the Flat-Out Engineering front setup sitting in the bed of my 71 C10. Been looking at different peoples installs and such.

[SCOTI]

I looked @ Flat Outs stuff but purchased a Porterbuilt C4 Dropmember back when he made them in the early days. It's all still sitting on some shelves in the shop.

One of these days. . .....

[Joyridin]

Originally Posted by wickedred

I have the Flat-Out Engineering front setup sitting in the bed of my 71 C10. Been looking at different peoples installs and such.

Have you seen any installations?

[wickedred]

Originally Posted by Joyridin

Have you seen any installations?

There are some subpar photos in a few threads I found. Here is a video Link with some decent shots for the front suspension:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOzF3xNDf-8

In that video Dustin refers to the engine set back of nearly 10 inches to get the engine placement right due to the steering rack mounting location. If you look at the side shots of the truck the wheels are setback in the front wheel well towards the cab. His truck Flat work on the auto cross track.

I talked to Don at Flat Out and he said the engine setback is not needed if the wheel is centered in the fender.

I am building my truck for auto cross first and foremost. I will rework the steering rack situation if need be. Been a lot of times I thought I should have just built my own crossmember and used C6 or C7 Corvette front suspension components. I took the quicker way out.

[Joyridin]

Originally Posted by wickedred

There are some subpar photos in a few threads I found. Here is a video Link with some decent shots for the front suspension:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOzF3xNDf-8

In that video Dustin refers to the engine set back of nearly 10 inches to get the engine placement right due to the steering rack mounting location. If you look at the side shots of the truck the wheels are setback in the front wheel well towards the cab. His truck Flat work on the auto cross track.

I talked to Don at Flat Out and he said the engine setback is not needed if the wheel is centered in the fender.

I am building my truck for auto cross first and foremost. I will rework the steering rack situation if need be. Been a lot of times I thought I should have just built my own crossmember and used C6 or C7 Corvette front suspension components. I took the quicker way out.

Ok. I spoke to Don a few times. What he told me initially and what the instructions say are quite different. When I spoke to him after receiving the parts, he gave me a completely different story.

The video looks like he is using an 84-87 C4 set-up. I am using a 95 set-up. Apparently there is no way to hook up a sway bar on the later set-up. Just curious if anybody found one that works.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Joyridin

Ok. I spoke to Don a few times. What he told me initially and what the instructions say are quite different. When I spoke to him after receiving the parts, he gave me a completely different story.

The video looks like he is using an 84-87 C4 set-up. I am using a 95 set-up. Apparently there is no way to hook up a sway bar on the later set-up. Just curious if anybody found one that works.

Originally Posted by Joyridin

I am not sure how they would do that with the mounting. If you can find the link, it would be appreciated.

Why wouldn't you be able to? What prohibits installing one?

[wickedred]

Originally Posted by Joyridin

Ok. I spoke to Don a few times. What he told me initially and what the instructions say are quite different. When I spoke to him after receiving the parts, he gave me a completely different story.

The video looks like he is using an 84-87 C4 set-up. I am using a 95 set-up. Apparently there is no way to hook up a sway bar on the later set-up. Just curious if anybody found one that works.

I have the 84-87 setup. I bough the aftermarket adjustable upper control arms. Same ones that are the linked video.

As for the Sway bar I am gonna run a Splined setup. I will make the links myself.

Engine placement and steering rack setup are my biggest concerns. The again thats what the Plasma cutter and Tig welder is for.

[mongocanfly]

pretty sure you need to clock the r&p for better fitment.. somewhere i got a link on doing that with the flatout
from there itll take a couple of ujoints and a stabilizing bearing to get inline with the column..then use DD slip shaft to connect

[Joyridin]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

pretty sure you need to clock the r&p for better fitment.. somewhere i got a link on doing that with the flatout
from there itll take a couple of ujoints and a stabilizing bearing to get inline with the column..then use DD slip shaft to connect

I am not sure how they would do that with the mounting. If you can find the link, it would be appreciated.

[mongocanfly]

https://www.trifive.com/threads/rack...from-c4.24992/

[Joyridin]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

https://www.trifive.com/threads/rack...from-c4.24992/

Thanks man! I have an old rack sitting here I am going to use for a core. I am going to give it a try.

