Suspension and Chassis Questions about your suspension? Need chassis advice?

Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-01-2016, 07:08 PM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
tvc 15's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Black Hills
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 88 rs
Engine: ls1
Transmission: t56
Axle/Gears: moser 4:10
Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

Old 02-02-2016, 12:03 AM
  #2  
Member

 
RocketyMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Washington-state
Posts: 369
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: '96 Camaro-Vsux -- SOLD, '84 Z/28
Engine: 3.8L, 305 SBC
Transmission: 4L60E, T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.08s, 3.23s
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

That's kind of neat. Does it run off the stock hydraulic pump on the accessory belt? Have any other pictures too?
Old 02-02-2016, 12:58 AM
  #3  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (25)
 
Twin_Turbo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Enschede, Netherlands
Posts: 5,357
Received 42 Likes on 33 Posts
Car: 82 TA 87 IZ L98 88 IZ LB9 88 IZ L98
Engine: 5.7TBI 5,7TPI 5.0TPI, 5,7TPI
Transmission: T5, 700R4, T5, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.08, 3.27, 3.45, 3.27
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

More details please! End take off R&P, what brand is this? I like that it nicely clears that LS swap, I need a ton more clearance on one of mine because of a large stroke crank and deeper sump. I was thinking about extending the pitman arm but this is a whole lot nicer.
Old 02-02-2016, 01:13 AM
  #4  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (10)
 
blacksunshine'91's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Moorpark, CA
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 0
Received 138 Likes on 98 Posts
Car: '91 GTA, '92 T/A Convertible
Engine: GTA: 350 w/Vortec heads, T/A: 305
Transmission: Pro-built 700R4
Axle/Gears: GTA: 3.27, T/A: 2.73
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

I assume that it is not the one that is sold at Hawk's, correct?
Old 02-02-2016, 06:04 AM
  #5  
Member

 
Dreambird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Myrtle Beach SC
Posts: 181
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Car: 1992 Pontiac Trans Am Convertible
Engine: 6.0l LQ4
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.73 True Trac
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

Ditto more info please
Old 02-02-2016, 12:48 PM
  #6  
Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Amillionoh7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: South TX
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Car: 92 RS
Engine: Sbc With h/c/i/e holly4150
Transmission: 700r
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

I have a couple of 2011+ F150 electric racks I want to fab one up for my car.
Old 02-02-2016, 12:56 PM
  #7  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (8)
 
TTOP350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Il
Posts: 11,694
Received 746 Likes on 505 Posts
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

Interesting
Old 02-02-2016, 09:02 PM
  #8  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (5)
 
Thirdgen89GTA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicagoland Suburbs
Posts: 5,844
Received 212 Likes on 160 Posts
Car: 1989 Trans Am GTA
Engine: LT1, AFR 195cc, 231/239 LE cam.
Transmission: M28 T56
Axle/Gears: 3.23 10bolt waiting to explode.
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

Interesting. I remember a ton of the other retrofits gave up steering angle to make it work I think. Which made the turning radius horrible, and its already 39ft stock.
Old 02-02-2016, 09:19 PM
  #9  
Member
Thread Starter
 
tvc 15's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Black Hills
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 88 rs
Engine: ls1
Transmission: t56
Axle/Gears: moser 4:10
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

It's a racing rack from Flaming River, but everything else is hand made. It requires short spindle arms to get full turn.


Old 02-02-2016, 09:26 PM
  #10  
Member
Thread Starter
 
tvc 15's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Black Hills
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 88 rs
Engine: ls1
Transmission: t56
Axle/Gears: moser 4:10
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.


Spindle.

Last edited by tvc 15; 02-02-2016 at 09:33 PM. Reason: No picture.
Old 02-02-2016, 11:42 PM
  #11  
Member

 
RocketyMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Washington-state
Posts: 369
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: '96 Camaro-Vsux -- SOLD, '84 Z/28
Engine: 3.8L, 305 SBC
Transmission: 4L60E, T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.08s, 3.23s
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

Oh Cool! How much does the whole unit weigh? Possible weight savings??

