I'm considering a rack & pinion for my "51 Stude" , anyone know who makes or made a rear steer R&C? Did they come in anything? Thanks guys!!!! From "WHITE FANG" in Hotlanta area.
Unless you are going to subframe or Mustang II it's probably not worth the effort . It's a lot of work and you still have the Stude suspension which was not exactly race ready to begin with . You didn't mention the body style , the heavier Commander maybe could use some help but the Champions aren't that bad IMO . You may be able to get a p/s box from a later 50's Stude that would fit fairly easily . Studebaker wasn't in a financial posistion to make a lot of changes so they kept using many of the same parts .
In the turning wheels studebaker club magazine, there was a article that the stude owner used a gm power rack and pinion set-up. he mounted it behind the front crossmember and also attached it to the crossmember with two inch flat bar. I will see if I can find the article..
the article says he used a 93 or 94 pontiac grand am power rack. he added a 2.5 inch heavy wall pipe and made a cross member to attach the rack to. he used two straight tie rod ends because each side of the pontiac was different. also used .025 in. shims to be able to tighten the tie rod ends all the way.the article was in turning wheels magazine june 2003.
Not exactly a good project for a novice. There is a lot of things to be considered before you just install a rack on to something. I have seen many rack installations that were just plain dangerous. Geometry plays a huge part here. Remember it is your life at the other end of that rack.
Yes, several Stude drivers have successfully used the GM small car center-steer rack conversion as mentioned above. No, to using a conventional rack with the arms on the ends with the OEM Stude suspension and steering arms - can you say BUMP STEER? I've driven a couple which were scary at speed. Maybe, you can DIY the center steer conversion. It isn't easy or safe for an amateur to attempt it. A cracked weld and you and a lot of other people could die. What is your level of skill and confidence in your welding and fabrication? Having driven Studes for many years, if everything in the suspension and steering is in new condition the OEM steering drives nearly as well as the R&P conversion. Don't expect it to transform a fifty-year-old car. thnx, jack vines
Subframe it. I have done a 61 Hawk with a GM sub frame. It gives you modern suspension, power steering. Disc brakes. and it drives and handles like a car should.
Why do you want to make this change? If the steering is too slow, change pitman arms. If it is too vague, check your slack in the linkage and in the box itself. If it is not powerful enough, consider a different tire, or change back to larger diameter wheel if it has been replaced. My 53' coupe is good for 137mph with no mods except removing 1.5 gyres from the springs. You may have a caster/camber situation that can be remedied. As may have been mentioned, other boxes may give different performance. Ross or Saginaw? If the problem is clearance, the mast may be removed or trimmed, and the box rotated downwards, then steering mast angle corrected with some borgeson joints. (Did this putting a 509" Cad in a 53').
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