R&P w/1.5" crossmember drop ?'s

[bagged01extcab]

I have been trying to get my rack set up in my 84 swb with an 1.5" crossmember drop. I didn't have enough room for the rack between the ART control arms and the stock balancer, so I installed a 6 1/4" balancer. I now have plenty of clearance for the rack, but the mounting points fall above both inside lower control arm inner u bolt nuts. The steering shaft also looks like it is going to hit the driver's side motor mount. The rack is a thunderbird rack, but I don't remember the year. Seams like it was a 93 or 97. There is 15 7/16" center to center on the mounting ears. I am going to have to buy another rack and was wondering if any of you might know of a rack that would work better, as far as mounting points and steering mounting angle? I may end up having to get a rack built by unisteer. If I do that, I was thinking of going with a right hand drive rack. The only thing stopping me on the RHD rack, is the clutch & brakes. I was planing on running a kuegel under dash unit to shave the firewall completely smooth, but wouldn't be able to with RHD and power brakes. Any help or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks

[dwcsr]

Some were offsetting the rack. The problem with that is you have a short turn radius one way and a long radius the other. I did the rack install on my 58. It has a 75 C10 suspension on it. This link may help
http://www.thehollisterroadcompany.com/rackpinion.html

[bagged01extcab]

Thanks for the link. I have read that before, but was unable to find it. The rack you used is the same rack that I have. I did an 1.5" crossmember drop, so I don't have the room above the u bolts that u have. I can't raise the rack any due to it would hit the harmonic balancer. Offsetting the rack will clear one side of the u bolts but the other side of the rack's mounting point would then be directly over the whole u bolt. If I make mounts over the u bolt, I would no longer be able to get the lower control arms off. I also did a 3" z, so I can't really move the motor up any more to clear the shaft. Thanks again for the link. I added it to my bookmarks! Lots of good info in it!

Anybody else have any info? or different rack mounting point measurements? suggestions?

Thanks

[dwcsr]

If you cut the bow out of the cross member and weld in a flat piece the rack sits back further. as in this pic below. I'm centered and no issues with the U bolts, Its also inline with the tie rod ends. You should be able to work the rest out with U joints. Wood dowl cut and taped together will let you get an idea on the routing of the steering shaft. You can rotate the input shaft to help with clearence issues. I didn't cut a noch in to clear the frame ends.

Look at the unisteer site they may have something