power rack vs manual

jansen29 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-27-09, 12:22 PM

Hey everyone,

I have been wanting to change over my power rack to a manual rack and wonder how hard will will be to steer. I have already replaced the rag joint with a flaming river joint and I know that I will have to get another joint with the manual spline count. Just wondering if it will be worth the trouble, my power rack is worn out and is leaking bad.
thanks,
Jansen

$50COBRAII · #2 (**permalink**) 10-27-09, 07:13 PM

Very well done!

LILCBRA · #3 (**permalink**) 10-28-09, 05:58 PM

I converted mine when I rebuilt it basically for the same reason. I would say it depends on what you want to tolerate and how wide your tires are. My fronts are 175's, so mine is relatively easy to turn. Now if I had something like 235's, it might not be so easy.

LILCBRA · #4 (**permalink**) 10-28-09, 05:59 PM

Oh yeah, your steering wheel size can help or hurt too, so take that into account as well as tire size.

jansen29 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-28-09, 09:40 PM

I have 215 yoko's up front and a grant streeing wheel. One other thing is that I did the damage to my power rack by driving it with no fluid going thru it for a year. I couldn't get the pump to work right the march pulleys I have but I got it at last and now I trashed by rack.

54deuce · #6 (**permalink**) 10-29-09, 05:55 AM

I just did mine for weight savings and oil pan clearance. With the 225s I had on there and the car not in motion it was hard to turn the wheel, rolling its fine. I did run a power rack with out a pump for a few years I never had any troubles with it.

**78CobraII** · #7 (**permalink**) 10-29-09, 09:43 AM

I've never driven a 302 powered MII with non-assist steering, but my 2.3L powered one is not too bad. It will be fine once the car gets moving, but manouvering in tight spaces at low speeds will be a challenge.

The larger diameter your steering wheel is, the more leverage you will have to turn the car at low speeds. A 15" steering wheel will be good, a 13" wheel will be tough!

Jax Rhapsody · #8 (**permalink**) 11-08-09, 11:57 PM

Slow speeds will always be a problem regauerdless of steering wheel size.I used to work at Worldport aand drove the retired STepvans that had power brakes and that it about it. If you can deal with it, its a good way to free up some engine power.

**Blue coyote** · #9 (**permalink**) 11-09-09, 03:23 PM

i'll be swapping in a manual rack on the Rat Snake later this winter, but I drove for a while with the power rack disconnected (pump removed), 225/50R15's on the front, and a 14" Grant wheel.

When stopped, the steering is quite stiff, and even when moving, hitting the lip of the curb for a driveway got a bit snakey, but overall, I find it works fine...

HenriSoren · #10 (**permalink**) 11-09-09, 03:54 PM

Yeah, good job!

Volvo Heretic · #11 (**permalink**) 11-09-09, 06:35 PM

Sorry to butt in, but wouldn't it be nice to adapt-in a later model mustang 15:1 ratio rack instead of the 20:1 manual rack from AGR 012-712581 , say out of Jeg's Racing?
AGR Rack & Pinion - JEGS

I thought that I have read that the MII rack and the latter one's have the same 24.5" inner tie rod distance.

I have also read somewhere that there is a proportioning type valve that you could install to control the powersteering fluid flow and feel.

I could be totally wrong.