Rack & PInion Install

[icebrrg3rd]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only welding that I saw of was the brackets that held on the R&P, right? The support with the spherical bearing was mounted in the holes left from the original steering unit, the tie-rods were attached normally, the tubes modified or flared & hose clamped, steering w/ u-joints, was that welded too?

Basically, if I hadn't come across this thread, I'd probably would have looked into it but put it further down on my list of mods. Oh, I haven't looked yet, but what's a ballpark on the cost, parts/material (self-installed)?

Thanks, Andrew

[Smiliesafari]

Out of pocket cost could be less than $300.00 if you are good at scrounging parts and can do the fabrication yourself. Only the return line can be clamped. The pressure line has to be a high pressure line with crimped fittings. It's a hybrid of a GM hose and a Ford hose. The best way to accomplish this is to silver solder the pump end of the GM hose onto the Ford hose. The rack end of the Ford hose has a non serviceable 'O' ring. The heat from the soldering would destroy the "O" ring rendering the fitting useless. The spherical ball mount is 1/4 x 2 flat stock. It's very solid as it should be. It mounts to the inside of the frame using two of the power steering box bolts. There is some welding done to make up the steering shaft. That is dependent on available parts. I have used a mix of stock pieces and have never made two alike. It might be easier to use Borgeson u-joints and shaft material but that would add to the expense. The only other welding is the rack mount brackets on the front of the crossmember.

[rlsllc]

I looked at the AWD subframe today, and it hit me; There's no crossmember under the engine to mount the rack to.
I'll get some pics of mine when I get the engine off of it. Maybe the rack could mount behind the heavy front member that is ahead of the axle.
I'll get pics, it will be easier. The pumpkin does look like it is small enough to have a straight line from spindle to spindle, tie rod mounts that is.

[Rebel]

Not sure this was mentioned or not earlier but you'll have to shave a little off the top of spindle arm where the tierod end connects, the Voyager tierod bolt was not long enough to run the nut down far enough to install cotter pin. Now this was on dropped spindles,,didn't check the factory clearence before thowing the 65 lbs. of crap in the trash.
Good luck on the install.

[icebrrg3rd]

Thanks for that tidbit, Rebel.

Right now I am currently on the lookout for a '91 TBI V8, so the R&P will be a later mod, but this thread is definitely helpful, and I have saved it. Thanks for the good info & advice.

-Andrew

[Astro-SS-V8]

I am just wondering.......would the r & p from a Caravan be useable......just thinking out loud...

[Smiliesafari]

Some things to consider:
1...The rack must be from a vehicle of close to equal weight of an Astro/Safari.
2...It must have a full 6 inches of travel.
3...It must be from a front steer vehicle. Rack mounted in front of axle.

[loopie]

What a great mod! First I've heard of it.

Just throwin this out there out of curiousity, and not that there would be any needed clearance on a street van....is there to room to mount the rack higher and have the tierods on top of the spindle rather than under?

[Rebel]

You may have the room. I'll have to check but something to keep in mind is the tierods need to be on same angle as upper control arms or at least very very close. Another problem is your taper will be wrong on your spindle. In other words,,the tierod end will not fit inside spindle if mounting from the top due to opposite taper of spindle. I'll have to check my notes on my statement concerning the upper control arms but I'm pretty sure of that. Has been some time since I did this mod. Skip will chime in here. He's the detail man on this deal and as far as I know, the first to add R&P to one of our vans.

[356redux]

I've been reading this thread and going back over it for some time now. So I pm'd Skip and asked for dimensions and such of the brackets. Asked a ton of questions too. Instead of just telling me what I wanted to know Skip was cool enough to come by my shop and show me the setup on his van. Needless to say, this mod has been moved up a lot closer to the top of my list. On another note, Skip was very cool to talk to. He's an old school car guy and from the look of things a pretty whiz bang mechanic too. Thanks Skip, I'm sure we'll be talking more soon. Just been really crazy at work. Please feel free to call on me for anything I can help you with.

[1Gary]

I've been reading this thread and going back over it for some time now. So I pm'd Skip and asked for dimensions and such of the brackets. Asked a ton of questions too. Instead of just telling me what I wanted to know Skip was cool enough to come by my shop and show me the setup on his van. Needless to say, this mod has been moved up a lot closer to the top of my list. On another note, Skip was very cool to talk to. He's an old school car guy and from the look of things a pretty whiz bang mechanic too. Thanks Skip, I'm sure we'll be talking more soon. Just been really crazy at work. Please feel free to call on me for anything I can help you with.

That Skip is for sure.That R&P on his van has been tested going to balloon fest's all across the US.

[Smiliesafari]

Yes sir......that R&P is still there and working perfectly. I've never had a problem and have never had to change a thing since I installed it. Of the several mods I've done to the "Smilie Van" the R&P is the one I like the most.
356redux......thanks. Let me know when you get ready for the R&P. I'll give you all the help you need.

[HPbyStan]

I'd forgotten about not leaving closure on this topic till I recommended someone to this thread the other day. The basic problem with my setup other than "pro" install not going well was the wrong R&P. As I went back over this a year or so ago I found the main problem was me. Instead of going an Auto Zone type place that knows what they are selling for my R&P, being the cheep a$$ that I am, I bought mine off of eBay and I still don't know what I bought at that time but it was way out of spec. Apologies all around... Stan

[mdmead]

I'd forgotten about not leaving closure on this topic till I recommended someone to this thread the other day. The basic problem with my setup other than "pro" install not going well was the wrong R&P. As I went back over this a year or so ago I found the main problem was me. Instead of going an Auto Zone type place that knows what they are selling for my R&P, being the cheep a$$ that I am, I bought mine off of eBay and I still don't know what I bought at that time but it was way out of spec. Apologies all around... Stan

Wow, impressive! I always thought it was strange you had problems when others did not. Glad to see an update on this. Takes great character to make a post like this.

[Smiliesafari]

Thank you, Stan. I too had wondered what the whole story was. Sorry yours didn't go well. Done correctly it really is a great mod. I have well over 100K miles on mine and it still works perfectly.