Last edited by RocketyMan; 02-03-2016 at 11:53 PM.
Old 02-03-2016, 12:03 AM
  #12  
Member

 
Dreambird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Myrtle Beach SC
Posts: 181
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Car: 1992 Pontiac Trans Am Convertible
Engine: 6.0l LQ4
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.73 True Trac
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

Originally Posted by tvc 15
It's a racing rack from Flaming River, but everything else is hand made. It requires short spindle arms to get full turn.



What P/N rack did you get? where did you get the bracket that attaches to the rack and the tie rods (Black part)? Was it a kit? I didn't see a setup like yours in the racing racks section? How much of the steering arms did you remove to get the full turn radius? Sorry for so many questions but that is really cool! would love to see some more build picts.
Old 02-03-2016, 12:16 AM
  #13  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (25)
 
Twin_Turbo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Enschede, Netherlands
Posts: 5,357
Received 42 Likes on 33 Posts
Car: 82 TA 87 IZ L98 88 IZ LB9 88 IZ L98
Engine: 5.7TBI 5,7TPI 5.0TPI, 5,7TPI
Transmission: T5, 700R4, T5, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.08, 3.27, 3.45, 3.27
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

OK, why does it need shorter steering knuckles? With an end take off you are pretty loose in where you place the tie rod ends on the center mount, you can easily taylor spacing and height. I do not see why on earth you would need shorter arms unless it has very short travel. From the looks of the harmonica boots it probably has. With an ETO you can have a much wider rack than that as rack width is not a real issue, it's just a packaging issue not a geometry issue.

It does look like a quality install, just not too fond of mig welded ends on cast spindles. Ddi you get it all x rayed?
Old 02-03-2016, 05:57 AM
  #14  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (8)
 
TTOP350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Il
Posts: 11,694
Received 746 Likes on 505 Posts
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

With the way all the racks are designed, (short travel) they need that shorter spindle knuckle to keep the stockish turning radius.

I have friends that weld to cast all the time. Its ok as long as you know how and what to use.
Old 02-03-2016, 06:29 AM
  #15  
Member

 
LX_SS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Car: 85 Firebird C&C T-Top
Engine: 347ci LS1
Transmission: 4L60E LS1
Axle/Gears: BW 9 Bolt Posi,3.27,C5+VE Brakes
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

When i measure up the rack travel of stock spindles it came to 7 inches, the only cto rack i could find with the travel required was : http://retrorack.com.au/indiv-retror...d-lhd-ausfscto
Obviously the rhd version for me, but it was just too pricey for me to get.
Old 02-03-2016, 08:00 AM
  #16  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (5)
 
Thirdgen89GTA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicagoland Suburbs
Posts: 5,844
Received 212 Likes on 160 Posts
Car: 1989 Trans Am GTA
Engine: LT1, AFR 195cc, 231/239 LE cam.
Transmission: M28 T56
Axle/Gears: 3.23 10bolt waiting to explode.
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

Originally Posted by LX_SS
When i measure up the rack travel of stock spindles it came to 7 inches, the only cto rack i could find with the travel required was : http://retrorack.com.au/indiv-retror...d-lhd-ausfscto
Obviously the rhd version for me, but it was just too pricey for me to get.
Yeah, holy crap.