[wickedred]

Did a rough mock up on the tailgate of dads 72 C10 with my oldest son today. Sometimes I wish I had went with RideTech LOL.

[Joyridin]

Originally Posted by wickedred

Did a rough mock up on the tailgate of dads 72 C10 with my oldest son today. Sometimes I wish I had went with RideTech LOL.

Yeah...I was going to go with Fatman. Besides adding a spacer for the motor mount, theirs bolted right in place. What Don told me on the phone and what the instructions state, or don't state, are massively different.

Yours looks good! Do you have a rack and pinion? Apparently they are getting hard to find.

[wickedred]

Originally Posted by Joyridin

Yeah...I was going to go with Fatman. Besides adding a spacer for the motor mount, theirs bolted right in place. What Don told me on the phone and what the instructions state, or don't state, are massively different.

Yours looks good! Do you have a rack and pinion? Apparently they are getting hard to find.

Nope I don't have the rack and pinion. They are tuff to find from what I have seen. I will probably take the plasma cutter and knock the rack mounts off and make mounts for a flaming river rack.

From the threads and post I have found and couple guys I have talked too. Its the rack and pinion that is the biggest interference with engine placement.

My truck is a cut down LWB truck. I have two other SWB frames. I don't have an issue cutting up the shortened fame to make this work. My original intention was to build a full custom frame. I just got a bit lazy... LOL

[Joyridin]

Originally Posted by wickedred

Nope I don't have the rack and pinion. They are tuff to find from what I have seen. I will probably take the plasma cutter and knock the rack mounts off and make mounts for a flaming river rack.

From the threads and post I have found and couple guys I have talked too. Its the rack and pinion that is the biggest interference with engine placement.

My truck is a cut down LWB truck. I have two other SWB frames. I don't have an issue cutting up the shortened fame to make this work. My original intention was to build a full custom frame. I just got a bit lazy... LOL

The rack seems to ride on the spindle centerline. Besides being able to find one easier, how is that going to make a difference with the engine placement? From what I am seeing, if you drop it down, you are going to get bumpsteer unless you start using heim joints as outer tie rods to space them down.

[wickedred]

Originally Posted by Joyridin

The rack seems to ride on the spindle centerline. Besides being able to find one easier, how is that going to make a difference with the engine placement? From what I am seeing, if you drop it down, you are going to get bumpsteer unless you start using heim joints as outer tie rods to space them down.

It really depends on the purpose of the truck I guess. I don't mind the harshness of hiem joints personally. I am building the truck to autocross and beat the crap out of. I will most likely setup my engine and trans on some type of temporary motor plate to make sure my engine placement suits me.

The rack how it is mounted it typical of the Corvette. it sits inline with the balancer of the engine. That alone will dictate the placement of the engine setback wise. I don't want to modify the firewall if I can keep from it.

Once I have the mock up engine and trans in place, I will get the crossmember fit on the wheel centerline and in the wheel well like I want it. Reworking the steering rack isn't something I am too worried about. There are plenty of options there.

It would have been cheaper to order a front suspension from NoLimit or Scotts Hotrods LOL...

[Joyridin]

When I asked Don about engine mounts for a 350 and oil pan clearance issues, he said "most guys use LS engines". From the conversation, that meant that LS engines would not have any clearance issues, but the 350 might.

I have neither of those, so it really didn't matter.

[wickedred]

Originally Posted by Joyridin

When I asked Don about engine mounts for a 350 and oil pan clearance issues, he said "most guys use LS engines". From the conversation, that meant that LS engines would not have any clearance issues, but the 350 might.

I have neither of those, so it really didn't matter.

I hope this is correct.

[wickedred]

Well if someone is interested in my front suspension PM me. I think I am changing directions.

[wickedred]

I got a few install pics from Dustin. His truck without a doubt handles like its on rails. that is a 10" engine set back. I am sorry to say the Flat Out Engineering is on crack if they think an LS engine is gonna drop in without the engine setback an some janky drive line angle.

I still think I could make it work by reworking the whole steering setup. At this point my truck will just be a cruiser until I regroup and decide what I am going to do.