1952-59 Ford 56 Vicky

Starting to get time to get back on the 56 and I anticipate more shop time as the weather turns cooler here....

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/56-ford-vicky-project.969325/#post-11142456

 

Very nice. Love how the front bumper changes the complete look of the front.

 

Sorry guys, no real update as of late. Been poking away at the body and mocking up a rack setup. Will post more as I get along...

 

Rack is in.

 

Was it a kit? or your doing? What is the rack ? been thinking of this myself.
Regards.
Al

 

Member Tedley and a good buddy of mine did this exact setup on his 50 shoebox build a few years ago. I have had the opportunity to drive his 50 a few times and it handles extremely well so I knew this is what I wanted to do. The rack is a early 90's Cavalier and the brackets I fabricated. I used the stock mounting holes on the frame from the removal of the octopus it had in it for the stock steering. Location and geometry are very critical but now that I look back it was a easy little project to do.

 

I've heard that the steering radius increases with rack and pinion, do you know if this is true? My 56 is bad enough with stock steering.

 

Yes this install is friendlier than put it in a shoebox but similar. Works great and i have no bumpsteer. Shouldn't be any in the 56 as well from what i see.

 

You will probably loose turning radius. But in my opinion it's a non issue unless your in a tight parking lot where you may have to do a 3 point turn. I just don't find it a problem. It's far better than see sawing down the highway with stock steering fighting a cross wind.

 

I lost some on my '57, but lock to lock is a whole lot less turns, so if ya gotta go back and forth a bit, it's tons easier.

 

Ooooo.. the '57 is similar to the '59. What did you use? I could go to the Borgeson box for less than $600 if I decided to go that route, but the rack is possibly a better option.

 

I used a kit from www.JTfabrications.com When I got mine 4 or 5 years ago, he was giving the '57forum members a discount, or at least free shipping. Price then was right about 1000 if I remember correctly. Excellent kit, fit great, I only had to modify the heims joint frame support bracket for the double d shafting. My steering column was in a slightly different location than normal instalations.
I don't know if it fits the '59 or if they know. Last time I checked, his website was down, but I can get you his contact info. His brother in law is a moderator on the '57fordsforever forum.
A big plus is not taking up the room a steering box takes up. It, like others uses a Cavalier rack.

 

Borgenson is a good choice, so is a good rack kit. I used a kit from www.stfabrications.com
Some things to consider...the B'son box is 600, but that leaves you with all the old rods/linkage components items to rebuild/replace...probably not to far from the 1000 I paid for the Rack and pinion kit (5 or 6 years ago)that replaces all that stuff.. All of the '57 guys that have reported on the ST fab. kit really like it and were impressed with quality and ease of instalation. I do not know if it fits a '59, nor do I know if they know. His brother in law is a moderator on the '57fordsforever forum. His R & P kit uses a Cavalier rack, and is similar in design to what Wurthit use to make, except better quality and 600. cheaper! (Rick Wurthit p***ed away a few years back).
Last time I checked, the ST website was down, I can get contact info if your interested...and pics.
Rack advantage:...leaves more room around exhaust manifolds, off the shelf Cavalier rack when needed, more modern system.
disadvantage: loses some turning radius.
I belive the Borgenson box has a quicker lock to lock as well.

 

kgdb, what am I looking at where your inner tie rods are connected to the rack?

 

Here is a better pic of the inner tie rods. This pic is the finished piece.

 

A few more picks

 

So you removed the ends from the tie rods and made a bushing to allow bolting them the plate?

 

I am not using the original inner tie rods. The inner tie rods I am using are the Cavalier ones.

 

I see. Thanks.

 

Looks nice and clean. Did you use Ford outer tierods and was the sleeve compatible with the cavalier inners?

 

Good question. How about it?

 

I scrounged through a ton of nos tie rods and found a set that would work. Unfortunately as of now I am not sure what they are actually for, when I do find out I will post. To make them work I had to machine the Cavalier tie rod connector on the outer tie rod side to the new tie rod thread.

 

What you do is use a piece of angle iron, or flat stock, drill holes to connect to the rack, then drill holes to connect the outer tie rod ends, and done. The outer tie rod ends are only about 1 foot apart in the middle.

 

I am contemplating the Cavalier rack for my 56, so what year Cavalier rack should I look for, or are they all alike? I can't find the brackets on fatmans site, does anyone else make them? Be nice if "kgdb" decided to make some for a sideline,lol, hint, hint.

 

Someone may correct me but I am not sure if fatman offered a kit for the 55/56? I know for the earlier fords they do / did. Those were weld in brackets and I would imagine if there was a kit for the 55/56 they would be weld in as well. I opted to do mine to bolt into the original frame holes. The rack parts are from a early 90's Cavalier (power rack). I am not sure what years that same system was used for on the Cavaliers but you should get a idea from rockauto site I would imagine. The parts I am using came from a 1990 model year. Cavalier parts are accessible new all over the place and seems to be the most popular center steer rack to use.

 

Just starting to do a detail and paint on the motor, just got the torque converter rebuilt with a higher stall. Will install the shift kit in the C6 then ****on it all up. Next I will paint the firewall and the power train can go in and stay in.

 

Unisteer makes a rack kit for the '56's
KGDB...your car is looking great!!

 

Just starting to do a detail and paint on the motor, just got the torque converter rebuilt with a higher stall. Will install the shift kit in the C6 then ****on it all up. Next I will paint the firewall and the power train can go in and stay in.

Thanks. Its a love hate relationship! lol

 

I am using a Fatman kit in my 55. Bolts in but they recommend welding when everything is fitted. They still make them.

 

Ok Thanks for the update. Do you have any pics?