Rack & PInion Install

ANYTHING TO DO WITH STEERING, FROM STOCK TO RACK AND PINION UPGRADES

Topic author
Rebel
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2009
Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:24 am
Location: Evergreen, Al. 96 mile marker, where life is slow and there are no rules.

Re: Rack & PInion Install

Post by Rebel »

That Skips the trick !!!!
89 Astro, 350 V-8, Shaved doors, Filled Slider, Corvette IRS, 94 Mustang GT Rack & Pinion(Thanks to Skip), Cad Tail lights from SoCalliV8 ( RIP) Miss you my friend.

VIDEO

Image





If you drive illegally, they take your driver's license. If you're here illegally, they want to give you one :)












Image





If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words
User avatar

icebrrg3rd
I am smitten with my van
Posts: 29
Joined: Mon Apr 12, 2010 12:05 pm
Location: Milwaukee, WI

Re: Rack & PInion Install

Post by icebrrg3rd »

Digging up this post again. Since my steering box is loose, and I will be mucking around installing a V-8 this spring, I figured now is as good of a time as any to do this mod. So Skip used a '98 Mustang rack and Rebel used a '94 (according to his sig), so I got that range of 'stangs to look for at least. I'll be grabbing a rack from the j/y, so other than the rack, do I grab the hoses and the steering shaft too? Is there any other parts I should grab from the donor?

Skip or Rebel, do you have a pic of just the rack mount welded on w/o the rack in place? I saw the pics of the mount in pieces and once it's all together and mounted, but none of just the mounts attached. I was just wondering on the exact placement of the mounts.

Thanks in advance, hope to have R&P installed soon.

-Andrew
81 Yamaha Maxim XJ650, Black & Green, 64k miles
83 Yamaha Venture 1200cc, White, 74k miles
91 Chevy Astro 2WD, 4.3L, Maroon, 229k miles
00 Dodge Grand Caravan, 3.8L, Blue, 145k miles

Topic author
Rebel
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2009
Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:24 am
Location: Evergreen, Al. 96 mile marker, where life is slow and there are no rules.

Re: Rack & PInion Install

Post by Rebel »

Andrew,,,,good luck on the mod. No,,I don't have any pics of mounts only installed,,just the parts pic and after install. On your hoses,,,you'll have to go from a Ford to GM fitting which all I did was cut the Ford tubing and soldered the GM fitting on that goes to pump. You won't need any other Ford parts from donor car that I remember,,,isn't that right Skip. Think it's mentioned,,,you'll need to take the stops out of each end of the rack,,small plastic round pieces if I remember correctly which will allow more turn radius that is needed. You'll also need to shave the top of the spindle arm to allow room for tie rod end to be installed. Good luck and other than that,,,think that's about it.
89 Astro, 350 V-8, Shaved doors, Filled Slider, Corvette IRS, 94 Mustang GT Rack & Pinion(Thanks to Skip), Cad Tail lights from SoCalliV8 ( RIP) Miss you my friend.

VIDEO

Image





If you drive illegally, they take your driver's license. If you're here illegally, they want to give you one :)












Image





If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words

nog00der
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Mar 26, 2013 10:48 pm

Re: Rack & PInion Install

Post by nog00der »

anybody have a copy of smiliesafari's instruction sheet for this? im trying to investigate whether or not i can do this on an AWD. figured that sheet is a good place to start.
03 GMC Safari AWD
69 Harley Shovelhead
73 Triumph TR5 MX thumper
69 Triumph Bonneville
50 Triumph Thunderbird
I always have a skateboard nearby

Topic author
Rebel
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2009
Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:24 am
Location: Evergreen, Al. 96 mile marker, where life is slow and there are no rules.

Re: Rack & PInion Install

Post by Rebel »

Think most all is on this thread and not an instruction sheet out there for this mod. All is scattered through this thread as we went through this mod.
89 Astro, 350 V-8, Shaved doors, Filled Slider, Corvette IRS, 94 Mustang GT Rack & Pinion(Thanks to Skip), Cad Tail lights from SoCalliV8 ( RIP) Miss you my friend.

VIDEO

Image





If you drive illegally, they take your driver's license. If you're here illegally, they want to give you one :)












Image





If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words

astrozam
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 2770
Joined: Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:57 am
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: Rack & PInion Install

Post by astrozam »

This mod was a classic Larry, from the golden era of ASV... :cheers:

Topic author
Rebel
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2009
Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:24 am
Location: Evergreen, Al. 96 mile marker, where life is slow and there are no rules.

Re: Rack & PInion Install

Post by Rebel »

Keith,,,,you're to kind but have to give credit to our man Skip down in the Sunshine State. He birthed this idea and was the first and my teacher. Miss the ol days,,,,do ya hear from Darren on the left side ?
89 Astro, 350 V-8, Shaved doors, Filled Slider, Corvette IRS, 94 Mustang GT Rack & Pinion(Thanks to Skip), Cad Tail lights from SoCalliV8 ( RIP) Miss you my friend.

