Saw in the new StreetRodder that an outfit named Maval is making a rack & pinion steering unit for solid axle street rods. http://www.mavalgear.com/UnisteerCustomCrossSteer.html Looks like they avoid bumpsteer problems by using only one arm of the rack and a conventional tie-rod. What advantage this might have over a Vega box is a little fuzzy to me. It's about the same price as Vega and you wouldn't have to buy a pitman arm so it might save a few bucks but otherwise why would this be a good idea?
It would be a good idea for them if they sold a few thousand of them (think bank deposit). Seriously though, it is just another way of turning the front wheels. It may be a little less bulky than a vega box if that makes a difference to you, and the steering ratio might be different. I looked at the product at Louisville this summer and talked to the people making it. They seemed knowledable and friendly but they were so busy when I was there I couldn't engage them in a technical discussion. I'm going to try one on the '32 roadster I'm building to check it out for myself. This car is being built to sell so I thought it would be a good candidate. I set the frame up for a Vega box and their mounting bracket is designed to bolt on in place of a Vega box. If it proves to be unsatisfactory all I have to do is unbolt it and substitute a Vega box and pitman arm. Frank
The Jalopy Journal
