Manual Rack and pinion for 72C10?

[sfont66]

I have searched this site and many others, and still haven’t found much information for converting a72 to a Manual rack. The older posts mostly just buffer, I did find a more recent one from 2022 asking for the same info for a 65.

There are a lot of nice kits for power racks. I have checked websites for: Flaming River, CPP,No limit, Trz Motorsports, Unisteer, POL, and Fatman Fab.
I’m not interested in a complete front suspension at this time, but a conversion kit that works with the stock crossmember would be great.

I would consider piecing together something too, if detailed instructions were available. I can cut, grind, weld.
In the end I would like to lose weight off the front end, and reduce a bit of parasitic drag off the engine, as well as clean up the engine bay.
Any thoughts?

[regan wilson]

I built a setup years ago with a Mustang II manual rack on a stock crossmember. I'm sure if someone out there has a kit for power rack you could bolt a manual in it's place instead.

[HO455]

You might try a search of the "Make it Handle" thread or give No Limit a call. I know not everything they do is on the site.

[sfont66]

Originally Posted by regan wilson

I built a setup years ago with a Mustang II manual rack on a stock crossmember. I'm sure if someone out there has a kit for power rack you could bolt a manual in it's place instead.

I did check out the pic of your setup you had years ago. I think it was page 8 of your story time thread? Very interesting read, I have many more pages to go yet.
Something like your previous setup would work great for me for now.
I will have to check with some of the companies offering kits. It’s possible a manual rack would mount up, especially if they use a mustang II rack. I know a few of them use a Silverado power rack, not sure on the rest. I will have to dig a little deeper when I get back home on the 24th
Thanks for the response

[sfont66]

Originally Posted by HO455

You might try a search of the "Make it Handle" thread or give No Limit a call. I know not everything they do is on the site.

I had forgotten about that thread, thanks for the reminder. I will have to revisit that thread and see if I can find any more info.
I will give No limit a call, and possibly a few others to see if they offer anything,or can point me in the right direction.
Thanks again for the suggestions, I appreciate it .

[HO455]

You're welcome. I'm just trying to pay the forum back for all its done for me.
Good luck with your search.

[MellowYellow70]

I swapped to the cpp rack system. Easy to install and really a complete kit. I tried it with a looped hose instead of the power steering pump. I went back to power rack, but thats my opinion.

[sfont66]

Originally Posted by MellowYellow70

I swapped to the cpp rack system. Easy to install and really a complete kit. I tried it with a looped hose instead of the power steering pump. I went back to power rack, but thats my opinion.

Thanks for the feedback.
I had wondered about a looped hose , and how much more effort it would take versus a true manual rack.
I imagine it was quite a bit ? And thus the reason for going back to power?

[MellowYellow70]

Originally Posted by sfont66

Thanks for the feedback.
I had wondered about a looped hose , and how much more effort it would take versus a true manual rack.
I imagine it was quite a bit ? And thus the reason for going back to power?

My truck is a Gasser tribute, that I do a lot of cruising and drag racing with. Going down the road wasn't bad but pulling a camper and low speed driving to me was a pita with a 14" steering wheel.

[sfont66]

Originally Posted by MellowYellow70

My truck is a Gasser tribute, that I do a lot of cruising and drag racing with. Going down the road wasn't bad but pulling a camper and low speed driving to me was a pita with a 14" steering wheel.

I can certainly understand that.
Thanks for the response.
Your truck looks like, and by your description ,is a whole lot of fun!

[sfont66]

Small update:
I did contact No Limit about a manual rack and pinion kit.
They got back to me stating: We do not make a manual rack & pinion.
And do not know of any manufacturers .
So hopefully my search doesn’t turn out to be a dead end.

I haven’t had much time to check with other manufacturers yet, or go through the “ Make it Handle” thread, but I will keep on looking.
I know Fatman Fab. Made a Mustang II kit years ago. I will likely check with them next.
In 1991 or 1992 I installed their front end kit in a 1951 Ford F1 pickup. Welded in crossmember and extended the width of the manual rack. The guy I worked with used the same kit in a 56 Chevy pickup ,( there may have been some small differences)
Popular kit years ago, just need to see if one exists for a 72 C10 today.
I will try to update this thread for those interested when/if I find additional info

[Joyridin]

Originally Posted by sfont66

Small update:
I did contact No Limit about a manual rack and pinion kit.
They got back to me stating: We do not make a manual rack & pinion.
And do not know of any manufacturers .
So hopefully my search doesn’t turn out to be a dead end.