VIDEO

Image





If you drive illegally, they take your driver's license. If you're here illegally, they want to give you one :)












Image





If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words

astrozam
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 2770
Joined: Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:57 am
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: Rack & PInion Install

Post by astrozam »

Rebel wrote:Keith,,,,you're to kind but have to give credit to our man Skip down in the Sunshine State. He birthed this idea and was the first and my teacher. Miss the ol days,,,,do ya hear from Darren on the left side ?
Yep, full credit to Skip didn't mean to leave him out. Darren and I stay in touch thru FB and email...he seems to be doing well for himself and having fun. He mentioned he would be back to ASV

nog00der
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Mar 26, 2013 10:48 pm

Re: Rack & PInion Install

Post by nog00der »

ok, so is there a certain set of years of mustang R&P that i should be looking for? i keep crawling around under the van and can see no reason at this time why this wouldnt be doable on an AWD.
03 GMC Safari AWD
69 Harley Shovelhead
73 Triumph TR5 MX thumper
69 Triumph Bonneville
50 Triumph Thunderbird
I always have a skateboard nearby
User avatar

mdmead
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 2153
Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 6:45 pm
Location: Selah, WA
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: Rack & PInion Install

Post by mdmead »

nog00der wrote:ok, so is there a certain set of years of mustang R&P that i should be looking for? i keep crawling around under the van and can see no reason at this time why this wouldnt be doable on an AWD.
You would be the first (at least on this board) to do an AWD rack & pinion install... and many of us will be watching.
Matt
Selah, WA
-96 GMC Safari AWD Hi-Top Conversion -->Stalled 5.3L swap & 5" lift
-74 Ford Bronco -->Far from perfect but mine!
-99 V-10 Ford Super Duty Super Cab 4x4 -->Stock with 285 Cooper ATs
-00 Ford Focus Wagon -->The Red Turd
-95 Ford 24' Class C Motorhome -->My big block sleeper
-07 Can-Am Outlander XT -->My yellow 4x4 quad for work & play
-04 Ski Doo REV Summit -->Still several chassis behind!


No new projects until the current ones are done!

nog00der
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Mar 26, 2013 10:48 pm

Re: Rack & PInion Install

Post by nog00der »

well im just sick of buying pitman arms. although this will prolly have to wait until i figure out if i can make some custom CV axles to work, with real inner CV joints. gonna check out some 930 CV joints at my local off road shop and try to mate them to the inner shaft...
03 GMC Safari AWD
69 Harley Shovelhead
73 Triumph TR5 MX thumper
69 Triumph Bonneville
50 Triumph Thunderbird
I always have a skateboard nearby

Topic author
Rebel
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2009
Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:24 am
Location: Evergreen, Al. 96 mile marker, where life is slow and there are no rules.

Re: Rack & PInion Install

Post by Rebel »

I followed Skip's lead on choice but I went with 94 GT unit and if not mistaken,,,the GT unit has a wider turn radious but still need to remove the plastic stops from inside each end which will give you required radious/
89 Astro, 350 V-8, Shaved doors, Filled Slider, Corvette IRS, 94 Mustang GT Rack & Pinion(Thanks to Skip), Cad Tail lights from SoCalliV8 ( RIP) Miss you my friend.

VIDEO

Image





If you drive illegally, they take your driver's license. If you're here illegally, they want to give you one :)












Image





If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words

photo_van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 592
Joined: Wed May 18, 2011 4:38 pm
Location: 7000' in the Mountains of California
Been thanked: 3 times

Re: Rack & PInion Install

Post by photo_van »

Smiliesafari wrote:Some things to consider:
1...The rack must be from a vehicle of close to equal weight of an Astro/Safari.
Just starting to think out loud here (dangerous I know!) about R&P on my AWD. My immediate concern is whether the Mustang unit and the Voyager tierods will hold up to off road abuse and large tires?

Also wondering if the inner tierod ends will have enough articulation for full travel of the suspension.

and does a Mustang really weigh as much as an astro? What's in those things??
1998 AWD/4WD
4" lift, 31x10.50's, NP 242j/c hybrid, 4.10 gears, S10 front disconnect, rack & pinion steering, trans cooler, rock sliders, ARB fridge, house battery and 100w solar, swing out rear rack with foldout camp table, bed and passenger swivel chair
dirt bag camping rig
1981 Toyota 4x4 pu
1974 John Deere 710

Captn. Crunch
I sleep in my van
Posts: 557
Joined: Wed Feb 01, 2012 12:10 pm
Location: southeastern ct
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Rack & PInion Install

Post by Captn. Crunch »

photo_van wrote:
Smiliesafari wrote:Some things to consider:
1...The rack must be from a vehicle of close to equal weight of an Astro/Safari.
Just starting to think out loud here (dangerous I know!) about R&P on my AWD. My immediate concern is whether the Mustang unit and the Voyager tierods will hold up to off road abuse and large tires?

Also wondering if the inner tierod ends will have enough articulation for full travel of the suspension.

and does a Mustang really weigh as much as an astro? What's in those things??
You just keep thinking out loud my friend! I can tell you this for certain, if I was RWD I would be R&P for sure. That is such a boss mod. Yes that was a nod to the 'Stang.
1994 gt curb wt 3452lbs
1999 GMC Safari curb wt 4428lbs
Captn. Crunch
"I don't beat my rig-I use it to it's maximum potential"
1994 Safari conversion (sold) and miss'n it!
1999 Safari SLE AWD junked
2003 GMC Safari AWD SLT
cast iron Torsen equipped front diff
S-10 leafs-G80 rear w/3.73’s
2” body lift w/Falken Wildpeak AT’s

photo_van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 592
Joined: Wed May 18, 2011 4:38 pm
Location: 7000' in the Mountains of California
Been thanked: 3 times

Re: Rack & PInion Install

Post by photo_van »

how about keeping it in the family with a R&P from a 1500 Silverado or Express? 4463 pounds and our tierod ends "might" just screw right on. May have to shorten the tierods some. http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detai ... &ppt=C0031
1998 AWD/4WD
4" lift, 31x10.50's, NP 242j/c hybrid, 4.10 gears, S10 front disconnect, rack & pinion steering, trans cooler, rock sliders, ARB fridge, house battery and 100w solar, swing out rear rack with foldout camp table, bed and passenger swivel chair
dirt bag camping rig
1981 Toyota 4x4 pu
1974 John Deere 710
Post Reply