Updates on Rack & Pinion kits???

[Snail50]

I've been reading through the archived threads and it seems that the old concensus was that Flaming River's R&P kit wasn't up to snuff because of design/engineering shortcomings.

I couldn't find any recent posts about the topic, so I'm wondering if FR has gotten their act together and produced a decent kit.

There was an article in the last Mustangs & Fords in which they install the FR R&P in a 69 (?) Mustang. The install seemed very straightforward, but the article only included the installation, and did not say anything about how the unit actually worked upon completion. The article didn't mention if there were fitment & quality issues (I doubt the magazine would say anything negative about one of their advertisers, even if the R&P kit was proven to cause cancer or erectile dysfunction).

Has anyone on here done a R&P conversion recently, or know of a site where I could find current info on this??

has Randall's Rack proven to be superior to the FR kit? Have any new R&P players appeared? Any new info, preferably personal experience, is appreciated.

Last night I adjusted some of teh slack out of my stock steering box, and although it feels somewhat improved, I know it's just a bandaid. Now I'm trying to choose between doing just the FR steering box switch or doing a full R&P conversion.

THanks.

 

[The Dan]

My 65 FB is in right now getting a TCP rack & pinion installed...well sorta. The story is like this.

I ordered the TCP power R&P on Sept. 1st. I was told it would be between 2-4 weeks to get it. I ordered the kit with the KRC pump, so I dropped about $2,800 on this set up. You think you'd get good service spending that kind of dough. Here's what it's been. I received the pump and hoses right away, about a week. Last week they finally shipped my rack, so I'm thinking great, because this whole time my car has been in the shop with the stock steering removed waiting for these parts. The rack comes and I discover that the shaft kit and U joints aren't with it. So I call and they, TCP, tell me those parts are still back ordered and they don't know when they'll be in. And to top all that off they charged my card on Sept. 1st when I placed the order and again last Thursday when they shipped the rack. Supposedly they have credited back the card, so I'll be checking my account daily to make sure. 3 times I have called them with questions in which their respone was "we'll call you right back", you guessed it not once have they actually called me back. So, if your looking at R&P from TCP order now so you'll have it for X-mas.

On a brighter note, the unit is a beautiful piece. Should look good under the car.

I'll let you know if it handles as good as it looks, but from what I've heard and read, the power R&P from TCP is very nice.

 

[dolfan87]

I just yesterday finished getting the bearing retainer/steering column assembled on my power TCP unit.

What a freakin nightmare. Everything was going along just fine until I tried to fit the retainer to the bottom of the column. Retainer was way way to small, and I had to do some serious grinding.

I then tapped it onto the end of the column to drill the holes for the screws, and when I went to pull it off, it wouldn't budge.

Long story short, I would up making a tool to get everything apart, grinding even more, and finally after hours of re-working the thing, it now fits.

I have to say, the rack itself was easy to install, and looks awesome. Now that the column is done, the rest is a piece of cake.

I have had no experience with Randalls, or Flaming River, but aside from the bearing retainer nightmare, the TCP unit is pretty cool.

I would love to hear from both the F.R. people and the Randalls folks as well.

87

 

[Snail50]

thanks for the replies. anyone else?

 

[Håkan]

Here´s the latest news from Sweden about the two prototypes I´ve developed:

http://www.vikingmustang.com/News_02.asp

http://www.vikingmustang.com/65R&P.asp

I´ve started production of the powerassisted unit for the northern Europe market. US will hopefully follow if everything works out.

 

[iamlance]

Hey Dolfan 87 , are you installing the rack as it is intended for?? If so , after reading your troubles , it doesnt sound too well engineered. I still can not figure out why no one has done the Fatman kit. I realize you get a bunch of scrap metal and have to add the major componants yourself , but you end up with an off the shelf rack , tilt steering , late model Mustang suspension and brakes and all for $3K or less depending on how carefully you shop. I spoke to some old time hot rodders over the weekend who are familiar with Fatman , and they all said that their products were well engineered. I am very tempted to try this kit out , but would definately like some feedback from someone whose seen , done or driven a completed car. Maybe American Hot Rod will do a rack on Friday night ???????

 

[one2gamble]

because the aussie kit is better

hakan, it look interesing but I noticed you had to tweak the header a bit...whats up with that?

 

[dolfan87]

Hey Dolfan 87 , are you installing the rack as it is intended for?? If so , after reading your troubles , it doesnt sound too well engineered. I still can not figure out why no one has done the Fatman kit. I realize you get a bunch of scrap metal and have to add the major componants yourself , but you end up with an off the shelf rack , tilt steering , late model Mustang suspension and brakes and all for $3K or less depending on how carefully you shop. I spoke to some old time hot rodders over the weekend who are familiar with Fatman , and they all said that their products were well engineered. I am very tempted to try this kit out , but would definately like some feedback from someone whose seen , done or driven a completed car. Maybe American Hot Rod will do a rack on Friday night ???????

Yes, I ordered the kit specifically for my 70 Mach. These cars are all so old, and probably vary in tolerances. I just feel bad for the guy who doesn't have access to the tools I have trying to deal with these problems.

Like I said, the stuff looks and works great once you get over some of the hurdles.

87

 

[Håkan]

hakan, it look interesing but I noticed you had to tweak the header a bit...whats up with that?

Please note that I am showing prototypes!

It´s a 351W (=tight) in the ´65 convertible I put the manual prototype on. As I did the install in cooperation with a commercial shop I was also working under time pressure and it was easier/less time consuming to modify the header. I used a modified SAAB rack & pinion and the design of that also forced me to put it centered under the car and to make a cross bar/centerlink with no built in offset.

The offset built in to the cross bar/centerlink (like on the powerassisted version I´ve made) is to make it possible to make the intermediate shaft clear the header and to also make it possible to use the original tie rods.

All units I am producing now will clear headers!

 

[Grt_Ape]

Sorry about the delayed reply, been off the forum for a while. Here's my experience with Flaming River:

I purchased the FR rack and tilt coulmn kit in April 2004 (FR300-65PL). Turns out there was a gap of about 1/2 inch between each sleeve and the outer tie rod. I guess they didn't realize dimensions changed in 67. FR agreed to replace my rack with their new model made for headers (more expensive than mine) at no additional cost (FR300-65 SBH). Only PIA was having to now remove the incorrect rack and cradle and reinstall the new unit. Got it and it installed fine in August.

Splicing into the factory wiring harness to hook up the new column was a pain at first due to anemic directions. Cusotmer service was helpful after spending a while trying to talk to someone in their tech dept who could answer my questions.

All in all I'm happy with the setup. No noticeable bump steer, but the turning radius has increased. At the time there weren't many options for R&P, unless you had the money to throw down on a TCP setup.

Chris