I have an 89 firebird that I'm putting a 408ls with a 5 stage dry sump in. I modified my umi subframe to fit the dry sump pan and pump but now my idler arm interferes with the front of the pump. Does anybody know where i can get dropped idler and pitman arms? I would like to go to a steering rack but that's a lot further down the road at this point. I know flaming rivers just came out with a power steering rack but there are no reference photos and i don't want to drop that much money on a "maybe".

 

Moving the idler to drag link pivot down would require doing the same for the pitman arm. Those would require modifying the entire steering geometry

Much easier to move the pump up some

 

I've been looking for an equal drop to both but cant seem to find anything. that sad part is the pump is bolted to the pan and i cant relocate it. I've already modified my subframe to fit the pump and pan, the last hurdle is the steering. From the sounds of it a rack system may be my best bet. Turnone makes a late model steering rack, maybe ill reach out to them to see what they say, At the end of the day its just time and money i guess. If anyone has good reading material on steering geometry id appreciate it.

 

move the engine up.
leave the steering alone, fix the issue.

 

I'll play around with engine height then. can i just raise the side i have an issue with or should i raise is evenly?

 

You can move just one side up, certainly the amount that it looks like you need to move it (< 1"?). As long as "knowing that it's crooked" doesn't irritate you.