Would be interesting if someone made a drop spindle with shorter arms. Would make rack conversions much more popular.
Old 02-05-2016, 09:24 AM
  #17  
Member
Thread Starter
 
tvc 15's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Black Hills
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 88 rs
Engine: ls1
Transmission: t56
Axle/Gears: moser 4:10
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

With regards to twin turbo. There was no need to x-ray the spindles because no welding was done to the iron.
Old 02-05-2016, 09:36 AM
  #18  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (25)
 
Twin_Turbo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Enschede, Netherlands
Posts: 5,357
Received 42 Likes on 33 Posts
Car: 82 TA 87 IZ L98 88 IZ LB9 88 IZ L98
Engine: 5.7TBI 5,7TPI 5.0TPI, 5,7TPI
Transmission: T5, 700R4, T5, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.08, 3.27, 3.45, 3.27
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

Oh I see it now, it's sort of a sleeve that's bolted on. Nifty
Old 02-05-2016, 10:06 AM
  #19  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (24)
 
Pocket's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NC
Posts: 7,890
Likes: 0
Received 59 Likes on 43 Posts
Car: 92 Firebird
Engine: Supercharged 6.0
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 8.8 3.73
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

Looks nice. Id get longer bolts where the tierod connects to the spindle. Rule of thumb is 1/2 the diameter of the bolt must extend past the nut. Looks like it stops just as it touches the nylon, so its locking aspect is lost completely as well. Drilling through for a cotter pin or other mechanical lock wouldnt be a bad idea either
Old 02-05-2016, 12:04 PM
  #20  
Member
Thread Starter
 
tvc 15's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Black Hills
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 88 rs
Engine: ls1
Transmission: t56
Axle/Gears: moser 4:10
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

The bolts in the pic were not used. For those interested in more details there are so many mods that have to be done to make this work. Obviously the spindles must be shorter to get full turn and to keep the ratio fast. The others are my motor is moved back 2 inch's. I doubt a motor in stock position would work. I also have a under drive balancer to get the rack high enough. Everything about this conversion you don't have enough space. I'm sure that's why no one makes a kit for them.
Old 02-05-2016, 04:25 PM
  #21  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (9)
 
84 1LE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oyth
Posts: 6,181
Received 316 Likes on 259 Posts
Car: 89RS vert
Engine: Erod
Transmission: 4L65e
Axle/Gears: BW, 3.27
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

How about who use the low mounted AC comp.The tie rod nut just rubs unless the idler arm is lowered a bit.I know there's no idler arm/tie rod or compressor, but anything of a sort like that with this set up?
Old 02-10-2016, 04:23 PM
  #22  
Senior Member

 
83RDRACR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 649
Likes: 0
Received 32 Likes on 25 Posts
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

TVC, thanks for the email to check this out. That was the rack that gave me the idea to fixing my problem of the rack interfering with the damper on my build. Both of our cars have extensive mods, yours has the engine setback and custom steering arms and mine has the wheelbase moved 5" forward and 4th gen spindles. All that and we still have clearance issues with the rack. I see on flaming river that your rack is very similar to the onr they use in there 2nd gen camaro kits. Also they list a XL rack that has 6" of travel and a custom make to order road race rack. All 3 of these would be possibilities for a 3rd gen swap but still a lot of fabrication and expense.

As always great work and craftsman ship from you.

Dave
Old 04-01-2016, 08:18 AM
  #23  
Member

 
prossi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 197
Received 9 Likes on 5 Posts
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

no more sway bar??
Old 04-13-2016, 06:29 PM
  #24  
Member
Thread Starter
 
tvc 15's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Black Hills
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 88 rs
Engine: ls1
Transmission: t56
Axle/Gears: moser 4:10
Re: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.

The sway bar was not on in that pic. But the sway bar is one of the things that makes the rack such a tight fit. At full lock the end of the rack just misses the sway bar.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
project89
Problems / Help / Suggestions / Comments
4
06-13-2008 09:48 PM
Stekman
Problems / Help / Suggestions / Comments
1
03-15-2005 11:09 AM
breathment
Problems / Help / Suggestions / Comments
4
08-09-2002 11:51 PM
breathment
Problems / Help / Suggestions / Comments
12
03-26-2002 12:20 AM
un4givin89
Problems / Help / Suggestions / Comments
1
03-15-2002 11:43 AM



Quick Reply: Power rack and pinion on a thirdgen.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:43 AM.