Mustang II manual rack extender

Trying to install 2” rack extender on my mustang II rack. I don’t have the extender yet. Was thinking of machining one. My inner tie rods have a jam nut against ball socket of tie rod end and when removed there is a spring and cup in end of rack that keeps ball tight in socket. The tie rods I have seen with extenders just screw into extenders and then extenders in to rack. I have 2 racks like this. What am I missing? Do I need to buy a new tie rod end to use the available extenders? Thanks for any help with this.

 

Here come the word cops !!!

 

This should be on the off topic forum.

I'm sure the moderators will move it.

 

You don't lengthen the tie rod you are using the extensions to lengthen the rack and in turn move the pivot points of the inner tie rod out. I guess if you had a good lathe and were a good machinist you could machine the extension but for most of us who could do it and I can't one would have to figure out if time spent on the project was better than buying the kit and doing something more productive with that time especially if car building time is tight. I used to have a buddy who had a hot rod shop who would spend five hours making a part that you could buy for 15 dollars that he probably didn't charge 25 for making it just because he wanted to make as many parts as he could who also couldn't grasp the concept of why he wasn't getting work done and out the door in a timely fashion.

Still on an independent front end to have it work right and steer right the inner pivot points of the tie rods have to be the same distance apart as the pivot points of the lower control arm. Longer or shorter to any degee will cause handling issues. Unless you are widening the crossmember for a wider chassis you may be causing some issues that you won't like and be another in the "Mustang II doesn't steer right in an old car" club.

 

I don't want to start a controversy but I found that the stock mustang II tie rods are too short for perfect geometry. I found this when I needed to widen one a couple of inches.
I ended up putting Granada tie rod ends in, they are about an inch or so longer each and bolt on to the mustang (pinto) parts. This was several decades ago and so I don't remember the exact measurements.
It turned out to be an inexpensive and easy way to get a wider track.
I had no handling issues with the set up.