pinto rack and pinion

[crazilyconfused]

Hi all. I'm new to this forum, and I just had a question to ask to start our relationship with eachother. Has anyone done a manual pinto rack and pinion conversion to their f-body?? I am building an all our drag 1995 Formula Firebird, and was looking to do this conversion before I drop in my motor, and wanted to get some feedback from some people who have done it. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[Rob B (shoebox)]

I am curious as to why you would want to do this, seeing that the 4th gen f-bodies already have rack and pinion steering.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

I think he is wanting to get rid of the power steering pump to get more horse power. He is talking about replacing a rack that uses the pump to one that doesn't. I've seen it done on may different cars but not an F-body.

My only comment is the Pinto/Mustang rack is pretty narrow. Make sure you can get the tie rod end that is the right length (long enough) and the right thread diameter to screw into the manual rack. I would imagine someone has done it somewhere.

FYI NASCAR cars run power steering thanks to DW. I don't know how much horse power it takes to turn it.

[crazilyconfused]

Well i heard a couple of different things about using a manual rack and pinion. First off, I heard that using a manual rack is gonna lighten up the front end. I also heard that you can't just disconnect the pump from the rack because the rack won't work correctly and may eventually seize up. Plus I heard that drag racing is better when you have a manual rack b/c the steering is much tighter so it leaves less room for error (i.e. the steering turning left or right) in a straight away. BMR makes the k-member with the brackets for it, but i just was wondering how it worked out deleting the P/S and A/C

[wako29]

as a hot-rodder who is getting more and more experience by the day, I would say to not use the MII/Pinto front end. They are pretty narrow, and unless you are planning on a full-frame, it would be a real PITA to get it in there. Not to mention all the work you will have with cutting down everything that will get in the way of the front end.

My advice? Well, the 3rd-gen cars had manual steering as an option. I would check some junk yards or something for those. Or, if you have some patience and can come down to Orlando, I can sell you a manual steering complete front end from a '86 Trans Am.

[cody]

BMR makes a tubular K-member built for the pinto rack and pinion. I have purchased the k-member and the flaming river pinto manual rack and pinion but haven't installed it yet so I am not sure what I will be up against

[crazilyconfused]

I wrote BMR and they gave me a bunch of part numbers that I would need to do the conversion. The only thing I'm not sure about it how to route my belt now. I might have to do the Alt. relocate. When I get around to buying everything and installing it, i'll let you guys know. If anyone else has done it or does it before I do....let me know how it goes.

[cody]

If you are going full race anyway, I would recommend relocating the alternator anyway because then you can do away with the the big bracket, A/C which gives you alot more room up top and then all you have is the alternator on the crank. and the relocation kit comes with a belt.

[fastTa]

Here is a link to the LT1 alternator relocate bracket.

http://www.speedspecialty.com/store/...=lt1altbracket

I have the pinto manual rack with a PA k-member.

[crazilyconfused]

hey fastta, what companies did u use and part#'s to do the manual rack conversion??? Did PA's k-member allow you to just bolt on? b/c the one I'm looking at is from BMR and they said that you have to buy tie-rod ends, and billet rack mounts and something else from Applied Racing Technologies, along with a Flaming River Rack.

[fastTa]

I bought the car with the k-member and rack already in place. But I will be glad to ask the previous owner to see what hew can tell me.

[Injuneer]

Madman & Co. Racing makes a complete kit for the 4th Gen, including tie-rod ends and bump steer kit..... sort of pricely though at $595.

http://www.madmanandcoracing.com/manualrack.html

A friend of mine has a manual rack on a 97 SS, with the PA racing K-member. I'll have to ask him what brand it is.

[crazilyconfused]

I think madman racing has everything i'm really looking for to convert to a manual rack. I'm going to e-mail them and find out, but thanks a lot for the info.