To proper:
It was awesome and I joked "now all we need is a true manual rack".
For sh*ts and giggles I googled it and ran across one from atomic-rex.. and man is it nice. In case you don't know who atomic rex is... they are pretty well known with rx7 guys.
Anyways the one that was built for the guy was 2.4 lock to lock and a true performance manual rack conversion which also happens to weigh about 20lbs less than the stock rack (not including the 20lbs~ power steering assembly/system). Our racks are very similar so I would reckon it should be around there in that department too.
Again I don't think most know what a true performance manual rack feels like... it includes superior precision, smoothness, response, incomparable feedbac, truly a world of difference.
People take off the power steering pump and think that's what it's suppose to be like but don't realize they are pushing with their bare hands all that fluid. Or they even 'loop the lines' which doesn't do sh*t either.
The miata and rx7 guys did a 'PROPER' depower of faster power racks but again this is a WORLD of difference. Look at it this way, F40 comes with a true performance manual rack.
To make the story short, I got in touch with atomic rex and they are more than willing.
I need now interest. I am getting one made for myself no matter what but... this could be alot cheaper and plentyful for many more if there is actual interest.
I know a few road race guys in the states would be interested... but lets see who is up to it here.
That is all...
I tried to post this in group buy section but I can't.
Thank you.
I now have about 250 miles on the car and will be able to dyno it next weekend. In putting on the miles, I have a few more observations on the rack. First, I still like it as much as at first. I keep saying how smooth and precise it is. Although it might seem like the change from 2.0 to 2.4 turns lock to lock might not make a lot of difference, it really does. It turns so fast that you cannot defocus from steering. If you glance over at something for a minute, you could end up off the road. It turns as fast as a Lotus Elise or Exige.
At speeds of 45-55 mph going straight, I have to concentrate a bit to keep it straight. Its not that it has any bump steer or follows the crown any more so than stock, but a slight movemebt of the wheel just takes it off the straight line. You or I anyway need to focus more. However, at 80-90 mph this is not an issue at all, though I can't tell you why that is.
Also, while it is very tight and smooth turning -- no slack anywhere ever -- and very precise, there is not harshness at all. There is a lot of road feel and reading of the road surface, but the solid mounts seem to eliminate any quick jarring or jolting entirely. I think any bushing would actually interject that jolting or jarring into the feel.
That's it for now. I may post an update in a few weeks, if I notice anything more. But, so far, I would strongly recommend this for anyone who likes the twisties or doesn't like the loose and strangely assisted stock unit. For anyone who has switched to looped line or Maval and likes it, this will be a tremendous swap from there. You'll go nuts.Basically the guy has a 3 rotor rx7 which is much heavier than ours cars + 3 rotor setup... at least 70lbs more per rotor. And he runs 255/40/17s fyi.