Hey Guys, kinda hoping someone may be able to offer up some advice on this one. We have a 1930's Ford Model Y special, which my dad is currently using, and the steering is, to say the least, a bit lively. The box has been rebuilt, which improved things and its now running panhard rods on both axles, but its still far from civilised. As its a daily driver, we've been toying with the idea of converting it to rack and pinion. Just wondered if anyone else here has had any experience with this sort of conversion on a transverse sprung front axle. Cheers, Joe
Joe, I've had several racks (typically a Dodge Omni model) on a beam axle and love the way they perform. I'll never go back to drag link or cross steering. In each case, the work was done by my brother, Richard. Visit his website at www.rchotrodworks.com and click on the "Tech" option from the menu bar. He's written an article that I think you might find helpful. In addition to that, I'm sure he'd be happy to answer questions, offer advice, etc via e-mail. Good luck!
This is exactly the sort of helpful advice I was hoping to find here! Brilliant guys, thanks. We were thinking a rack could be axle mounted, and have picked up a steering column from a 7.5 ton truck - its a tilt cab model, so the shaft extends a good 10" quite easily. Good to know we're heading in the right direction, all the people we've discussed this with before have been horrified by the idea! Thanks again guys! Joe
Garry, I went and checked out your bro's website and the Tech section. I can't quite make it out in the pics but it looks like the rack is mounted to the frame. I'm sure, due to all the description about collapsible column link, that it has to be an axle mounted rack. Is there's some extension off the tube axle / batwings back under the spring for the rack unit to mt. to? Can you clarify this or should I just email your bro? Thanks
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