Rack and pinion front end question

[TATTOO2131]

Anyone out there ever put in a crown vic rack and pinion front end on a 65 truck/panel/sub. Have the opportunity to get one while I am doing a complete teardown. Can also get the rear end with disc brakes out of the same crown vic that was a cop car. Any infinite wisdom on the matter??

[Captainfab]

No Limit Engineering makes a rack and pinion conversion for the '63-'87 trucks. I don't know which rack they use, but you might check into it. You might try a search in the Suspension section.

It seems line another '60-'66 member fab'd his own conversion, I just don't remember who it was.

[TATTOO2131]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

No Limit Engineering makes a rack and pinion conversion for the '63-'87 trucks. I don't know which rack they use, but you might check into it. You might try a search in the Suspension section.

It seems line another '60-'66 member fab'd his own conversion, I just don't remember who it was.

I saw a crown victoria suspension put on a ford f100 on Utube, Basic same frame set up as older chevy. I can get a complete functional crown vic for almost nothing. Looks to me like a torch and a welder and the sky is the limit. If I get it and start the fab I will keep posted with picks.

[tincan1966]

My rack and pinion for my 'Burb uses a Mustang/T-Bird rack('84-'88) I think most of the kits use these, as well, but not sure.
I made my own mounting/crossmember and used 2" extended tie rod ends. I did have to re-taper my spindle holes for the tie rod ends, but that was not complicated.

[mlevario99]

Tattoo2131 I installed the front suspension out of a 2003 crown vic in a 76 F100, and I was contemplatting the same for a 66 chevy that I have, but I believe that I measure the width of the fames and the F100 is wider than the chevy 66. I am sure that you can fab some plates to attached it to the frame.

[bmur66]

On the Fast and Loud TV series they put a CV front end on a Dodge pickup. The problem with the Dodge was that the frame rail was not parallel with the floor so they had to do some fabrication to have a flat, parallel mounting point so the castor etc.. would be correct. Not sure how a Chevy frame is in that regard but if you can fabricate it shouldn't be a problem. It's a nice setup thats for sure.

[TATTOO2131]

Originally Posted by mlevario99

Tattoo2131 I installed the front suspension out of a 2003 crown vic in a 76 F100, and I was contemplatting the same for a 66 chevy that I have, but I believe that I measure the width of the fames and the F100 is wider than the chevy 66. I am sure that you can fab some plates to attached it to the frame.

Yea, the Chevy is approx 30" across and the Crown Vic front end is 36" across, wheel base OD is same as the Chevy. No big deal, bring each side of the frame out 3" with some 3x6 square tube steal, reinforce, weld a plate down on lower frame for the rear supports, Drill a couple holes, bada boom bada bang it's in. Yea right! if only its going to be that easy. We will find out and will keep posted probably in the suspension section. Thanks for the input. It is a nice looking front end though compared to the Mustang. Mustang was my second choice if I couldn't make this work.. Cool thing is it comes with its own cross member.

[TATTOO2131]

Originally Posted by bmur66

On the Fast and Loud TV series they put a CV front end on a Dodge pickup. The problem with the Dodge was that the frame rail was not parallel with the floor so they had to do some fabrication to have a flat, parallel mounting point so the castor etc.. would be correct. Not sure how a Chevy frame is in that regard but if you can fabricate it shouldn't be a problem. It's a nice setup thats for sure.

Yea, that episode is playing again on the 19th, going to watch and learn. LOL

[Captainfab]

I just remembered that there is an old member here that put either the rear or both front and rear suspension, under his truck. I believe was out of a T-Bird? It was a IRS IIRC. I'll have to see if I can find his build thread.

Edit: Here's that thread I was talking about:

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...ird+IRS&page=3