I haven’t had much time to check with other manufacturers yet, or go through the “ Make it Handle” thread, but I will keep on looking.
I know Fatman Fab. Made a Mustang II kit years ago. I will likely check with them next.
In 1991 or 1992 I installed their front end kit in a 1951 Ford F1 pickup. Welded in crossmember and extended the width of the manual rack. The guy I worked with used the same kit in a 56 Chevy pickup ,( there may have been some small differences)
Popular kit years ago, just need to see if one exists for a 72 C10 today.
I will try to update this thread for those interested when/if I find additional info

Fatman is closed. They shut down last year.

I would try Unisteer. They show a power kit, but they make all kinds of rack and pinions. They might easily be able to get you the parts needed.

[sfont66]

Originally Posted by Joyridin

Fatman is closed. They shut down last year.

I would try Unisteer. They show a power kit, but they make all kinds of rack and pinions. They might easily be able to get you the parts needed.

Thanks for the reply
Bummer about Fatman Fab closing, not sure what happened there.
I do see that Southern Rods and parts has acquired the intellectual property of Fatman Fabrications and intends to continue offering parts, so maybe things will work out.
I tried contacting Unisteer yesterday as you suggested. I didn’t have much time, so I reached out through email, and haven’t heard back yet. I may have to make a phone call.

[Joyridin]

Originally Posted by sfont66

Thanks for the reply
Bummer about Fatman Fab closing, not sure what happened there.
I do see that Southern Rods and parts has acquired the intellectual property of Fatman Fabrications and intends to continue offering parts, so maybe things will work out.
I tried contacting Unisteer yesterday as you suggested. I didn’t have much time, so I reached out through email, and haven’t heard back yet. I may have to make a phone call.

From my understanding, the original owner sold it about 2.5 years ago to somebody. They took over and eliminated 50% of the items they sell and raised all the prices. Guess what happened next?

My brother has a Fatman set-up in the front of his 73 AMX. They basically custom built it for him. We stopped at their booth at Good Guys a few months after they were sold from what we understood. My brother had a small issue with the upper coilover mount. The guy just said "we don't build that stuff anymore, so you are out of luck". I guess that is a good way to lose customers.

[theastronaut]

It'll be hard/impossible to find a rack with a slow enough ratio to make it reasonably easy to turn at parking lot speeds. My stock manual steering box has a 20:1 ratio and with added caster + radials its a bear to get it parked in tight areas. Any quicker ratio and I wouldn't be able to park it.

You might have to look into a regular rack, loop the lines, and use a reversed steering quickener in the steering shaft to slow down the ratio and multiply leverage. At that point, why not add electric assist into the column so you get the benefit of a quicker ratio rack and it's not hard to park? About the only other option is to go back to skinny bias plies with zero caster to make a normal rack easy enough to steer, it just isn't going happen with modern tires, alignment specs, and a normal ratio rack- that's why no one offers them.

[regan wilson]

Originally Posted by theastronaut

It'll be hard/impossible to find a rack with a slow enough ratio to make it reasonably easy to turn at parking lot speeds. My stock manual steering box has a 20:1 ratio and with added caster + radials its a bear to get it parked in tight areas. Any quicker ratio and I wouldn't be able to park it.

You might have to look into a regular rack, loop the lines, and use a reversed steering quickener in the steering shaft to slow down the ratio and multiply leverage. At that point, why not add electric assist into the column so you get the benefit of a quicker ratio rack and it's not hard to park? About the only other option is to go back to skinny bias plies with zero caster to make a normal rack easy enough to steer, it just isn't going happen with modern tires, alignment specs, and a normal ratio rack- that's why no one offers them.

What he said. All this thread needed was an Astronaut! I have never had anything but a 3'5"drag tire on the front of mine so the electric assist sounds like a very good option with a street tire.

[sfont66]

Thanks guys for the response, and info . It does make sense why I can’t find any manufacturer making a kit for use with OEM suspension.
I don’t mind a bit of a heavy feel at low speed, but if it’s a struggle that would be less than fun.
I will have to look into the suggestion of electric assist , that could be a very good solution .

