I just finished a ~250 mile each way road trip rougn roads, interestates, big local roads, sandy driveways, park entrances....the works

and I have to say driving my car with the rack/pinion setup is a dream..and I have stock A arms with urethane bushings....and 550?? springs/shocks...

the handling is great....255 rubber in front and 275 in rear...Nitto all around....

If you don't want to roll your own, no matter to me....but JUST DO IT!!!

GENE

 

I'd still like to see pictures of your handy work on that R&P setup you did.I'm still wanting to "Roll my own" as you say, but a little insight and a few pictures worth a 1000 words would help. Thanks JIM


[Modified by PROSOUTH, 1:03 AM 3/2/2002]

 

That's good to hear. I purchased the kit almost 1 month ago. Got it this week and can't wait to install it. Was it fairly easy to do? Also, did you hook it up to your power steering pump or go w/o.

 

I do “want to roll my own” rack and pinion set up and I sure hope that you are available for guidance when I do! Don’t know when I will be ready but it is on the “LIST”! I also want to upgrade to hydraulic assist power brakes like Norval has done.
Thanks for all the encouraging posts regarding this particular project.

 

I didn't do anyone's kit, I did my own install,....I got interested well around 2 years ago, with the information from Idar over in Norway?? Sweden???
at any rate, he used a Saab 900 rack listing for expensive over here...
little did I know that is a common as grass GM rack 35 bucks used, iron construction, clean from a Grand Am....junkyard U pullit price....
so my only other cost really was the machining of that adaptor block for the stock tie rod ends, which were new, to the center take off point ofthe rack...

GENE

 

What year Grand Am? This has just got to be to easy. I've looked at the Steeriods setup, and brackets like theirs would be way to easy. Too bad someone doesn't sell the brackets alone. I saw a rack on a Beretta (spelling?) that looked like it would work. Wasn't sure how much travel these racks have.

 

I don't know how many variations GM has to these Center Take Off racks...I know mine came from like an '89 Grand am...but is common to many cars....Hollendar swap book would tell all I"m sure...the steering input linkage I made up from junkyard pieces....easy do....same thing as Flaming River wants to do new, for about 350 or so bux.....but adding yet a third joint and then a stabilizer bearing on the frame/mount for the intermediate shaft ...well that's a bit much..easier to change my headers....

I wish I could get the pix to publish on the site here, as I have tried click drag from that pesky Kodak file to the one here in page weaver or some such...and it's not working....I dunno how to get them on the air here....
I sent them to someone not so long ago, and they either didn't get them, or couldn't do anything with them either....

this page edit html crap is more than I can deal with...
if it's not click and drag...they need another programme...far as I"m concerned...

GENE

 

Send your pics to my email. I'd like to see them.

 

Gene, I'd be happy to post your pictures in this thread. Just email them to me.

I can't wait to drive my R&P!

-Joe

 

Gene
I also am looking into a little cheaper way to get R&P on my car also. Glad you did it I might need a little assistance also. If you would please email me the pics you have on yours. respersen@cfl.rr.com

Thanks
Bob

 

Hey guys, I found the old pictures: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=184914

 

Beretta or Grand AM. Same rack. Same as the 80's J-cars, too (Cavalier, Sunbird)

 

Flare, glad you found those pix, I thought they hit the wires here, but wasn't sure...I have a newer set of pix, but in fact they don't show as much due to engine being in place now...I did add some nuts behind the brackets instead of just tapping the steel brackets as shown, with lockwashers and lock tite...

with exception of dinging the oil pan a bit for bellows clearance, the engine went in with rack postioned as shown, and it drives fine....once aligned...
this thing works well....

GENE

 

Well my steeroids system was shipped yesterday. I have been holding off dropping the motor in place so I could take lots of differant angle pictures, since both the body and the power train is out of the way it should produce nice pictures. :)

 

Has anyone asked Steeroids if they would sell just the mounting brackets???

 

The thing is, if you can't do the brackets for lack of welding capability...you can't do the adaptor plate or block either, then the extended tie rod collars... then the input linkage....so it's not as simple as just the mounting brackets....lotsa fabrication work involved....I can't TELL you how much time and effort over the winter went into this thing...but I started last August or so....this is not an easy project for anyone without a welding buddy....period...and you butt depends on his welding ability...my friend John Leonard here is a Navy Cert welder, steam pipes/boilers...shipyard....
as in X ray quality, careful, knows his metallurgy...knows his craft....
I can't stress enough how important that skillset is to this project....

ME, I'm just an old hand at being a junkyard picker....for about near 40 years now....

I even have an old GM B body rear differential from a '64 Grand Prix....
guess what?? they were used in the 60's behind fuel dragsters....3.42 posi even yet....I wanna use it in a street rod some day....talk about the ultimate cool factor...no one except an old geek could even recognize it these days....

GENE

 

I hear you Gene that is exactly why I bought the Kit. I have mig, gas arc, welders in the shop and all the things needed to fab the set up. I feel there is a time to fab and a time to buy. Many street rod type projets I've done my fair share of fabbing. Some projects you have no choice but to Fab. Burners has made a kit and his R&D time spent, I look as time I don't have to spend. Subtract the components and fair profit margin and was minimum wage met :D Not If I was doing it. unless you are doing it for the love of the hobby which of coarse some of my long term projects have been. :)

 

I would like to see them too :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

 

I just looked at Steeroids Website and I know where my next 1500$ is going.
One question I see the pic's taken with the motor out. Do you have to have the motor out of the way to do this job.

 

The engine could be just as well in place for the conversion, with the kit there, there should be no need to pull the engine...just can't see it...
but since I do not have a lift....just tall solid jackstands...
getting under the car even in Florida winters is a bit much on my arthritis...
just today, just now, under the car for a damn second, got up, and now my back hurts...the old pains...so that's it for the day, damnit...and it's only 1 am...
about 20 minits worth of work....hate it....

at any rate, once the welding is done, and my buddy did it with TIG welding...
I feel the pix of the engine out, but unit done are fine, better than what is later shots, cause4 you can see more....

I should some day take the brackets off and draw up a cutsheet of what they are, complete with details.... and the length of the modified stock tie rod adjustment collars/sleeves....

the input linkage is easy really, as the pix shows...just junkyard adaptions...now I have a rag joint in place for only one reason,....it was easier with what I had to do it that way....I"m sure with a bit more scratching around better or easier linkages can be found and combined for what's needed....
like I said before....look at Lumina vans....

I started this project with a Ford Taurus rack....due to I couldn't i d a rack similar to Idar's....here in America, anyway....
so once that problem was solved through the Forum here, I went immediately for 35 bux and found wha'ts needed, the rest was easy...started with Idar's ideas for mounting brackets, and wound up doing my own, raising the rack up higher I think, and getting that steering input shaft up in the air by cutting a circle out of the lower rear portion of the engine mount...just a crescent cut really...and that allowed clearances for better angles on the input shaft universal joints....they don't bind one bit now...not even close....and I only used two joints....wanted to stay away from any further mounts for shaft stabilizing....for one thing I didn't know if it was available, then again it was about 50 bux at hotrod shop special order....then again I didn't know if I could use it in the final assy either.....

on the plumbing, wrapping the line down and under the frame rail, next to the brake hose simplified using the stock freebee line that came with the rack....
it all hooks up wonderfully....

GENE