55.2-59 Ideas on Connecting Rack and Pinion to steering shaft

[5567Cruiser]

Anyone have experience on Connecting Thunderbird rack and pinion steering to steering shaft with Sanderson Block Hugger headers on 56 3100?

[daveshilling]

Post a photo of your situation. If you cant just run a DD shaft straight to it, then you'll need a support bearing of some kind, I assume.

[51 3600]

Pics below of what I recently completed on my '51 3600 with Hooker (I'm told) headers. Also not a T-bird r&p but a Camaro. Still hope it's helpful. Got a lot of good ideas from a YouTuber "Idaho Fabricator". He does a good job of explaining the planning process.

Hardest part was fabing a bracket to attach the rod end to the frame at the correct height and angle. Made a cardboard template first cuz with the compound angles I couldn't draw it. Just tacked bracket in place for now.

[dsraven]

a pic of your scenario would be good so we can see how long your steering shaft is protruding below the firewall and at what angle it is hung, your header or exhaust system configuration, where your engine mounts fit into the scenario and anything else in the way. in the past I have used a broom handle with a plastic pipe union taped on the end that fits over the rack input stub and the column output stub in order to mock up a shaft to do different scenarios. it is important to keep all the ujoints lined up in phase with each other and not running at a severe angle. google ujoint phasing and you'll see why, look for a youtube video by macs motor city garage. it is also not a great idea to use a rag joint for anything but a zero angle connection as they are not intended to handle angles so they will wear fast and break apart. use them to help eliminate vibration in the column but try not to use them if possible. there is also a variance in the quality and size of ujoints so something to keep in mind when purchasing.

[dsraven]

anything that runs cloase to the exhaust will benefit from a heat shield of some sort. also, depending on how you want to run things, a telescopic shaft may be nice. if your cab mounts are soft so the cab moves in comparison to the frame, or if you worry about front impact and a solid shaft aimed at your chest, then a telescopic shaft may be a good idea.

[_Ogre]

Look at my build thread. GM column with tbird rack
Keep it simple, my DD shaft doesn't need setscrews to keep it in place
Adding bearings, pivots and extra shafts should be avoided at all cost

[dsraven]

i guess the same idea of phasing and shaft velocity changes would happen if you had 3 ujoints as one wouldn't have a partner to cancell the fluctuations in shaft speed during one revolution pof the steering wheel.

[dsraven]

a longer column protrusion below the floor may actually help some scenarios

[dsraven]

https://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/...e-and-phasing/

[G&R's57GMC]

Good point on Driveshaft angles as this is a spinning set up that would vibrate and cause damage to other components .

BUT steering shaft not so important so long as the angles do not cause the joints to over angle (bind). Besides if your steering shaft is spinning fast enough to cause a vibration you've got other problems

[dsraven]

haha, I wasn't talking abou vibration in the steering shaft. I was talking about having a quirky or touchy steering if the hoints aren't phased and paired. the shaft can have some spots that will turn thr other end of the shaft faster in parts of the rotation if there are an uneven number of ujoints in the set up or they are not phased correctly. this means as the wheel is turned the steering doesn't react smoothly and evenly as expected. worse as the ujoint angles increase.