Thanks again to theastronaut and regan

[sfont66]

In my research, I have not found anyone that offers a manual rack and pinion for a 72 C10, I talked to a few manufacturers and they do have kits for cars, but most say the trucks are too heavy. (My truck is currently 3500#)
I did talk with Unisteer, they don’t offer a manual rack, they too said the truck was too heavy.

I found some older threads from 2010 - 2014 where guys adapted the Mustang II rack in their projects, and even had some pictures, but not much detail on making the rack fit, and adapting the steering shaft to get past the frame and engine mount without severe joint angles or interference with headers etc.
None of the threads had any info on steering feel or if projects ever were completed and being driven.

Bumpsteer can be a concern too. From what I found , the distance between the inner tie rod pivot points on a mustang II rack is 22”. But the distance between the lower control arm pivot points on a 72C10 is 21”. I’m not certain if splitting the 1” difference so it’s 1/2” per side would be close enough to minimize the potential bump steer?
The cost of parts isn’t too bad but, a new rack, adjusting sleeves, tie rod ends, 2 or possibly 3 coupling joints, steering shaft support bearing and likely different motor mounts adds up when considering the end result may not be great .

My thoughts go back to the power rack and pinion from No Limit, and if it will work with 2.5” drop spindles…. It would be A total deviation from the original plan but the price was nice, and everything has been sorted out.
I still want to look into electric assist as well.

[sfont66]

For those that may find this thread in the future, and want to change out their front suspension for a complete kit, I found a few possibilities.

Southern Rods and parts sells a complete IFS and they offer the option of a manual rack and pinion .
Scott’s Hot Rods & Customs shows that they too offer a manual rack in one of their kits, they also can build you a custom IFS if you want.

And then QA1 , when I contacted them about their kit, said they don’t offer a manual rack, but if I wanted a manual rack for their kit , I should source one from
A 97-03 Dodge Dakota.
I should add that the QA1 kit is advertised to save 140# when compared to the stock front suspension.

So, there are some alternatives, I would want some feedback and reviews from those that have installed these kits, and have put some miles on their trucks in a variety of conditions before making a purchase.

[theastronaut]

Mustang 2 suspension is a massive downgrade from the 63-87 suspension, in terms of strength, geometry, and travel. The joints and components and brakes are all much smaller and IMO only suited for a lightweight car. They were ok on 2500 lb street rods 40 years ago but we've come a long way since then.


I'd go with the No Limit rack kit and an electric/hydraulic Volvo pump/reservoir setup, that way you could move the Volvo pump farther back and/or to the passenger side for better weight distribution and you could hide it under an inner fender to clean up the engine bay. Should be a decent amount less overall weight than a stock box style power steering setup- my Borgeson box isn't light at all.

If you're drag racing and it has enough power to pull the nose up you really don't want any toe changes caused by bump steer- that will make it get squirrely as the nose goes up and down, and the No Limit rack has that sorted out.

[sfont66]

Originally Posted by theastronaut

Mustang 2 suspension is a massive downgrade from the 63-87 suspension, in terms of strength, geometry, and travel. The joints and components and brakes are all much smaller and IMO only suited for a lightweight car. They were ok on 2500 lb street rods 40 years ago but we've come a long way since then.


I'd go with the No Limit rack kit and an electric/hydraulic Volvo pump/reservoir setup, that way you could move the Volvo pump farther back and/or to the passenger side for better weight distribution and you could hide it under an inner fender to clean up the engine bay. Should be a decent amount less overall weight than a stock box style power steering setup- my Borgeson box isn't light at all.

If you're drag racing and it has enough power to pull the nose up you really don't want any toe changes caused by bump steer- that will make it get squirrely as the nose goes up and down, and the No Limit rack has that sorted out.

I really like the Volvo electric/hydraulic pump suggestion, I must be living under a rock, I haven’t heard of this option before, and I’ve been playing with cars a long while.
Is there a preferred year or model that adapts the best or is more reliable?
I will definitely look into this, as this solution sounds very promising along with the No limit rack
Thanks again!

[litebulblsc]

This is the one I ran on my truck for a couple years

[sfont66]

Originally Posted by litebulblsc

This is the one I ran on my truck for a couple years

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it