Now I know these are two topics not used alot here on this site!!but I am running into a number of issues with the steering box on the S10 clip in my fleetline.. looking for info on replacing it with a rack and pinion setup.I searched a few s10 sites but not much info other then what company to buy the rack from!! I looking to maybe use a late model Camaro rack.. anybody know of anybody that has done this??
There were a few posts here that talked about it...but its difficult due to the inner pivots being very close together and getting a rack that narrow is pretty much impossible. If it was rear steer you could modify a Cavalier rack (center pivot design)...but of course it isn't. Rad tight is it?
It's a question of geometry if you want it to handle properly. With the wheels straight ahead, the inner (rack end) tie rod pivots need to be on a line drawn through the inner "A" arm pivots of the upper and lower arms. Also, the height of the rack when mounted, and with the normal weight of the car resting on it's wheels, should be at a level that positions the tie rods at the same level/angle as the lower control arms. If you can find a front steer rack whose dimensions meet these criteria you can have a successful outcome. As you have been advised, there are places that sell racks dimensioned for this purpose. If you can't find a suitable stock rack, and can't or don't want to, spend the money for a properly setup rack, then you will only have two choices.....either don't convert to rack & pinion or install an improper rack and tolerate poor steering geometry and the resultant poor handling. Ray
I have an idea fitz....but its late, I'm tired and its most likely dumb. If you don't come up with something tomorrow, we'll discuss it lunch time Friday at the "Island Bar & Grill"....
Naaa...we're not wat wodding! Hahaha Seriously though...IF it must be done it has to be done in such a way that proper geometry is retained. Neither of us is into making a mess...there are always other ways around an issue. This is a tough one, but thats what makes things interesting sometimes...
It has been done. It says "Custom Narrowed Pinto Style Manual Rack" in the description. So, I guess, do that. http://www.trzmotorsports.com/s10.html
I put a number of racks in cars before.. so this is not new to me..I just tring to find out what racks work and if anybody has had trouble with racks in these frames. Bill yes I have trouble with fitting a rad in it ,my grill idea wont work as well as mounting a rad support..
There's a guy here in town that I was doing some work for on his old cars who wanted me to put an S-10 clip under his '50 sedan delivery. I told him I wouldn't touch it and tried to talk him out of it cause of the problems you are describing. Well somebody had told him that it was the way to go. He finally got somebody else to weld the clip onto his frame. He spend a month or two trying to get the front sheet metal and radiator problems sorted out. It now sets back on an original frame. Not trying to burst your bubble here but I hope you and others will see that this is not the way to go on these old Chevys. I put a Camaro clip on a 50 F1 a while back and it just barely worked but made a great driver out of the truck so late model clips to have a place. Just not on these Here's where you can buy the rack for the s-10 unisteer
I'm courious, How did you shorten the rack. I have never taken one apart, so im just asking. I bought my power rack a napa around $160 with new tie rod ends. MrC.
I new about these problems before I did this.. I did it cause the front end in mine was rusted out and his s10 was free!!
I can relate Fitzee I can make a 65 Mustang rad work but I am gonna try another rad I picked up recently in the 47....its even worse with the earlier style hood that comes to a point ...the other option is a manual box if you dont mind not having ps...when you get it figured out ya wanna come do mine ?!
Steve My problem is i have the S10 frame raised up front and there is little room between the top of the box and the hood also I want to do a floating grill and the box is in the way of that. Doing lots of research on racks so we will see what i come up with..keep you posted..
Found these two links for shortening a manual MII rack on google. Thought it might be good reading. http://www.webrodder.com/article.php?AID=393&SID=16&CID=11 http://www.webrodder.com/article.php?AID=394&SID=16&CID=11
He has it mocked up with a front drive mopar rack if I recall correctly, I think he started another thread, or its on the build thread for the Flatliner..
I did a Speedway rack on my S-10 chassis under my 40 Ford pickup years ago, drives great. Just keep the steering links running as close to the same angle as the lower control arm as possible.
which rack did you use as they offer a few. i'm trying to do a 38' ford truck with possible s-10 chassis and the box is in the way so how about some pictures that would really be killer!
Yes i ended up with using a rack from a mid 90s dodge. works great. and you use all the s10 center link and tie rods. still need to fine tune it but it works good.
did you shorten the rack?? I understand that the stock lenght rack will have problems with bump steer.
Thats what I found out when I looked up those racks for S10.. Now I havent got mine all figured out yet but so far it is working fine rolling around the shop.. we will see.lol
The Jalopy Journal
